ANALYSIS OF HEAVY METALS IN IRRIGATION WATER, SOIL AND UPTAKE BY VEGETATION OF BRAHMA BAHTAR ATTOCK

Abstract

The present study was carried out to assess the heavy metals in soil, irrigation water and plants grown upon it with different sources of irrigation water in the area of Brahma Bahtar Attock. The level of five different heavy metals including Lead, Cadmium, Chromium, Nickel and Manganese was determined by using aqua regia digestion and Atomic absorption spectrophotometer methods. The water samples, soil samples and plant samples were collected separately from the seven selected fields of the study area. The results indicates the accumulation of heavy metals in the soil and plants being grown upon it. The range of various metals in soil was 0.02-0.07ppm, 0.02-0.04ppm, 0.02-0.05ppm, and 0.03-0.09 ppm, 0.04-0.2 ppm for Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni and Mn respectively. In case of water samples the average concentration lies from 0.04ppm, 0.05ppm, 0.1ppm, 0.09ppm and 0.07ppm for Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni and Mn. Moreover, in case of irrigation water the concentration of heavy metals was found more in waste water samples as compared to tube well samples. In case of plants Sorghum plant was found to have maximum accumulation of heavy metals due to its properties among all the selected species. In plant samples the ratio lies within the range of 0.02-0.18ppm. Overall regular monitoring and management of heavy metals is required in irrigation field so as to avoid the excessive build-up of these metals in the food chain.