Phytoremediation - the green cure technology for amelioration of heavy metal contaminated soils

摘要

Agricultural activities in peri-urban areas and at the periphery of Industrial units are under scanner due to potential threat of heavy metal pollution through sewage and sludge coming out as waste from such units; and their subsequent entry to food chain through various crops (primarily vegetable) growing on fields with these wastes. 'Phytoremediation', with special reference to 'phytoextraction' is an emerging frontier technology which uses specialized plants to clean up heavy metal contaminated soil. Indian mustard, being adapted to Indian sub-continent can tolerate medium to high levels of heavy metals and can accumulate these metals in its large biomass. Therefore, phytoextraction with Indian mustard and possibly other species of mustard hold promise as a green cure technology for amelioration of heavy metal contaminated soils of India.