Heavy metals uptake by hyperaccumulating flora in some serpentine soils of Kosovo

Ultramafics represent magmatic or metamorphic rocks which are characterized by high concentrations of Mg, Fe, Ni, Cr and Co and low concentrations of Ca, and K. Serpentine soils are weathered products of a range of ultramafic rocks composed of ferromagnesian silicates. The aim of this study was to determine the content of heavy metals in some of serpentine soils of Kosovo and heavy metals uptake by entire associated flora. Furthermore, another objective of this study was finding out bioavailable Ca/Mg relationship, which is very important indicator for plants’ development. The sampling was conducted in June 2014. A total of three serpentine areas have been surveyed and 7 soil samples have been taken in various depths of soil profiles. Those samples were analyzed for total Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Fe and Zn. Results showed that each site exhibited a high concentration of at least one metal. The maximum concentrations of metals in soils Dry Matter (DM) were 108.9 mg kg^-1 Cd, 95.8 mg kg^-1 Co, 1206 mg kg^-1 Cr, 24 mg kg^-1 Cu, 2570 mg kg^-1 Ni, 21.7 mg kg^-1 Pb, 39 mg kg^-1 Zn, and 51563 mg kg^- Fe. The serpentine soils at all sites were characterized by elevated levels of heavy metals, which showed typical properties of ultramafic environments. Nickel Total at studied areas varied between 1543 and 2570 mg kg^-1, while the highest Ni concentration was found in aerial part of Alyssum markgrafii (4038 mgkg^-1),