Impact of Longterm Irrigation with Wastewater on Potentially Toxic Elements Accumulation in some Edible Plants: Northern Dakahlia Governorate As A Case Study

Abdullahi, M. B.; Mosa, A.; Elnaggar, A.; El-Ghamry, A.; Trüby, Peter; Omar, M.

Impact of Longterm Irrigation with Wastewater on Potentially Toxic Elements Accumulation in some Edible Plants: Northern Dakahlia Governorate As A Case Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ 1Department of Crop Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Nigeria 2Soils Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, 35516 Mansoura, Egypt

² Soils Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, 35516 Mansoura, Egypt

³ Institute of Soil Science and Forest Nutrition, Freiburg University, Freiburg, Germany

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of long-term irrigation with low-quality water resources (wastewater) on the accumulation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in some edible plants (date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L), olive, pomegranate, eggplant, pepper, wheat and clover) as well as casuarina trees and iceplant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.). Water, soil and plant were collected from Kalabsho, Dakahlia chemical properties and PTEs concentration. The prevalence of PTEs concentration in wastewater was higher in summer compared to autumn and winter seasons. Concentrations of PTEs in wastewater ranked were: (i) Zn>Fe>Al>Cu>Ni>Mn with, Co, Cd, Pb and Cr not detected (ND) during the autumn, (ii) Mn>Zn>Fe>Al>Ni>Pb>Cu whereas, Co, Cd and Cr were ND during summer, and (iii) Zn>Al>Fe>Mn>Ni while, Co, Cd, Cu, Pb and Cr were ND during winter. Similarly, Mn showed highest concentration in soil. In all cases, the levels of PTEs concentrations in water and soil were within allowable limits of FAO/WHO. Concentrations of PTEs were above maximum allowable limits except Ni and Cu in olive young leaves, casuarina young and old needles as well as pepper leaves. The accumulation characteristics of clover and iceplant has proven their potentiality in phytoremediation of PTEs contaminated soil. General, PTEs concentrations were within the permissible limits in water and soil but above the maximum allowable limit in plants except Ni. The bioaccumulation factor (BCF) was >1.0 in all PTEs under consideration. Findings from this investigation increased our understanding regarding ecotoxicological hazard of PTEs in marginal soils irrigated with low-quality water resources.

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