Authors : A. S. Mahakalkar, R.R.Gupta, P. Charde and S.V. Kulkarni
Page Nos : 265-267
Description :
Abstract:
Assessment of metal-contaminated soils depends on how one can predict the bioavailability of trace and toxic metals in soil and transfer to the human food chain. To predict the uptake of Cu, Mn, Fe and Zn by Leafy vegetables grown on agricultural soil on the bank of Nag river, 20 vegetables and 5 soil samples were collected from areas irrigated with wastewater as study samples and for comparative purposes, agricultural soil samples irrigated with fresh river water, was collected as control samples. The samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The level of Cu ranged from 0.4- 0.44 mg/g Mn from 0.67-0.71 mg/g, Fe from 11.06-11.09 mg/g and Zn from 2.82-2.88 mg/g Dry Weights (DW) for soil samples. The average concentration of these heavy metals in Brinjal was 0.002, 0.003, 1.99 and 1.208, in Flower it was 0.002, 0.0034, 2.095 and 1.014, in Bathua it was 0.002, 0.0026, 2.032, 1.428, in Chawli it was 0.0022, 0.0026, 2.63, 0.838, in Spinach it was 0.0022, 0.0024, 2.056, 1.328 mg/g for Cu, Mn, Fe and Zn metals respectively. Metal transfer factors from soil to vegetable are found more significant for Fe followed by Zn and very less for Cu and Mn.
Keywords: Heavy metals, Nag River, Nagpur
