Research Article

Comparative Assessment of Indigenous and Exotic Tree Species for Phytoremediation of Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soils in Southwest Nigeria.

Olayiwola Victor1*
1 Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria
* Corresponding author: olayiwolavictor@yahoo.com
Published: Mar, 2026
DOI: 10.67042/njss.2026.7nod11h1
Pages: 17 - 27
Views: 224
Downloads: 159

Abstract

The growth and overall health of a tree can be negatively impacted by various contaminants, and the specific concentration at which these effects occur can differ from one tree species to another, as well as between different contaminants. This study aimed to explore the phytoremediation potential of Tectona grandis, Gmelina arborea, Shorea roxburghii, Terminalia ivorensis, and Terminalia superba in soils contaminated with heavy metals from the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) in Ibadan, Oyo State, and Ijebu-Igbese in Ogun State. The heavy metals analyzed included copper, zinc, manganese, lead, and cadmium. The soil was contaminated at three different levels: double the permissible level (twice the tolerable limit in soil) with cadmium at 0.006 g/kg, copper at 0.2 g/kg, lead at 0.4 g/kg, zinc at 0.6 g/kg, and manganese at 6 g/kg, triple the permissible level (three times the tolerable limit) with cadmium at 0.009 g/kg, copper at 0.3 g/kg, lead at 0.6 g/kg, zinc at 0.9 g/kg, and manganese at 9 g/kg, and a control group with no contamination. Particle size analysis revealed that the soil was loamy sand with a pH range of 5.69 to 6.44. Gmelina arborea exhibited significantly greater height (176.00 cm) and collar diameter (29.78 mm) compared to the other species, while Terminalia ivorensis produced a higher number of leaves. In conclusion, Gmelina arborea seems to demonstrate a greater tolerance to higher levels of contamination than the other species studied, indicating that it may have a natural ability to adapt to adverse conditions.

Keywords

Contamination heavy metals permissible levels soil and tree species

References

  1. Abalabadi, A., Khademi, H., Ayoubi, S., & Fathabadi, A. (2017). Phytoextraction potential of native plant species in the contaminated soils of a mining area. Environmental Earth Sciences, 76(1), 29. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-6363-2](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-6363-2)
  2. Alengebawy, A., Abdelkhalek, S. T., Qureshi, S. R., & Wang, M. Q. (2021). Heavy metals and pesticides toxicity in agricultural soil and plants: Ecological risks and human health implications. Toxics, 9(3), 42. [https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9030042](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9030042)
  3. Al-Sayaydeh, R. (2022). Role of woody plants in phytoremediation of heavy metals: Potentials and limitations. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29, 15421-15433. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16827-6](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16827-6)
  4. Baker, A. J. M. (1987). Metal tolerance. New Phytologist, 106(Suppl), 93-111. [https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.1987.tb04620.x](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.1987.tb04620.x)
  5. Bouyoucos, G. J. (1951). A recalibration of the hydrometer method for making mechanical analysis of soils. Agronomy Journal, 43(9), 434-438. [https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1951.00021962004300090005x](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1951.00021962004300090005x)
  6. Brady, N. C., & Weil, R. R. (2016). The nature and properties of soils (15th ed.). Pearson Education.
  7. Bremner, J. M. (1996). Nitrogen-total. In D. L. Sparks (Ed.), Methods of Soil Analysis Part 3—Chemical Methods (pp. 1085-1121). Madison, WI: Soil Science Society of America.
  8. Chen, T. B., & Chen, H. M. (2001). Distribution and contamination status of heavy metals in urban soils of Beijing. Environmental Science, 22(4), 56-60.
  9. Denneman, C. A. J., & Robberse, J. G. (1990). Maximum permissible concentrations and target values for metals in soils: A new Dutch view. Contaminated Soil 90, 6, 267-270.
  10. Ditzler, C., Scheffe, K., & Monger, H. C. (2017). Soil survey manual (U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook No. 18). Washington, DC: United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
  11. Dubey, R. S. (2011). Heavy metal toxicity in plants. In A. Hemantaranjan (Ed.), Advances in Plant Physiology (Vol. 11, pp. 259-285). New Delhi: Scientific Publishers.
  12. Epstein, E. (1965). Mineral nutrition of plants: Principles and perspectives. New York: Wiley.
  13. Fageria, N. K., & Baligar, V. C. (2008). Ameliorating soil acidity of tropical oxisols by liming for sustainable crop production. Advances in Agronomy, 99, 345-399. [https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(08)00407-0](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(08)00407-0)
  14. Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) (2018). Meteorological Report 2017-18. Nigeria. Unpublished Report.
  15. Havlin, J. L., Tisdale, S. L., Nelson, W. L., & Beaton, J. D. (2014). Soil fertility and fertilizers: An introduction to nutrient management (8th ed.). Pearson.
  16. Helmke, P. A., & Sparks, D. L. (1996). Lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium. In D. L. Sparks (Ed.), Methods of Soil Analysis Part 3—Chemical Methods (pp. 551-574). Madison, WI: Soil Science Society of America.
  17. Hossain, M. A., Piyatida, P., da Silva, J. A. T., & Fujita, M. (2012). Molecular mechanism of heavy metal toxicity and tolerance in plants: Central role of glutathione in detoxification of reactive oxygen species and methylglyoxal and in heavy metal chelation. Journal of Botany, 2012, 872875. [https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/872875](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/872875)
  18. Isikhuemhen, O. S., Mikiashvili, N. A., & Anoliefo, G. O. (2001). Bioremediation of crude oil polluted soil using Pleurotus tuber-regium (Fr.) Sing: Effect of oil concentration on growth and productivity of mushroom. Environmental Science: An Indian Journal, 5(3), 79-84.
  19. Iteiremoh, N. O. (2001). Soil and environmental pollution management. Owerri: Nichod Publishers.
  20. Jackson, M. L. (as cited in Sparks, 1996). Soil chemical analysis. Prentice Hall.
  21. Jabeen, R., Ahmad, A., & Iqbal, M. (2009). Phytoremediation of heavy metals: Physiological and molecular mechanisms. Botany Research International, 2(1), 1-10.
  22. Kabata-Pendias, A., & Pendias, H. (2001). Trace elements in soils and plants (3rd ed.). CRC Press.
  23. Kuo, S. (1996) Phosphorus. In D. L. Sparks (Ed.), Methods of Soil Analysis Part 3—Chemical Methods (pp. 869-919). Madison, WI: Soil Science Society of America.
  24. Mansur, A. (2015). Uptake and translocation of heavy metals in plants: A review. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 8(1), 1-12.
  25. Mohammed, A., Uyun, M. B., & Ayonlaja, S. A. (2013). Comparative growth performance of selected tropical tree species in a semi-deciduous forest in Nigeria. African Journal of Plant Science, 7(10), 458-464. [https://doi.org/10.5897/AJPS2013.1071](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://doi.org/10.5897/AJPS2013.1071)
  26. Njoku, C., Mbah, C. N., & Oti, N. N. (2009). Effect of burnt and unburnt rice husk dust on maize yield and soil chemical properties in Abakaliki, southeastern Nigeria. Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 8(1), 1-6.
  27. Olsen, S. R., Cole, C. V., Watanabe, F. S., & Dean, L. A. (1954). Estimation of available phosphorus in soils by extraction with sodium bicarbonate (USDA Circular No. 939). U.S. Government Printing Office.
  28. Rai, P. K., Lee, S. S., Zhang, M., Tsang, Y. F., & Kim, K. H. (2019). Heavy metals in food crops: Health risks, fate, mechanisms, and management. Environment International, 125, 365-385. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.01.067](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.01.067)
  29. Reza, R., Singh, G., & Mishra, V. (2009). Impact of heavy metals on physiological processes of plants: A review. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 1(2), 68-75.
  30. Saba, S., Khan, M. A., & Jamil, M. (2015). Phytoremediation potential of tree species for heavy metals: A review. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 4, 5-17. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2015.02.001](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2015.02.001)
  31. Sarwar, N., Imran, M., Shaheen, M. R., Ishaque, W., Kamran, M. A., Matloob, A., Rehim, A., & Hussain, S. (2017). Phytoremediation strategies for soils contaminated with heavy metals: Modifications and future perspectives. Chemosphere, 171, 710-721. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.12.116](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.12.116)
  32. SAS Institute. (1999). SAS/STAT user's guide, Version 8. Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc.
  33. Thomas, G. W. (1996). Soil pH and soil acidity. In D. L. Sparks (Ed.), Methods of Soil Analysis Part 3—Chemical Methods (pp. 475-490). Madison, WI: Soil Science Society of America.
  34. USDA-ARS (United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service). (2016). Plant database: Gmelina arborea. Retrieved from [https://plants.usda.gov](https://plants.usda.gov)
  35. Walkley, A., & Black, I. A. (1934). An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Science, 37(1), 29-38.
  36. Yan, A. (2020). Phytoremediation: A promising approach for revealing heavy metal toxicity. Plant Science Today, 7(2), 262-270.
  37. Zwolak, A., Sarzyńska, M., Szpyrka, E., & Stawarczyk, K. (2019). Sources of heavy metal pollution and its impact on the environment and human health: A review. Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska, 21, 1127-1143.
How to Cite

Victor, O. (2026). Comparative Assessment of Indigenous and Exotic Tree Species for Phytoremediation of Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soils in Southwest Nigeria.. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, 35(1), 17 - 27. https://doi.org/10.67042/njss.2026.7nod11h1

O. Victor, "Comparative Assessment of Indigenous and Exotic Tree Species for Phytoremediation of Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soils in Southwest Nigeria.," Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 17 - 27, March 2026. doi: 10.67042/njss.2026.7nod11h1

Share this article:
Facebook X / Twitter LinkedIn
Download PDF Back to Articles