Uptake and Distribution of Chromium in Various Plants Growing on Mining Area: A Study from Thagadur Area, Nuggihalli Schist Belt, Karnataka

Abstract

An attempt was made in the present study to characterize some of the plants that naturally colonized in Thagadur chromite mining area to determine the Cr accumulation pattern in the four selected dominant plant species including Cassia ariculata, Tephrosia purpurea, Hyptis suaveolens and Acacia arabica. Chromium content in mine soil and in the stem, leaves of the plants is determined. The values are compared with similar type samples collected from normal vegetation/non-mining area. Generally the chromium concentration in the plants growing on the mining area is higher than the samples collected from non-mining area. In the study area, accumulation of chromium in the plant species and in their organs varies i.e the Cr concentration is higher in leaves than in stems even though all these four plants are growing under identical conditions. Under normal condition chromium concentration is high in Cassia ariculata. Distribution of chromium metal in plant samples collected from mine area revealed that Hyptis suaveolens has special ability to accumulate high amount of chromium followed by Acacia arabica, Cassia ariculata and Tephrosia purpurea.(H. suaveolens >A. Arabica> C. ariculata> T. purpurea). Mechanism of chromium in Hyptis suaveolens is some what different from the other plants growing in the same soil. Hyptis suaveolens has the capability to take up more metal when compared to other three plant species. Hence this plant may be more suitable for removal of chromium metal from the soil In the study area, these plants can ideally be used as the possible application in reclamation and revegetation of adversely affected mining environment, and also for chromium exploration.