Evaluation of heavy metals contamination and its genotoxicity in agricultural soil of Amritsar, Punjab, India.

Abstract

The present study investigated physico-chemical parameters as well as the heavy metal in agricultural soil samples collected from four different zones of Amritsar, Punjab (India). pH of different soil samples ranged from 7.4 to7.8 whereas in control pH was found to be 6.6. Alkalinity was observed in the range of 201-354 meq100g -1 . The content of nitrate (NO3 - ) ranged from 0.25-0.33 mg/kg -1 slightly less than control (0.38 mgKg -1 ). A wide variation of metal concentration was observed in all studied samples. Fe (2809-5692 mgKg -1 ) was found one of the predominant heavy metal in soil followed by Zn (73-320 mgKg -1 ) Mn (154-194 mgKg -1 ), Pb (7.7-118 mgKg -1 ), Ni (9.67-24.32 mgKg - 1 ), Cu (8.4-24 mgKg -1 ) and Cd (0.55-1.39 mgKg -1 ). All the samples also induced significant genotoxicity in Allium cepa test system. The levels of all essential and toxic metals were compared well with other parts of the world.