Global NEST Journal, Vol 18, No X, pp XX-XX, 2016 Copyright© 2016 Global NEST Printed in Greece. All rights reserved Salihaj M., Bani A. and Echevarria G. (2016), Heavy metals uptake by hyperaccumulating flora in some serpentine soils of Kosovo, Global NEST Journal, 18(X), XX-XX. HEAVY METALS UPTAKE BY HYPERACCUMULATING FLORA IN SOME SERPENTINE SOILS OF KOSOVO SALIHAJ M. 1,* 1 Agricultural University of Tirana BANI A. 2 Koder-Kamze, Tirana, Albania ECHEVARRIA G. 3 2 Agro-Environmental Department, Faculty of Agronomy and Environment Agricultural University of Tirana, Koder-Kamze, Tirana, Albania 3 Laboratoire Sols et Environnement Nancy-Université, INRA, 2 avenue de la Forêt de Haye B.P. 172 F-54505, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France Received: 18/10/2015 Accepted: 12/12/2015 *to whom all correspondence should be addressed: Available online: 21/01/2016 e-mail: muharremsalihaj@hotmail.com ABSTRACT Ultramafics represent magmatic or metamorphic rocks which are characterized by high concentrations of Mg, Fe, Ni, Cr and Co and low concentrations of Ca, and K. Serpentine soils are weathered products of a range of ultramafic rocks composed of ferromagnesian silicates. The aim of this study was to determine the content of heavy metals in some of serpentine soils of Kosovo and heavy metals uptake by entire associated flora. Furthermore, another objective of this study was finding out bioavailable Ca/Mg relationship, which is very important indicator for plants’ development. The sampling was conducted in June 2014. A total of three serpentine areas have been surveyed and 7 soil samples have been taken in various depths of soil profiles. Those samples were analyzed for total Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Fe and Zn. Results showed that each site exhibited a high concentration of at least one metal. The maximum concentrations of metals in soils Dry Matter (DM) were 108.9 mg kg -1 Cd, 95.8 mg kg -1 Co, 1206 mg kg -1 Cr, 24 mg kg -1 Cu, 2570 mg kg -1 Ni, 21.7 mg kg -1 Pb, 39 mg kg -1 Zn, and 51563 mg kg - Fe. The serpentine soils at all sites were characterized by elevated levels of heavy metals, which showed typical properties of ultramafic environments. Nickel Total at studied areas varied between 1543 and 2570 mg kg -1 , while the highest Ni concentration was found in aerial part of Alyssum markgrafii (4038 mgkg -1 ), Based on our findings on the field we concluded that there is a close relationship between the quantity of Ni in soil and Ni uptake in plants. Keywords: Serpentine soils, Heavy metals, Ultramafics, Metals bioavailabillity 1. Introduction Ultramafics represent magmatic or metamorphic rocks which are characterized by high concentrations of Mg, Fe, Ni, Cr and Co and low concentrations of Ca and K containing less than 45% silica (SiO2). The term “serpentine” strictly speaking refers only to the serpentine group of minerals (including antigorite and chrysolite) with the general formula Mg3Si2O5(OH) 4, which are important constituents of weathered “ultramafic rocks”. These minerals are derived from the “serpentinization” of ultramafic rocks. Rocks which are rich in serpentine minerals derived from alteration of previously existing olivines and