Bioaccumulation potential of indigenous plants for heavy metal phytoremediation in rural areas of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Punjab (India)

The present study was planned to explore the bioaccumulation potential of 23 plant species via bioaccumulation factor (BAf), metal accumulation index (MAI), translocation potential (Tf), and comprehensive bioconcentration index (CBCI) for seven heavy metals (cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc). The studied plants, in the vicinity of ponds at Sahlon: site 1, Chahal Khurd: site 2, and Karnana: site 3 in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Punjab (India), wereAgeratum conyzoides(L.) L.,Amaranthus spinosusL.,Amaranthus viridisL.,Brassica napusL.,Cannabis sativaL.,Dalbergia sissooDC.,Duranta repensL.,Dysphania ambrosioides(L.) Mosyakin & Clemants,Ficus infectoriaRoxb.,Ficus palmataForssk.,Ficus religiosaL.,Ipomoea carneaJacq.,Medicago polymorphaL.,Melia azedarachL.,Morus indicaL.,Malva rotundifoliaL.,Panicum virgatumL.,Parthenium hysterophorusL.,Dolichos lablabL.,Ricinus communisL.,Rumex dentatusL.,Senna occidentalis(L.) Link, andSolanum nigrumL. BAfand Tfvalues showed high inter-site deviations for studied metals. MAI values were found to be more substantial in shoots as compared with that of roots of plants. Maximum CBCI values were observed forM. azedarach(0.626),M. indica(0.572),D. sissoo(0.497), andR. communis(0.474) for site 1;F. infectoria(0.629),R. communis(0.541),D. sissoo(0.483),F. palmata(0.457), andD. repens(0.448) for site 2;D. sissoo(0.681),F. religiosa(0.447), andR. communis(0.429) for site 3. Although, high bioaccumulation of individual metals was observed in herbs likeC. sativa,M. polymorpha, andAmaranthusspp., cumulatively, trees were found to be the better bioaccumulators of heavy metals.