Assessing rangeland plants potential for phytoremediation of contaminated soil with Lead and Zinc (Case study: Rangelands located around National Iranian Lead & Zinc Factory-Zanjan)

The purpose of this study was to measure Lead and Zinc concentration in the soil, shoots and roots of plants in the surrounding rangelands of National Iranian Lead & Zinc Factory-Zanjan. This study can assist managers to identify the plants with phytoremediation capacity. The shoots and roots of 11 rangeland plants in 11 sites were collected in May 2014. Soil samples were also collected and Zn and Pb from the soil and plant samples were determined using ICP-OES. One way ANOVA was used to compare the metal concentrations at different sites and plant types. The bio-concentration factor (BCF), translocation factor (TF) and biological accumulation coefficient (BAC) of the collected samples were calculated to determine the heavy metals phytoremediation capacity of the plant species. In general, the results showed that the Zn and Pb in soil can be absorbed by Stipa hohenackeriana, Scariola orientalis, Descurainia sophia, Stachys lavandulifolia and Echium amoenum. According to the results, Astragalus effesus was effective to accumulate Zn in its tissues. The high amount of Pb and Zn in soil can pose main environmental threats and adverse effects on human and ecosystems health, hence, this type of studies can identify species with phytoremediation capacity.