ABSTRACT
Soil heavy metal pollution is a substantial aspect of plant abiotic stresses and needs some remediation in contaminated fields to ensure food security. Phytoremediation is a cost-effective technology to remediate metal-contaminated soils by decreasing the total amount of heavy metals in soils. Numbers of hyperaccumulator plants have been practiced for the remediation of metal-contaminated soils. However, ornamental plants are grabbing the attention of the scientific community by showing their tolerance against pollution stress without losing their economic value. Ornamental plants have shown significant pollutant extractability in literature with wide end-use options. They are capable of accumulating toxins in their tissues and can be used for phytoremediation as being nonfood crops and less interaction with the human food chain. They grow in wild and evolved to grow in a wide range of terrains, including contaminated soil, which can also strengthen their option for phytoremediation. Phytoextractability of these plants can be enhanced with the application of different amendments. These amendments include different fertilizers, acidifying materials, plant-growth-promoting rhizobacterias, and chelating agents, which either enhance the biomass of plants or increase the bioavailability of contaminants in the soils. The safe utilization of these 332hyperaccumulating plants is ever since an issue that needs to be addressed comprehensively. This chapter summarizes the significance of ornamental plants as a phytoremediation tool for contaminated soils. The compiled draft will help to understand the potential for growing ornamental plants in contaminated soil, option for enhancement in their growth and extractability, and their safe disposal/utilization.
