Profile-wise enrichment of metallic pollutants (Pb, Cr and Cd) in various sewage and non-sewage irrigated soils of Prayagraj

Abstract

The study examined the profile-wise enrichment of metallic pollutants (Pb, Cr and Cd) at different sites, i.e., Naini, Draupadi Ghat, Phaphamau and Beligaon in Prayagraj (U.P.), India. The soil samples were collected from different soil profile depths: 0-15, 15-30, 30-45 and 45-60 cm. It was observed that maximum enrichment of Pb, Cr and Cd was found at the (0-15 cm) depth of sewage and non-sewage irrigated soil (5.12±0.42, 4.08±038 and 3.58±031 mg kg-1 ) and (1.58±0.09, 1.08±0.09 and 1.02±0.08 mg kg-1 ) and minimum enrichment was found at the (45-60 cm) depth (2.18, 0.56 and 0.48 mg kg-1 ) and (0.69±0.04, 0.56±0.04 and 0.47±0.03 mg kg-1 ) in Naini, respectively. Maximum enrichment of Pb, Cr and Cd was found at the (0-15 cm) depth of sewage and non-sewage irrigated soil (2.44±0.22, 2.19±0.14 and 2.08±0.16 mg kg-1 ) and (1.09±0.07, 0.97±0.06 and 0.84±0.07 mg kg-1 ) and minimum enrichment was found at the (45-60 cm) depth (1.01±0.06, 0.98±0.05 and 0.71±0.06 mg kg-1 ) and (0.19±0.02, 0.15±0.01 and 0.11±0.01 mg kg-1 ) in Beligaon, respectively. To find the maximum enrichment of heavy metals in Naini and the minimum enrichment in Beligaon. The enrichment of metallic pollution decreased with increasing soil profile depth in both sewage and non-sewage irrigated soils. Metallic contamination in soil can persist for a long time and create serious problems; therefore, proper monitoring of sewage irrigated soils is required to reduce metallic pollution