Determination of Copper and Zinc in Leaves of Eucalyptus Camaldulensis and Ziziphus Spina-Christi Growing on the Roadside of Baqubah City

Abstract

Samples of leaves from Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Ziziphus spina-christi were collected from the roadsides of Baqubah city in order to assess the concentrations of Cu and Zn in the leaves of these plants. The results of this study showed that the concentrations of copper in all samples of leaves of the studied plants grown on the roadsides of Baqubah city were high and showed many differences, depending on the location, ranging between 21.62 and 74.62 ppm in the leaves of E. camaldulensis and between 21.25 and 54.49 ppm in the leaves of Z. spina-christi. The concentrations of Zn in E. camaldulensis leaves ranged between 6.72 - 24.60 ppm and between 18.31 - 33.47 ppm in leaves of Z. spina-christi. The study showed the ability of leaves of E. camaldulensis to accumulate Cu and more effectively than Z. spina-christi leaves, and there was no accumulation of Zn in both types of plants due to its limited sources.