Abstract
A systematic survey of vegetable growing areas of Punjab was carried out for assessing toxic trace elements in soils. Soil samples were collected from adjoining areas of Malerkotla, Amritsar, Faridkot, Phagwara, Nawanshaher, Samana (Patiala) during winter season (2011–2012). The results indicated that the mean pH, EC, OC and CaCO3 values of the soil samples was 8.2, 0.48 dSm−1, 0.9% and 2.17%, respectively. The mean total concentrations of arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) nickel (Ni) and chromium(Cr) in soils were 9.52, 1.02, 15.12, 18.77 and 50.77 mg kg−1, respectively. Out of the collected soils, 52% of samples (for As) and 8% of soil samples (for Cd) exceeded safety limits proposed by PFA (2000) and EU (2002), respectively. Maximum amount of all trace elements were recorded in residual fraction.
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