ASSESSMENT OF PLANT SPECIES DISTRIBUTION WITHIN SCRAP METAL DUMP SITES IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA
Authors: Chukwu V.N, Anoliefo G.O, *Ikhajiagbe B
DOI Info: N/A
ABSTRACT
The collection of scrap metals is a major source of heavy metal pollution of the environment. Metal tolerant plants that grow in heavy metal polluted sites are known as metallophytes. Thus, this study identified plants around scrap metal dump sites that could be used for phytoremediation. Strategic random quadrat sampling method was used for plant identification. Plants identified from the study include: Talinum triangulare, Hewittia sublobata, Eleusine indica, Andropogon gayanus, Andropogon tectorum, Eragrostis tenella, Eragostis astrovirens, Axonopus compressus, Chloris Pilosa, Cleome rutidosperma, Triantherma portulacastrum, Oldenlandia herbacea, Spermacoce ocymoides, Newbouldia laevis, Ipomoea vagans, Aneilema aequinoctiale, Amaranthus spinosus, Hyptis lanceolata, Combretum hispidum, Amaranthus spinosus, Alchornea cordifolia, Croton hirtus, Laportea aestuans and Peperomia pellucida. Therefore, the plants could be applied for phytoremediation of heavy metals. It was observed that plants in the Poaceae family had the highest frequency of occurrence. Eleusine indica was most cited in the frequency of citation.
Affiliations: Environmental Biotechnology and Sustainability Research Group, Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City, Nigeria.
Keywords: Benin City, Heavy Metals, Metallophytes, Phytoremediation, Plant Diversity, Scrap Metals
Published date: 2017/12/30
