Analysis of Libyan Arable soils by means of Thermal and Epithermal Naca

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Due to the continuous population growth during the last century, fertilizers and agrochemicals play a very important role in increasing the land productivity and fertility. The food – fertilizer – population linkage is the important underlying basis supporting demand. Fertilizer production for the year 2000 was 200 million metric tons of fertilizers containins the world nutrients N, P2O5, and K2O. Environmental problems connected with fertilizers, especially phosphate fertilizers, are eutrophication and the buildup of heavy metals (radioactive and toxic elements). In a previous work [1] we checked the level of the major, minor, and trace elements, in the fertilizers imported to Libya. Man, like all terrestrial animals, depends on the soil as a basic source of food. The human metabolism is based on an enzyme system making use of the essential elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, ...etc.) while eliminating the harmful ones (As, Be, Cd, Hg, Pb,....,etc.). The human organism is not evolutionally prepared for adapting itself to the chemical load of the environment. The accumulating elements are relatively stable and may cause irreversible changes. Due to the change in natural circulation of elements in soils, by adding fertilizers and agrochemicals [2,3], we are investigating Libyan arable soils from many regions, used mainly for cereals production, by nuclear and related techniques, such as INAA, ED-XRF, ICP-OES,....,etc. The aim of this present paper is to determine the levels of some minor and trace elements (As, Au, Br, Cd, Ga, Gd, Ho, K, La, Mo, Na, Sb, Sm, and U), by thermal and epithermal NAA in selected Libyan arable soils.