Heavy Metal Accumulation in Crops Irrigated with Poor

Quality WaterMausumi Raychaudhuri1, A. K. Singh2, S. K. Jain2,

Ravish Chandra2 and Ashwani Kumar1

1Directorate of Water Management Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023

2College of Agricultural Engineering, Rajendra Agricultural University,

Pusa, Bihar 848125

Session- Wastewater Management-Recycling and Reuse

DWM, ICAR, Bhubaneswar

Introduction• Fresh water is becoming scarce• Only 31 and 60 percent of the urban effluent and

industrial effluent are treated• The periurban agriculture is mainly based on poor

quality water• About 75000 ha area in India is irrigated with

wastewater• A rich source of nutrient, economically viable and

easily available• Long term irrigation may lead to accumulation of

heavy metals in agricultural soils and plantsDWM, ICAR, Bhubaneswar

To study the heavy metal accumulation in soil and plant

To study the trace element accumulation in soil and plant

Objective

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Study area

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Sl.No. Sampling Sites Distance from source (km)

Soil Crops

1. Chhoti Pahari 0.2 S1 Red Spinach, Spongegourd, Spinach, 0.50 S2 Red Spinach, Chilli, Cowpea

2.. Bari Pahari 1.50 S3 Pumpkin, Red Spinach, Okra, Cowpea2.50 S4 Poi, Chilli, Okra, Pumpkin

3. Ranipur Pajhaba 4.00 S5 Cabbage, Okra, Pumpkin4.50 S6 Cabbage, Pumpkin, Brinjal

4. Mahadeo Sthan 6.00 S7 Spongegourd, Cowpea, Red spinach, Okra, Sugar beet

6.50 S8 Chilli, Red Spinach, Spongegourd, Maize5. Begampur 8.50 S9 Sugar beat, Pumpkin, Spongegourd, Okra,

9.00 S10 Chilli, Spongegourd, Red spinach, Poi Cowpea

6. Karmali Chowk 10.0 S11 Spongegourd, Cowpea, Okra, Maize10.5 S12 Okra, Spongegourd, Red spinach

7. Sati Chowk 11.5 S13 Okra, Red spinach, Pumpkin12.0 S14 Chilli, Cowpea, Brinjal, Okra

8. Deedarganj 13.5 S15 Okra, Cowpea, Cucumber14.0 S16 Spongegourd, Cowpea, Okra

Experimental Details

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Concentration of heavy metals along the distance from the sewage disposal site

Concentration of trace metals in soils along the distance from the sewage disposal site

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Concentration of trace metals in plant samples

Concentration of heavy metals in plant samples

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Relative accumulation of trace element in different plant species

.

Zn Spinacha>cabbageab > poiabc >red spinachabcd > sugarbeetbcde > pumpkincde > chillide > maizee > cowpeae > brinjale > sponge gourde > cucmbere > okrae

Fe Sugarbeeta > cucmberab >spinachabc>red spinachabc > cabbageabc > maizebcd > chillibcde >cowpeabcde>okracde > spongegourdde > pumpkinde > brinjalde >poie

Cu Spinacha>cabbageb > chillib > cucumberb >red spinachb > pumpkinb >sugarbeetb > okrab >cowpeab > spongegourdb > maizeb>poib > brinjalb

Mn Cucumbera > spinachab > chilliabc >sugarbeetabc > cabbageabc > spongegourdabc >redspinachbc>okra bc> maizebc > brinjal bc>pumpkinbc >cowpea bc>poic respectively

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. Ni Sugarbeeta > red spinachab > poiab > chilliab > spinachab > okraab > sponge gourdab > cucumberab > cowpeaab > pumpkinab > cabbageab > brinjalb > maizeb

 Cr Spinacha > red spinacha > sugarbeeta > okraab > cowpeabc > cucumberbc > poibc > maizebc > pumpkinbc > sponge gourdbc > cabbagebc > chillic > brinjalc Cd Spinacha > red spinachab > poiab > sugarbeetab > brinjalb > cabbageb > chillib > cucumberb > okrab > cowpeab > sponge gourdb > pumpkinb > maizeb

 

Pb Cabbagea > poiab > spinachab > chilliabc > sugarbeetabc > red spinachabc > okraabc > cowpeaabc > brinjalabc > sponge gourdabcd > pumpkinbcd > maizecd >cucumberd

Relative accumulation of heavy metals in different plant species

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Conclusion• Irrigation with wastewater accumulates trace

elements and heavy metals in soil and plants• Transfer of metals from added water to the

soils and subsequently uptake by the plants that enter the feed and food-chain pose threats for human health and animals

• Integrated water management is required for safe use of poor quality water in irrigation

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