Open Biological Sciences Journal
2017, 3 : 26-35Published online 2017 May 29. DOI: 10.2174/2352633501703010026
Publisher ID: BIOLSCI-3-26
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Relationships of Zn Between and Geochemical Fractions of the Habitat Topsoils: Implications of Biomonitoring of Zn
* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Tel: 603-89466616; E-mail: yapckong@hotmail.com
ABSTRACT
Background:
Present study focused on the relationships of Zn concentrations between Centella asiatica (leaves, stems and roots) and their habitat topsoils.
Methods & Materials:
For leaves, it is found that Zn levels in the leaves significantly (P< 0.05) correlated with geochemical fractions of easily, freely, leachable or exchangeable (EFLE) (R= 0.94), acid-reducible (AR) (R= 0.63), oxidisable-organic (OO) (R= 0.85), resistant (R) (R= 0.79) and summation of all four fractions (SUM) (R= 0.83). For stems, it is found that Zn levels in the stems significantly (P< 0.05) correlated with AR (R= 0.73), R (R= 0.75) and SUM (R= 0.72). For roots, it is found that Zn levels in the roots significantly (P< 0.05) correlated with EFLE (R= 0.88), AR (R= 0.65), OO (R= 0.86), R (R= 0.77) and SUM (R= 0.82).
Conclusion:
These results indicated that the three parts of C. asiatica are able to reflect the Zn concentrations in the habitat topsoils. Based on ecological risk (Er) of the habitat topsoils, all samplings sites were categorized as ‘Low potential ecological risk’ according to Hakanson classification. Based on the positive significant relationships of Zn concentrations between plant parts and geochemical fractions of their habitat topsoils, present study indicated that C. asiatica can be used as biomonitoring plant of Zn polluted topsoils.