Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

EFFECT OF SEWAGE IRRIGATION ON HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION AND SOIL FERTILITY STATUS IN SOILS OF PEN I URBAN AREA OF VADODARA (GUJARAT)

K. C. Patel, K. P. Patel, B. K. Patel and V. P. Ramani

Abstract

The sewage irrigated soils of pen i urban area nearby Vadoclara city was surveyed to know the heavy metals contamination and nutrient status of sewage irrigated fields.The soils were found alkaline in reaction with build up of soil salinity besides increase in organic carbon, available P and K as well as micronutrients (Fe, Zn) over tube well irrigated soils of adjoining area.The contents of P, K,S,micronutrients as well as heavy metals were more concentrated in upper 30 cm depth in both the soils.Among the metals, DTPA—Fe (r = 0.657**), Cu (r = 0.6374() and Pb (r = 0.7391 showed positive correlation with organic carbon in sewage irrigated soil.The average available and total contents of heavy metals viz., Pb, Co and Ni were also higher in sewage irrigated soils than adjacent tube well irrigated soils.The findings of the present investigation emphasize the contamination of soils in pen i urban areas especially with heavy metals viz., Pb, Ni and Co which are irrigated with sewage water over the years.