Phytoremediation Potential of Vetiver Grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) for Lead-Contaminated Soils in Mining Communities of Zamfara State

Gold mining activities in Zamfara State, North West Nigeria, have resulted in severe lead contamination of soils, causing one of the largest childhood lead poisoning crises in recorded history. This study investigates the phytoremediation potential of Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) for extracting lead from contaminated soils in affected mining communities. Greenhouse pot experiments were conducted using lead-spiked soils at concentrations of 500, 1000, and 2000 milligrams per kilogram, as well as soils collected directly from contaminated Zamfara sites. Plants were cultivated for twelve weeks under controlled conditions, after which root and shoot tissues were harvested, digested, and analysed for lead by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Bioconcentration factors and translocation factors were calculated to assess the plant's phytoextraction efficiency. Results show that Vetiver grass accumulated substantial quantities of lead in root tissues, with lower translocation to aerial parts, indicating a phytostabilisation mechanism rather than phytoextraction. Bioconcentration factors exceeded one at the 500 milligrams per kilogram treatment level. Biomass production remained robust across treatment groups, supporting the plant's suitability for revegetation. The findings suggest that Vetiver grass may be most effectively deployed for phytostabilisation strategies in the Zamfara context, preventing further erosion and leaching of contaminated material. Keywords: phytoremediation, Vetiver grass, lead contamination, Zamfara State, mining