Physico Chemical Properties of the Sewage Water Used for Growing Certain Vegetable Crops in Etmadpur Area of Agra Region
Preeti Parashar*, F.M Prasad, Shashank Sharma and Jolly Singh
School of Chemical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, St. John’s College, Agra-282002(U.P)
*Corresponding Author E-mail: preetiavn@gmail.com
ABSTRACT:
In the field experiment conducted in the varying plots in Etmadpur area of Agra region to study the physico chemical properties of six sewage samples and its effect on vegetable crop. Accumulation of mineral constituents and heavy metals in soil and vegetable crop like spinach and Okra showed varying results. When the sewage water samples (W1-W6) were tested the results were that all the samples were found in the range of (7-8 pH).CO3 is found maximum in 2 samples 2meL-1 (W5-W6), HCO3 is found maximum in one sample 18meL-1 (W2). Cl recorded maximum in 15 meL-1(W6). None of the samples (W1-W6) were detected suitable for irrigation as all were basic in nature. The class of irrigated water is found to be basic in nature therefore not suitable for irrigation. Certain vegetable crops like reddish, cauliflower, spinach etc were found to give better yield in this particular sewage water.
KEYWORDS: Sewage, irrigated. accumulation, heavy metal
Agra is situated in the extreme southwest corner of Uttar Pradesh. It stretches across 26’’44’N to 27”25’N and 77”26’E to 78”32’E. It is situated at the bank of Yamuna. It has limited forest area having sporting trees of Babul, Ber, Neem, Peepal. Agra suffers from extremities of climate with scorching hot summers and chilly winters. Like most of the cities of North India the weather and climate of Agra is extreme and tropical. In Agra and surrounding areas summers are extremely hot and the maximum temperature goes to 47 C while during winters it remains cold and foggy. During monsoon it becomes hot and humid. The soil, water and vegetable samples were collected during winter season in the month of December. The vegetable crops were irrigated in sewage water.
Reuse of sewage is one of the best options to reduce the stress on limited fresh water available and help to meet the nutrient requirement of crops. The quality of sewage water was analyzed by many scientists of different places in India to find out its utility for agricultural as well as for domestic purposes in Faridabad district, Haryana, Khurshid et.al1 (1997) in Punjab state. The average sewage contains 52 ppm
Nitrogen, 15 ppm Phosphorus, 45 ppm Potassium and 3560 ppm biodegradable organic matter (Science Reporter)2. Maximum permissible concentration in agricultural soils have been set by national authorities in several countries for non-essential traces elements such as Cd, Pb, Hg, and As and micronutrients such as Co, Cu, Cr, Mo, Ni, Se and Zn to protect. Oliver et.al (1993) and Tiller et al(1997)3. Accumulation of heavy metals in agriculture can be prevented by opting ‘balance approach’. The change in heavy metal content in the plough layer is result of the net difference between input and outflows per unit time. Now a day’s large amount of untreated sewage is being discharged into surface bodies for disposal (Saleemi, 1993)4. As there is water shortage in urban areas farmers generally use sewage water for irrigation. Sewage water contains organic matter and some inorganic elements essential for plant growth. But it also contains non-essential heavy metals which when present in large amount could be transferred to animals and human beings through food chain (Ghafoor et. Al5 1995; Nriagu, 1990)6
Table 1: Physico chemical parameters of six sewage water samples collected from Etmadpur region of Agra city
|
S. no. |
Sam. Code |
pH |
Ec |
CO3 mel-1 |
HCO3 mel-1 |
Cl mel-1 |
Ca+Mg mel-1 |
Ca mel-1 |
Mg mel-1 |
Na mel-1 |
K mel-1 |
SAR |
RSC mel-1 |
|
1 |
W146 |
7.75 |
2.3 |
1 |
11 |
12.5 |
7.2 |
3 |
4.2 |
66.9 |
1.51 |
35.29 |
4.8 |
|
2 |
W147 |
7.96 |
2.8 |
1 |
18 |
14 |
12.1 |
4.2 |
7.9 |
42.61 |
0.85 |
17.32 |
6.9 |
|
3 |
W148 |
7.83 |
2.6 |
1 |
16 |
13.5 |
8.7 |
3.8 |
4.9 |
67.39 |
1.51 |
32.31 |
8.3 |
|
4 |
W149 |
7.56 |
2.5 |
1 |
12 |
11.5 |
8 |
3.4 |
4.6 |
66.09 |
1.49 |
33.05 |
5 |
|
5 |
W150 |
7.94 |
2.9 |
2 |
15 |
13 |
12.6 |
4.3 |
8.3 |
41.3 |
0.79 |
16.45 |
4.4 |
|
6 |
W151 |
7.91 |
2.9 |
2 |
15 |
15 |
13.1 |
4.6 |
8.5 |
41.3 |
0.79 |
16.14 |
3.9 |
|
Avg. |
7.82 |
2.67 |
1.33 |
14.50 |
13.25 |
10.28 |
3.88 |
6.4 |
54.27 |
1.15 |
25.1 |
5.55 |
|
|
Median |
7.87 |
2.7 |
1.0 |
15.5 |
13.25 |
10.4 |
4.0 |
6.4 |
66.45 |
1.5 |
24.01 |
4.9 |
|
|
Range |
7.56-7.96 |
2.3-2.9 |
1-2 |
11-18 |
11.5-15 |
7.2-13.9 |
3-4.6 |
4.2-8.5 |
41.3-67.39 |
0.79-1.51 |
16.14-35.29 |
3.9-8.3 |
|
|
Std. dev. |
0.138 |
0.22 |
0.47 |
2.36 |
1.10 |
2.37 |
0.3014 |
1.74 |
12.54 |
0.347 |
8.53 |
1.48 |
|
Fig 1: Location of Agra region in Uttar Pradesh
Fig:2 Location of Etmadpur region in Agra region
MATERIAL AND METHODS:
In the analysis of various parameters for the soil samples collected from the varying plots of Etmadpur area of Agra region was conducted during the winter season before harvesting the various vegetable crops. The soil in Agra region is basically alluvial. The climate of Agra is neither too wet nor too dry. For the detection of heavy metals in sewage water AAS technique was used. The maximum pH and Ec was found to be 7. 96, 2. 91 dsm-1. It was basically done by glass electrode pH meter method (Richards 1954).
Cl- is estimated by Mohr’s method. Na+, K+ by Flame photometer. (Ca+++Mg++) was estimated by EDTA method.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:
Sewage water treatment in vegetables like spinach leaves showed absorption of heavy metals more frequently. The effect of different quality waters on heavy metals and micronutrient content of spinach were significant. Spinach showed maximum absorption of Fe regardless of other vegetable crops. The trend of accumulation of heavy metals and micronutrients in spinach is Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu and in okra is Fe>Zn>Cu>Mn. The two above vegetable crops showed variation when compared. The effect of sewage water on heavy metal and micronutrient contents of spinach leaves and okra is given in the tables 2. Vegetable crop like spinach and okra irrigated with sewage water shown accumulation of heavy metal from the soil. Spinach has the capacity to absorb more Fe from the soil.
Critical level of different metal ions in edible portion of vegetable
|
Cu |
Zn |
Fe |
Mn |
|
10. 00 |
5. 00 |
150. 00 |
6. 61 |
WHO(1996);Asaolu(1995) 7
Uptake of heavy metals (toxic) by plants grown in polluted land has been one of the principle focuses of environmental sciences research since the outbreak of itai-itai disease. The study of heavy metal pollution specifically in agro system becomes more important due to their non-biodegradable nature, leading to the tendency of being accumulated in the soil environment. Further the plants act as pathway for the movements of potentially toxic trace elements soil to human Nigam et al (2002) 8. The process of metal uptake and accumulation by different plants depends on the concentration of available metals in soils. Anderson, (1977) 9; Kufka and Kuras 10 (1977)
Table 2:Analysis of two vegetable samples showing accumulation of heavy, metal, irrigated in sewage water
|
S. no. |
Vegetable crop |
Zn(ppm) |
Cu(ppm) |
Fe(ppm) |
Mn(ppm) |
|
1. |
Spinach |
84.00 |
19.80 |
379.60 |
87.00 |
|
2. |
Okra |
77.80 |
20.60 |
264.80 |
19.80 |
Fig 1: Graph showing comparative study of CO3 and HCO3
Fig 2: Showing comparative study of pH and Ec
Fig 3: Showing comparative study of Ca and Mg
Fig 4: Showing comparative of Na and K
Fig 5:showing comparative study of spinach and okra regarding accumulation of heavy metals
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
I thank Dr. Ashok Kumar, Head, Dept. of Chemistry, St. John’s College, Agra for providing me the required facilities for the completion of my lab work. I’d also like to thank Chambal fertilizers for providing the best results of my given samples.
REFERENCES:
1. Khursheed et. al (1997)-Degradation of water quality due to heavy metal pollution of Faridabad dist, Haryana, India, Poll. Res. 16(11):41-43
2. Science Reporter, April-May 1989, page-194
3. Oliver et. al(1993) and Tiller et. al Managing Cd conc. of agric. land, In:Remediation of soils cantaminated by metal Iskander T. K(ed.), Science and Technology letters, Northwood U. K
4. Saleemi, M. A 1993, Environmental assessment and management of irrigation and drainage scheme for sustainable agric. growth environ. Protectiob agency Bull. (Lahore):64
5. Ghafoor, A, A Rauf, M Arif and W. Muzaffar1995 Chemical Composition of effluent from different industries from Faislabad city. Pakistan. J. agric. Sci, 31:37-69
6. Nriagu, M. B, 1990 Problems of using waste water on vegetable crops J. Hort. Sci. 21:24-7
7. Asaolu, S. S, 1995. Lead content of vegetables and tomatoes at Ere Kesan market. Pakistan J. ci Ind. Res. , 38:399-401
8. Nigam et. al Plant availability of Cd in presence of organic acid, an interactive aspect J. environ Biol 23(2):175-180
9. Anderson, (1977) Distribution of heavy metals in soil and soil material as influenced by the ionic radius. Sewed agric Res 7:79-83
10. Kufka Z. Kuras, M. (1997)-Heavy metals in soils contaminated from different sources, In:Ecological issues and environmental impact assessment. Cheremissionoff P. (Ed.) Gulf Publishing company, Houstan, Texas 175-180
Received on 30.07.2010 Modified on 10.08.2010
Accepted on 16.08.2010 © AJRC All right reserved
Asian J. Research Chem. 4(3): March 2011; Page 399-401