Germination, Growth and Uptake of Heavy Metals in Contaminated Soils (Hordeum bulbosum L.)

The use of metal-accumulating plants to clean the contaminated soil with toxic metals is the most rapidly developing component of phytoremediation as an environmentally friendly technology. Overcoming harsh soil conditions and accelerating the recovery of degraded soils remain a worldwide restoration challenge. This study evaluated the effect of different concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu and Fe on the germination, growth and heavy metal uptake of Hordeum bulbosum L. Results obtained from the current research indicated that the plant gives dose-dependent responses to the contaminated soils. Reduction in germination, root and shoot height and biomass were significantly (P < 0.05) different as compared to the control. Exposures of heavy metals in the treatment reduced the size of roots and shoots about 8.68% and 5.05% respectively as compared to the control. However, the concentration of heavy metals was increased at treatment four, the sizes of root and shoot are the same at two and three treatmens. Heavy metal concentrations were significantly higher in the root tissue than aboveground components and plant organs demonstrated a different affinity to take up heavy metals. In all the plant organs, the concentrations of heavy metals increased as the metal contents in the soil increased.