Assessment of Phytoremediation Potential of Three Weed Plant Species in Soil Contaminated with Lead and Chromium

The study aimed to compare the tolerance capacity of Cyperus iria, Achyranthes aspera, and Eruca sativa to lead-contaminated and chromium-contaminated soils and to check their phytoremediation potential by pot culture experimentation. The experiment was conducted in three replicates in pots having 4 kg of sieved soil mixed with different doses of chromium, 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, and 350 mg·kg−1, and lead, 0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, and 800 mg·kg−1. The experiment was conducted for 80 days, and roots were harvested two times, i.e., at 40 days and 80 days after sowing. Metal accumulation in the roots was determined by the atomic absorption spectrophotometry method. The result of the study indicated that C. iria has the maximum potential to accumulate both the metals in its roots than other two plants. The order of chromium metal accumulation was found to be C. iria > E. sativa > A. aspera. On the other hand, the order of lead metal accumulation was found to be C. iria > A. aspera > E. sativa.