Abstract

Uptake of pollutants by plants, and entering the food chain can cause different diseases for humans. There are different methods for refining contaminated soils. One low-cost method for refining contaminated soils is using phytoremediation that has lower cost, compatible with nature and require fewer facilities than the other methods of refining. Khuzestan province in Iran has oil wells that cause soil pollution. We carried out an experiment in a completely randomized statistical design in greenhouse with treatments such as: T₁-sole date palm  in non polluted soil (control), T₂-date palm with corn in non polluted soil, T₃-date palm with alfalfa in non polluted soil, T₄-date palm with sunflower in non polluted soil, T₅-sole date palm  in  polluted soil, T₆-date palm with corn in  polluted soil, T₇-date palm with alfalfa in  polluted soil and T₈-date palm with sunflower in polluted soil. Total plant, shoot and root weight was measured and TPH concentration in soil was determined. The results showed that there was significant difference between fresh and dry weight of total plant in the different treatments. T₃ had the highest weight and T₇ had the lowest weight. Alfalfa larger amounts of TPH concentration was removed more than corn and sunflower soil in polluted soil.

Key words: Phytoremediation, date palm, corn, alfalfa, sunflower, TPH.