Investigation of Phytoremediation Ability of Rangeland Species in Soils Contaminated with Copper and Manganese

This study was carried out to evaluate the amount of soil contamination in Qaleh Mohammad-Ali-Khan (Ray city) rangelands and also to identify the phytoremediation ability of native species in soil contaminated with copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) based on a completely randomized design in the dominant and opposite wind direction. Soil samples, shoot and root samples of rangeland plants were collected from 10 sites around the mine (5 sites in the dominant wind direction and 5 sites in the opposite wind direction). Soil and plant samples were extracted by oxidation method and the copper and manganese concentrations were analyzed by ICP.Concentrations of heavy metals of Cu and Mn in the direction and opposite direction of the dominant wind have different concentrations, so that the plots located near the mine have a higher concentration of heavy metals. Cu concentration in the shoots of plants (2.01) in both direction was greater than that of the roots (1.19) that means the TF value was greater than one (TF>1). Therefore, they can be an appropriate choice for the phytoremediation of Cu-contaminated soils. Thus, these native plants have an implication of carrying out phytoremediation in the rangeland soils.