Abstract
This study was conducted to assess heavy metals concentrations in agricultural soils in the National Capital Region, Delhi. A total of 84 soil samples were collected from selected agricultural areas located near industries, national highways, state highways, Yamuna floodplain, residential complexes, and wastewater irrigated soils. Heavy metal concentrations, pH, and organic carbon (%) were analyzed in the collected soil samples. The average value of pH, and organic carbon (%) in the soil samples were 7.79±0.49 and 0.53±0.17 percent respectively. Average concentrations of heavy metals (mg kg-1) in the agricultural soils were found in the order of Fe > Al > Mn > Zn > Ni > Cr > Cu > Pb > Co > Cd with value as 14916.92, 13538.87, 277.16, 74.53, 35.34, 33.68, 22.94, 18.45, 1.88, and 0.92 . The concentrations of Zn, Ni, and Mn reported in the present study were several times higher than their concentration in Indian natural background soils. A significant potential ecological risk has been noticed in nearly all the agricultural soil samples except for the samples collected nearby residential areas. The contamination factor has shown that most of the soil samples were moderately contaminated with Mn, Ni, Fe, and Cr and some soil samples were considerably to strongly contaminated with Zn, Pb, Cd, and Ni. Wastewater irrigated soils showed a moderate to a strong degree of accumulation of Zn, Cd, and Ni.
Highlights
Indian economy is agriculture based; employing 42 percent of the population and with average Indian spending about 45 percent of its expenditure on food.[1]
Physico-Chemical and Heavy Metals Analysis The pH and organic carbon are important parameters of agricultural soils as they control the bio-availability of heavy metals in soils
The significant potential ecological risk has been noticed in most the agricultural soil samples except for the samples collected nearby residential areas
Summary
Indian economy is agriculture based; employing 42 percent of the population and with average Indian spending about 45 percent of its expenditure on food.[1]. The state is known as the “Bread basket of India” as it contributes to 60 % of the total basmati rice export.[2] Rapid industrialization in the state has resulted in the immigration of a large population to the area which led to unregulated usage of natural resources. These factors have contributed to an increased level of pollution in the environment during recent decades.
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