Combating Arsenic Pollution in Soil Environment via Alternate Agricultural Land Use

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter highlights the severity of arsenic contamination in Nadia district (3927 sq. km), West Bengal, India (22o52′30″ and 24o05′40″ N; 88o08′10″ and 88o48′15″ E) comprising 17 blocks belonging to the alluvial tract of the highly productive Gangetic plain under the rice-based cropping system. Groundwater in all the blocks of the district is reported to be arsenic contaminated (0.01–>0.05 mg l−1). Arsenic in soils ranging from 1.34 mgkg−1 to 14.09 mgkg−1, considerably influencing its accumulation in crops, is also reported. The methodology for mitigation of arsenic pollution in the soil environment through alternate agricultural land use, avoiding large-scale withdrawal of groundwater for irrigation, is vividly outlined. Land resource information for the district was generated on the 1:50000 scale, and nine land management units were identified. Land suitability for cultivation of crops viz. jute, wheat, sesame, groundnut, and rapeseed/mustard having less irrigation water requirement was assessed in the identified land management units. Data revealed high (S1) to moderate suitability (S2) for cultivation of jute, rapeseed/mustard, and groundnut in 95%, 88.2%, and 34.8% area, moderate suitability (S2) for wheat and sesame in 19.3% and 41.8% area, and marginal suitability (S3) for wheat, rapeseed/mustard, sesame, and groundnut in 75.7%, 6.8%, 53.2%, and 60.2% area, respectively. Introduction of these crops as alternate land-use options, along with prevailing rainfed rice crops, is advocated for reducing arsenic loading in the soil. An appropriate cropping system for the district is also proposed.KeywordsArsenicSoil environmentLand management unitsLand suitabilityAlternate agricultural land use