Rehabilitation of Heavy Metal Contamination and Soil Erosion Through Integrated Management

Abstract

Soil is an essential element for life in natural environment. Agricultural and industrial human activities alter the properties of soil, which increase soil erosion and deteriorate the soil fertility. Indiscriminative use of synthetic inputs, improper management, industrialization and urbanization activities increase heavy metal pollution that degrade the natural environment. Excess amount of heavy metal affects plant metabolic activities and enter into food chain process that ultimately affects the health of animals and humans. The issues of soil erosion and heavy metal pollution are very much concerned because of their degradability in natural system. Therefore several management practices are followed to minimize the soil erosion and heavy metal toxicity. Some of the traditional cultural methods are either extremely costly or they are simply applied for short term management. The biological technologies require long period for reclamation. Recently, the application of nanoparticle is used for rehabilitation of natural environment. The effectiveness in controlling soil erosion and heavy metal pollution is more by integrating any of the cultural, biological and nano technological approach than using individually.