Response of Pumpkin and Chinese Cabbage to Increasing Copper and Cobalt Levels in Irrigation Water on Sandy and Clay Loam Soils

John Volk,Benson H Chishala

doi:10.5539/jas.v8n8p98

Abstract

A study where Chinese cabbage and pumpkin crops were grown on sandy loam and clay loam soils and irrigated with water contaminated with five levels of contamination from 0 (control), 25, 50, 75 and 100% of smelter water was carried out in a greenhouse. Copper concentration in Chinese cabbage ranged from 4.0 mg/kg in control treatments to 539.0 mg/kg in 100% contaminated water. In pumpkin, Cu ranged from 9.0 mg/kg in control to 142.0 mg/kg when irrigate with 100% contaminated water. Mean Cu in plants grown on sandy loam soil was 217.4 mg/kg dry and 79.3 mg/kg when grown on clay loam. Co in plants grown on sandy loam soil was 86.6 mg/kg and 47.0 mg/kg on clay loam soil. Increasing above ground tissue Cu in Chinese cabbage results in biomass yield decrease according to the equation Y = 7.624e-0.0016x, (R2 = 0.74) and in pumpkin decreased according to the equation Y = 8.4895e-0.004x (R2 = 0.58).This study suggests that Chinese cabbage tends to accumulate higher amounts of Cu and Co than pumpkin. It can be concluded from this study that irrigating crops with contaminated results in higher uptake of contaminants and reduced biomass on sandy loam than clay loam soils.

Highlights

IntroductionCopper and cobalt are important in metabolic processes and synthesis of vitamins in human and plant life
Copper (Cu) and Cobalt (Co) are commonly present in soil in trace amounts
These results shows that the amount Cu and Co being transferred from contaminated water to plants were higher on sandy loam than on clay loam soil

Summary

Introduction

Copper and cobalt are important in metabolic processes and synthesis of vitamins in human and plant life. Co is a vital element in the synthesis of vitamin B12 which is important in a number of reactions in the human body including production of red blood cells (Lind, 2004). For Cu and Co, the very properties that make them indispensable to the body functions become toxic when they are present in excess (Centano et al, 2004; Lind, 2004; Nordberg & Cherian, 2004). When cobalt sulphate is added to beer as stabilizer, it has been found to cause endemic problems of cardiomyopathy among beer drinkers and resulted in fatalities (Nordberg & Cherian, 2004; Centano et al, 2004)

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