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Pak. J. Bot., 42(2): 511-514, 2014.

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  Updated: 05-04-14

 

 

ACCUMULATION OF METALS AND METALLOIDS IN TURNIP (BRASSICA RAPA L.) IRRIGATED WITH DOMESTIC WASTEWATER IN THE PERI-URBAN AREAS OF KHUSHAB CITY, PAKISTAN

 

KAFEEL AHMAD1, ZAFAR IQBAL KHAN1, SUMAIRA YASMIN1, MUHAMMAD ASHRAF2,3 AND ASMA ISHFAQ1

 

Abstract: Accumulation of different metals and metalloids was assessed in a potential vegetable crop, turnip (Brassica rapa L.) irrigated with domestic wastewater in the peri-urban areas of Khushab City, Pakistan. Two sites at a distance of 15 km radius were selected for this study. The levels of different  metals and metalloids such as Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Cd and Pb, at site-I were 0.06, 15.8, 34.4, 13.5, 1.95, 3.15, 4.25, 41.5, 1.68, 4.79, 8.76, and 27.5 mg kg-1, whereas those at site-II  were 0.07, 23.7,41.9, 20.2,  3.70, 3.63, 9.64, 47.08, 2.73, 5.85, 19.09 and 33.85 mg kg-1, respectively. In general, the metal and metalloid concentrations were higher at site-II than those found at site-I, except Cd.  The concentrations (mg kg-1) of metals and metalloids in the vegetable at site-I following the order of arrangement in the case of soil were, 9.07, 33.66, 28.48, 0.49, 7.64, 18.73, 35.79, 2.53, 0.41, 6.8, 0.58 and 7.28 mg/kg, whereas those at site-II were 17.09, 49.23, 42.05,0.77, 9.95, 15.10, 55.5, 5.21, 0.63, 16.1, 0.66 and 12.6 mg/kg, respectively. At both sites the levels of metals in the vegetable were below the permissible level except those of Mn, Ni, Zn, Mo and Pb. At both sites, the transfer factor ranged from 0.03-216.3 mg kg-1 with Cr having the highest transfer factor. The metal pollution index in  soil was in the following order: Cd > Ni > Se  > Zn > Mn > Co   > Cr > Pb > Mo  >  Fe > Cu > As and in the vegetables as Mo > As  > Cr  > Pb > Zn  > Co   > Se > Fe > Mn >  Ni > Cd  > Cu, respectively.

 


1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Sargodha, Pakistan

2University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistan

3Department of Botany & Microbiology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Corresponding author’s email:kafeeluaf@yahoo.com


   
   

 

   
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