REUSE OF LOW QUALITY WATER SOURCES FOR IRRIGATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SOIL HEAVY METALS

Soliman, S. M.; El-Nennah, M. E.; El-Degwy, Sherien M.; Gadalla, A. M.; Al-Natsheh, B. A.

doi:10.21608/jssae.2011.56449

REUSE OF LOW QUALITY WATER SOURCES FOR IRRIGATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SOIL HEAVY METALS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Atomic Energy Authority, Nuclear Research Center, Soil and Water Research Department, Abou-Zaabl, 13759, EGYPT,

² Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/jssae.2011.56449

Abstract

A pot experiment was carried out under green house condition to evaluate the impact of wastewater sources on soil heavy metals content (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cd and Pb) as well as plant growth and its heavy metals content. In this regard, we aimed to reuse both the low quality wastewater and heavy metal contaminated soil.
This study revealed that sewage effluent and industrial wastewater are the main sources of pollution of the water body when used in irrigation. They contain variable amounts of heavy metals lead to increase concentration of metals in the soil and vegetation. Soil, plant and water quality monitoring, together with the prevention of metals entering the plant, are a prerequisite in order to prevent potential health hazards of irrigation with sewage-fed or industrial wastewater.
Heavy accumulation of metals in root from soil and subsequent translocation to other parts of plants is important for the selection of plant specially crops and vegetables. To avoid entrance of metals into the food chain, municipal or industrial waste should not be drained into rivers and farmlands without prior treatment.

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