Impact Of Irrigation Water On the Quality Attributes of Selected Indigenous Plants

Abstract

The present study was carried out to study the effects of irrigation water on the quality attributes of mango, banana, and mulberry collected from the nearby orchards located in peri-urban areas of Sahiwal (Pakistan). Due to freshwater scarcity in peri-urban areas, wastewater is used as a source of irrigation for orchards, which consequently increases heavy metal accumulation in the soil, leaves, and fruits. The physio-chemical attributes and accumulation of heavy metals were analyzed in different soil layers and fruit cultivars. Among the heavy metals, copper, lead, chromium, and cadmium contents were found to be in greater amounts in the effluent sample than in freshwater samples, according to WHO. Heavy metals such as copper, lead, and chromium were found to be in higher concentrations in soil and effluent samples. The concentration levels of copper in mango and mulberry were 0.005 and 0.002 mg/kg, respectively. The concentration levels of lead in banana and mulberry were 0.231 and 1.248 mg/kg, and the concentration of chromium in banana was found to be 1.203 mg/kg, which is higher than the allowed limit given by WHO. The interaction among the sources of irrigation and fruit cultivars was significant for copper accumulation in different soil layers, lead, and copper accumulation in fruit cultivars. The irrigation water quality index (WQI) of all effluent samples ranged from 63.5 to 63.57, which, according to WHO, can be used for irrigation purposes as it is non-drinkable water.