Water Salinity Reduction Using the Phytoremediation Method by Three Plant Species and Analyzing Their Behavior.

Treatment and reuse of water in wetlands are considered as an alternative, cost-effective, economical, and environment-friendly method. In most cases, salinity degree of purified water is increased especially in arid and semiarid regions. Using phytoremediation method can help to solve the said problem to a great extent. In this study, tests with different salinity densities were conducted on three species of saline plants Frankenia thymifolia, Atriplex cinerea cinerea, Festuca ovina within 60 days in order to assess the ability of reducing water salinity. Then, the trend of electrical conductivity reduction, percentage of salinity removal, and behavior of plants in different salinity levels were analyzed statistically. The trend of electrical conductivity reduction was reduced in each three species of plant with the increased salinity level, so that maximum rate of salt intake for Frankenia thymifolia in electrical conductivity stood at 4500 μS/cm (approx. 20%), for Festuca ovina in electrical conductivity at 2600 μS/cm (approx. 17%) and for Atriplex cinerea cinerea plant in electrical conductivity at 5000 μS/cm (approx. 14%). Of course, reducing the ability of salt absorption in each species of the plant had its own specific reason. For example, Atriplex cinerea plant faced fadedness and reduced performance due to the less compatibility with the waterlogging environment. Festuca ovina plant faced paleness and reduced performance due to the outbreak of salinity stress. In addition, Frankenia thymifolia plant faced paleness and reduced performance due to the completion of the capacity of salt accumulation in its tissues. Accordingly, Atriplex cinerea plant showed maximum rate of reduced salinity than the other two species of the plants in the interval of increased salinity. In the same direction, Frankenia thymifolia plant showed maximum rate of reduced salinity in the efficiency of reduced salinity after the stoppage of increased load of salinity due to the more durability of this plant in this efficiency period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]