Study of Heavy Metal Concentration of Four Cheilanthes Species and Soil Substratum from Northern Western Ghats of India

Northern Western Ghats of India is natural gift of biodiversity in the forests. The varieties of genes, species, and ecosystems, such as ferns, are rich and naturally plentiful. Therefore, specific fern species have a noble possibility for using in phytoremediation process. The aims of this research were to determine the accumulation of heavy metals of some fern species and to study the ecological effects on heavy metals absorption as plant substratum in soil. The study area was conducted at Northern Western Ghats of India. The soil substratum and fern samples were taken in July 2014 utilizing line transect method along the pathway as well as applied square plots size of 1×1 m 2 for the sampling method. Heavy metal accumulation in ferns was calculated as well as soil properties and element concentrations were analysed. It was detected that the ferns taken higher potentials of absorbing heavy metals than in the soil. From 4 Cheilanthes species, some fern species had high heavy metal accumulation due to the ecological effect. C.farinosa. showed significantly highest levels of Pb and Ni concentration in their leaves, while C.anceps, was the best Pb, Ni and Co absorption the outcome from this study can play an significant role in bioremediation process to improve concentration of heavy metals from the environment.