Flacourtia indica- an accumulator plant of barium- a case study from Vemula barites deposit Cuddapah district, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Plant species growing on barite mining area and their substrate samples were collected in Vemula of Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh. Trace element analysis of these samples was carried out for K, Mg, Fe, Na, Sr, PB< Zn, Cu, Co, Nl, Al, Mn, Ti, Mo,B, Be, and Cd including barium ; and the biological absorption co-efficient (BAC) was calculated for each element for the seven plant species viz Calotropis gigantean, Cassia ariculata, Flacourtia indica, Gardenia latifolica, and Gymnosparia falconeria, , Cassia siamea ,and Lantana Camara var aculeate. BAC is used to characterize the intensity of absorption of chemical elements from their substrate. It is the ratio of the concentration of an element in plant ash to that of its substrate. The results reveal that in the study area certain elements are present in plants and the same elements are not detected in their soil. In contrast to this some elements are not detected in plants and the same elements are present in their soil. Based on BAC the behavior of plants under study was revealed that Ba shows strong absorption in stem and leaves of Flacourtia indica. This plant species may be considered as accumulator plant. These plant species may also be useful in reclamation and revegetaion of adversely affected mining environments. K, Mg, Fe, Na, Sr, PB< Zn, Cu, Co, Nl, Al, Mn, Ti, Mo,B, Be, and Cd including barium