EFFECT OF WASTEWATER AND FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON CALCAREOUS SOIL AND FOOD CROPS IN BORG EL ARAB – EGYPT

Abstract

This paper summarizes the available information on the pollution of groundwater and irrigation canals from anthropogenic sources (sewage effluences and industrial waste water, and intensive fertilization) in northwestern Egypt Borg El Arab that leading to contamination of the soil-plant-animal. Excessive applications of fertilizers to field and vegetable crops lead to nitrate and phosphate contamination of groundwater and irrigation canals. In certain situations, nitrates exceed the dangerous level of 10 mg N/L. Industrial effluents, released without anytreatment to sewage drains, contain potentially toxic elements with a concentrations that are several fold higherthan those in domestic sewage water and exceed the maximum permissible limits for their disposal onto agricultural lands. The mean concentrations of Pb, Co, Cd and Ni in sewage water were, respectively 21,133, 700, and 2200 times higher than those in artesian water. The recommendation possible mitigation options for water pollution. There is an urgent need to effectively enforce regulations for the release of industrial effluents pertaining to primary, secondary and tertiary treatments. Educating farmers and public at large about the consequences of non-overkill Nitrogen fertilizer, pumping out shallow polluted water for drinking and domestic purposes, depleting groundwater resources, etc., is desirable