Effect of agrochemicals applicationon accumulation of heavymetals on soil of different landuses with respect to its nutrient status

Abstract

There is a growing public concern over the potential accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soils owing to rapid urban and industrial development and increasing reliance on agrochemicals in the last several decades. Excessive accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soils may not only result in environmental contamination, but elevated heavy metal uptake by crops may also affect food quality and safety. The present study is aimed at studying heavy metal concentrations of soils in different agrochemicals applying land uses in Dimoria Tribal Development Block, Kamrup(M), Assam to assess its soil quality in terms of its physic-chemical properties. Six heavy metals were analyzed (Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn) using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The average contents of Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn in surface soils (0-15 cm depth) ranges in the following order; Cd (0.16-0.83) < Ni (2.56-29.06) < Cu (4.66-27.16) < Cr (8.03-46.06) < Zn (35.13-99.83). In terms of NPK availability the soil status can be regarded as of moderate quality. The soils could not be said to be contaminated for now because metal content levels conformed to the world-wide background content of metals range in the soil.