Research Article
Mohammad Al-Ibrahim and Al Sar
Abstract
Metal concentrations in soils are locally quite high in Kuwait due to many reasons such as massive oil spills during the gulf war in 1991 as well as direct dump for untreated sewage and hydrocarbon. Phytoremediation may offer a possible solution to this problem because it treats the soils through the use of plants even without the demand of removing the contaminated material and disposing it elsewhere. This research project focused on the best contribution of phytoremediating the area between six types of plant tree species collected (Conocarpus, Tamarix, Phoenix, Rhamnus, Vitex agnus-castus and Salix) from Wafra 14 Km area and another six reference trees from the same plant species collected for correlation from South Khitan and Rigee areas. The samples divided into three sample categories (leaves, stem, and soil). From the chemical analysis, it was found that phytoremediation is a unique process in reducing the level of soil contamination of hydrocarbons and trace metals. The most and effective part of the plant in accumulating hydrocarbons and heavy metals were the leaves while the appropriate plant was Vitex agnus-castus. As a recommendation, there is need for phytoextraction of heavy metals by intercropping maize plants with local agro forestry shrubs to reduce amount of heavy metals in the soil.