Assessment of the Combined Effect of Heavy Metals and Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons on the Cultural Plants

Abstract

The environmental contamination by heavy metals (HM) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) is often due to exposure to complex sources of industrial and agricultural activities. The aim of the work is to evaluate the combined effect of CuO and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) on the state of spring barley plants. It was established that the soil combined pollution by CuO and BaP has a negative effect on all morphobiometric parameters of barley. The most sensitive indicators of combined contamination are the length of the roots, the mass of 1000 grains and the yield of barley.