Availability of Heavy Metals in Borg Elarab Soil and Their Uptake by Potato Plants (Solanum tuberosum L.) Irrigated with Wastewater

Abstract

To demonstrate availability of heavy metals in soil uptake by potato plants irrigated with wastewater. The wastewater near Sayed Darwish village, Borg Elarab City, Alexandria, Egypt was collected. The measured heavy metals in the wastewater were compared with the permissible levels stated in environmental regulations, Law No. 48 of 1982 concerning the protection of the Nile River and waterways from pollution. Heavy metals accumulation in potato irrigated with wastewater as following: Fe (140 mg/kg), Mn (33.2 mg/kg), Zn (31.1 mg/ kg), Cu (6.3 mg/kg), Co (1.1 mg/ kg), Ni (3.2 mg/kg), Pb (2.4 mg/kg), all item are more than allowable limits, concentrations of these available heavy metals in the surface layer (0-5 cm) of irrigated soil of waste water Fe (22.9 mg/kg), Mn (18.6 mg/kg), Zn (18.2 mg/ kg), Cu (4.3 mg/kg), Co (1.7 mg/ kg), Ni (4.1 mg/kg), Pb (4.1 mg/kg), compared with irrigated soil from artesian water Fe (11.2 mg/kg), Mn(9.5 mg/kg), Zn (19.1 mg/ kg), Cu (6.2 mg/kg), Co (1.2 mg/ kg),Ni (0.2 mg/kg), Pb (1.5 mg/kg) respectively. Potato plants irrigated with such wastewater specially wastewater not safe for human and animal consumption accordingly, the study suggests and recommends remediation of wastewater using physical, chemical and/or biological methods.