HEAVY METAL CONTENTS OF VEGETABLES IRRIGATED BY SEWAGE/TUBEWELL WATER

Abstract

A field study was conducted to find the effect of sewage/tube well water irrigation on the accumulated concentration of heavy metal contents in okra fruit and spinach leaves. Three adjacent fields were selected for each crop and separately irrigated by sewage water, tube well water and mixture of sewage and tube well water. Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) and spinach (Spinacea oleracea) were planted in spring and winter respectively. Both vegetables were given a basal dose of 100 and 50 kg ha N and P respectively. The heavy metal and micronutrient contents in both vegetables were present in significantly higher amount in order of sewage>sewage and tube well water >tube well water except Cu and Fe which showed variation for both the crops. Spinach leaves showed higher accumulation of heavy metals and micronutrients as compared to okra fruit.