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Abstract The efficiency of intercropping models for phytoremediation in soils contaminated with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) remains poorly understood. This note investigated the short‐term effects of intercropping accumulator plants ( Salix alba , Convolvulus arvensis , and Salicornia europaea ) on growth, physiological traits, and short‐term phytoremediation capacity of S. europaea under well‐water and wastewater irrigation. Wastewater irrigation enhanced biomass accumulation, with intercropped S. europaea producing greater root and shoot biomass than monocropping. Salicornia europaea intercropped with S. alba increased chlorophyll a (32.7%), chlorophyll b (13.1%), total chlorophyll (27.4%), and carotenoids (17.6%) compared with monocropping. Salicornia europaea monocropping exhibited a twofold increase, and S. europaea intercropped with C. arvensis exhibited a threefold increase in catalase activity under wastewater irrigation compared with well‐water irrigation. Intercropping with Salix spp. + C. arvensis reduced shoot concentrations of Zn (−31.57%), Pb (−41.32%), and Cd (−36.39%) compared with monocropping and showed particular promise for Cd phytoextraction and phytostabilization. In contrast, S. europaea monocropping accumulated relatively higher amounts of Zn, Pb, and Cd, indicating potential for Pb phytoextraction/phytostabilization and Zn phytoextraction. Overall, this study provides the first comparative evidence that intercropping systems differentially influence biomass production, antioxidant defenses, and heavy metal partitioning in S. europaea , highlighting their potential to optimize phytoremediation strategies in PTE‐contaminated soils. Future long‐term field‐based case studies are needed to validate these findings under real‐world contamination scenarios.
Khalilzadeh et al. (Fri,) studied this question.