Soil contamination by heavy metals and salinity intrusion are major environmental challenges that threaten agricultural productivity and ecosystem health. Nerium oleander, a salt- and drought-tolerant shrub, has shown potential for use in phytoremediation of degraded soils. This study aimed to evaluate the capacity of N. oleander to remediate soils co-contaminated with heavy metals and salinity.

Two treatment groups were established: (1) soils amended with arsenic (As), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) at three concentrations (10, 50, and 100 ppm) combined with sodium chloride (NaCl) to simulate salt intrusion, and (2) soils amended with the same heavy metals without NaCl. Plants were grown in pots for the experimental period, and soil and plant samples were collected at harvest. Metal concentrations in roots, stems, and leaves were analyzed to assess uptake, accumulation, and translocation patterns.

We anticipate that N. oleander will demonstrate high tolerance to both heavy metals and salinity, with greater accumulation of As, Zn, and Cd in roots than in stems and leaves, suggesting its role as a phytostabilizer. The presence of NaCl is expected to alter metal bioavailability, potentially affecting uptake and translocation, with variable responses depending on the metal type and concentration.

These findings are expected to highlight the potential of N. oleander for use in the remediation of heavy metal–contaminated and saline soils. The study contributes to understanding the plant’s resilience and its capacity to mitigate co-occurring soil stressors, offering a sustainable approach for land restoration in affected regions such as coastal areas.