Journal of Soil and Plant Interactions
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Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
Abstract: (36 Views)
IIntroduction: Human activity especially mining practices have led to increase the concentration of heavy metals in soils. The aim of this research was to determine the concentration of total Cr, Ni and Co and Cr (VI) and to evaluate pollution risk in margin soils and Stipa barbata plant and distribution of Cr (VI) at different size of aggregates of chromite mine of Sabzevar.
Materials and methods:
30 soil samples (0-15cm depth) were taken from 350 m intervals around the chromite mine up to 10 km in the prevailing wind direction (east-west) and the concentrations of the studied elements in soils and plants were measured. Also, the amount of chromium (VI) was determined in six aggregate size classes (2-4, 1-2, 0.5-1, 0.5-25, 0.05-25 and smaller than 0.05 mm).
Results: Concentration of chromium, nickel and cobalt was higher than the global standard limit, and chromium (VI) in some places was beyond the standard limit of Iran's environmental organization. Comparison of chromium concentration in aggregate fractions showed that its concentration was higher in fine particles, and the highest and lowest concentrations were found in particles with diameters >0.05 and 2-4 mm. According to the geo-accumulation index, chromium was in the medium pollution class and the enrichment index was obtained as Cr>Ni>Cr(VI)>Co. Also, the pollution load factor indicated the polluted class. In addition, the bioaccumulation factor of the studied elements in the plant (Stipa barbata) was less than one for cobalt, chromium and nickel.
Conclusion
The capability of Stipa barbata to transfer and accumulate heavy metals from the soil into its organs was low. Therefore, it is recommended to introduce this species as a plant resistant to pollution of heavy metals, and to monitor the concentration of heavy metals in soils at different time intervals.
Keywords: Geo-accumulation index, Enrichment factor, Pollution Load Index
Materials and methods:
30 soil samples (0-15cm depth) were taken from 350 m intervals around the chromite mine up to 10 km in the prevailing wind direction (east-west) and the concentrations of the studied elements in soils and plants were measured. Also, the amount of chromium (VI) was determined in six aggregate size classes (2-4, 1-2, 0.5-1, 0.5-25, 0.05-25 and smaller than 0.05 mm).
Results: Concentration of chromium, nickel and cobalt was higher than the global standard limit, and chromium (VI) in some places was beyond the standard limit of Iran's environmental organization. Comparison of chromium concentration in aggregate fractions showed that its concentration was higher in fine particles, and the highest and lowest concentrations were found in particles with diameters >0.05 and 2-4 mm. According to the geo-accumulation index, chromium was in the medium pollution class and the enrichment index was obtained as Cr>Ni>Cr(VI)>Co. Also, the pollution load factor indicated the polluted class. In addition, the bioaccumulation factor of the studied elements in the plant (Stipa barbata) was less than one for cobalt, chromium and nickel.
Conclusion
The capability of Stipa barbata to transfer and accumulate heavy metals from the soil into its organs was low. Therefore, it is recommended to introduce this species as a plant resistant to pollution of heavy metals, and to monitor the concentration of heavy metals in soils at different time intervals.
Keywords: Geo-accumulation index, Enrichment factor, Pollution Load Index
Keywords: Geo-accumulation index, Enrichment factor, Pollution Load Index, Bioaccumulation factor, Chromite mine
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Biogeochemistry of contaminants in soil-plant system
Received: 2025/09/30 | Accepted: 2025/11/2
Received: 2025/09/30 | Accepted: 2025/11/2
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Journal of Soil and Plant Interactions by http://jspi.iut.ac.ir is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License which allows users to read, copy, distribute and make derivative works for non-commercial purposes from the material, as long as the author of the original work is cited properly.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License which allows users to read, copy, distribute and make derivative works for non-commercial purposes from the material, as long as the author of the original work is cited properly.
