Agropyron cristatum (L.) Beauv. as a possible indicator of heavy metal contamination

Due to the increasing negative impact of anthropogenic factors on the state of the environment in man-made regions, the possibility of using Agropyron cristatum (L.) Beauv. to detect contamination of industrial areas Ti, Mn, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Sr is being considered. To achieve the research goal the authors have analyzed the content of these metals in vegetable (A. cristatum) and soil samples, taken in the suburbs of Pavlodar (the Pavlodar Region, Kazakhstan) at various distances from the operating industrial enterprises with application of the standard techniques. Geobotanic studies have been carried out using classical methods. Agropyron cristatum, being a digressive-active species, under human-induced conditions mostly becomes a dominant or subdominant in plant communities, including areas where it has historically been represented in little abundance. The underground organs of A. cristatum are characterized by high values of Zn biological absorption coefficient at most points; very high values of А_Cr and А_Pb at multiple points. For the above-ground organs of A. cristatum, Zn biological absorption coefficient is also quite high; it is appreciably lower for Mn, but higher than for Ni, Cu, Sr, Ti and Fe. A. cristatum can be used as an indicator of environmental pollution by Zn, Cr, Pb and Mn for the area under investigation and – in similar conditions – for other regions, especially those in the area of metallurgical enterprises.