Abstract
The present study aims at determining the relationship between trace metal levels in paddy soils, rice plants, and rice grains obtained from these plants. The levels of selected metals (Fe, Co, Ni, Cd, Pb, and Cr) were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the soil, rice plants, and rice grain samples collected from paddy fields. All the metals were present at enhanced levels in paddy soil. Among the selected metals, Fe, Ni, Cd, and Cr were predominantly associated with oxidizable fraction. The metals such as Cr, Ni, Co, and Fe were significantly positively correlated in soil and plants, but no such correlation was observed in soil-grain matrix evidencing that these metals have a soil-based origin in the plants, but they were not translocated to grains. The Pb content of soil was strongly positively correlated with plants as well as the grains. The principal component analysis and cluster analysis were used to depict the origin of enhanced metal levels in rice plants. Under the given field conditions, different metals possess different translocation behaviours from soil to roots to shoots to grains. There is a dire need to implement the strategies for wise and optimum use of agrochemicals.
Highlights
E greater urgency to obtain more and more crop yields per capita has led to the excessive use of agrochemicals which supply the nutrients to the soils and adjust their pH and protect the precious crops from various pests [1]
The heavy-metal-contaminated sewage sludges are used as fertilizers, which on continuous application may lead to the accumulation of toxic metals into the soil. e subsequent uptake of metals in the edible parts of vegetative tissues may result in a direct pathway into the human food chain [3]
These metals may leach from contaminated soils into the water bodies thereby deteriorating their quality as well [4]. erefore, attention has been diverted towards the determination of metal levels in various agricultural soils and their extent of bioavailability to plants due to their detrimental effects on soil ora and fauna and their potential human health risks [5,6,7,8,9,10]
Summary
E greater urgency to obtain more and more crop yields per capita has led to the excessive use of agrochemicals which supply the nutrients to the soils and adjust their pH and protect the precious crops from various pests [1]. E subsequent uptake of metals in the edible parts of vegetative tissues may result in a direct pathway into the human food chain [3] These metals may leach from contaminated soils into the water bodies thereby deteriorating their quality as well [4]. In view of the hazards caused by the accumulation of heavy metals in the soil due to excessive agrochemical usage, the present study was formulated to determine the Journal of Chemistry metal contents of soil samples collected from paddy elds of Tehsil Shakargarh, Pakistan, to determine the fractionation of metals present in paddy soils to study their bioavailability and mobility, and to study the uptake of metals by rice plants and their translocation to edible parts. In view of the hazards caused by the accumulation of heavy metals in the soil due to excessive agrochemical usage, the present study was formulated to determine the Journal of Chemistry metal contents of soil samples collected from paddy elds of Tehsil Shakargarh, Pakistan, to determine the fractionation of metals present in paddy soils to study their bioavailability and mobility, and to study the uptake of metals by rice plants and their translocation to edible parts. e study will highlight the metal contamination of the paddy elds arising due to excessive and unwise use of agrochemicals and help to identify the potential risk of elevated levels of these metals to the consumers
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