Effect of Different Irrigation Sources on Growth, Yield and Heavy Metals Accumulation in Tomato and Okra

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different irrigation sources (canal, tube-well and sewage) on growth, yield and heavy metal uptake of two summer vegetables i.e. tomato and okra. Growth attributes (plant height, number of leaves, relative leaf chlorophyll content and leaf area) and yield components (number of fruits / pods per plant and fruit size) of okra and tomato were significantly increased with sewage water application. Lesser growth and yield of the studied vegetables was recorded with tube-well water. Use of sewage water improved total yields and fresh and dry plant biomass production of both the vegetables. Significantly higher and lower lead (Pb), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr) and iron (Fe) contents were recorded in edible parts of the sewage and tube-well water irrigated vegetables, respectively. Edible parts (tomato fruits and okra pods) of the sewage water irrigated vegetables exhibited heavy metals contents above the maximum permissible limits. Leaf and root samples of the sewage water irrigated tomato and okra also contained significantly greater metals contents as compared to those irrigated with canal and tube-well water. It is concluded that vegetables irrigated with sewage water produced greater yields but these were found contaminated with heavy metals.