Biochemistry of Heavy Metals Uptake in the Grasses Assessing Cymbopogon Jwarancusa and Arundo Donax for Livestock Safety in Pollutes Area

Abstract

The sustainability of the environment and the health of livestock are increasingly threatened by heavy metal contamination in agro-ecosystems, especially in semi-arid areas. In addition to evaluating the phytoremediation ability of Cymbopogon jwarancusa and Arundo donax, this study examined the seasonal dynamics of certain heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Zn, and Ni) in soil-forage-animal systems and assessed their physiological effects on Nili-Ravi buffaloes. Samples of soil, fodder, and blood plasma were taken from a semi-arid livestock production system in Punjab, Pakistan, during the summer, fall, winter, and spring seasons. Standard analytical methods were used to measure metal concentrations, and plant absorption and mobility were evaluated by calculating the translocation factor (TF) and bioconcentration factor (BAF). The findings showed that while seasonal changes were noticeable, especially for Pb, metal concentrations in soil stayed within allowable bounds. The rather constant patterns of forage metal levels suggested controlled uptake mechanisms. However, blood plasma showed notable seasonal variations, particularly for Pb and Zn, with larger accumulation in young and nursing buffaloes, indicating enhanced physiological vulnerability. Significant seasonal changes in bilirubin, total protein, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were shown by biochemical studies, suggesting possible hepatic stress and metabolic disturbance associated with metal exposure. C. jwarancusa demonstrated substantial accumulation potential (BAF ≥ 1) and effective internal translocation (TF ≈ 1) among the plants under study, indicating its potential as a phytoremediator. A. donax, on the other hand, demonstrated a metal-exclusion strategy due to its low accumulation and translocation capabilities. Overall, the study emphasizes the necessity of protecting livestock health under changing environmental conditions and highlights the significance of ongoing environmental monitoring. It also identifies C. jwarancusa as a good option for phytoremediation in contaminated grazing systems.

Keywords: Heavy metals, Seasonal variation, Phytoremediation, Bioconcentration factor (BAF), Translocation factor (TF), Nili-Ravi buffalo, Livestock health.