PHYTOREMEDIATION: A GREEN APPROACH FOR HEAVY METALS REMEDIATION OF SOIL

Abstract

Today?s research thrust area is to protect environment from heavy metals associated hazardous effects. The agriculture, acting as a natural substrate for plant development and a source of food for both people and animals and heavy metal-contamination in soil affect crop production. The rapid industrialization, emissions from automobiles, agricultural inputs, improper disposal of waste, etc., are the major causes of soil contamination with heavy metals. Various economic and ecological strategies are required to decontaminate soils from heavy metals. Amongst them, phytoremediation plant assisted technology is gaining higher attention due to non-invasive, cost-effective, and aesthetically pleasing. Some plants species are genetically modified to enhance their phytoremediation capacity and efficiency of plants without challenging food security. This chapter outlines the role that plants play in the remediation of heavy metals and the restoration of soil nutrients, as well as the mechanisms through which plants absorb heavy metals, the difficulties associated with applying phytoremediation-based technologies, and the potential benefits of using these techniques in the future to address the issue of heavy metal contamination.