Heavy Metal Accumulation in Plant Species at Polluted and Non-polluted Locations: A Comparative Analysis

¹ Amity Food and Agriculture Foundation, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, 201313, India
² Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, Siwaya-Jamalullapur, Uttar, Pradesh 250341, India

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigated effects of polluted (Anand Vihar & NTPC Badarpur) and non-polluted locations at Delhi-NCR on heavy metals (Sodium, Molybdenum, Barium, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Cadmium, Nickel, Lead, Zinc, Iron, Manganese and Magnesium) of 7 different plant species such as Azadirachta indica, Alstonia scholaris, Ficus relegiosa, Terminalia arjuna, Ficus infectoria, Cassia Fistula, and Polyalthea, respectively during 4 different seasons. The findings suggested that the locations and seasonal variation have direct impacts on the heavy metal profiles of the plant species. Lowest range of heavy metals were recorded in the plants located at non-polluted areas IARI pusa and Lutyens areas compared to polluted areas (Anand Vihar & NTPC Badarpur). The lower concentrations of heavy metals in the plants were found during season 2 at all locations. The heavy metal ranged from 7.68 mg kg -1 - 35.50 mg kg -1 between all the seasons, locations and plant species, which is lowest compared to other seasons. The significantly higher heavy metal concentrations (8.32–39.28 mg kg -1) across all plants species and locations were found during season 3. The plant species (Terminalia arjuna and Alstonia scholaris) showed the highest concentration of heavy metals across all seasons and locations due to higher accumulations of heavy metals, while Cassia fistula followed by Azadirachta indica showed lower accumulation rates of heavy metals compared to other plant species.