Accumulation and Translocation of Heavy Metals in Eggplant (<i>Solanum melongena L.</i>) Grown in a Contaminated Soil

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of the rock phosphate application on accumulation and translocation of heavy metals from the soil to the roots, shoots and fruits of eggplant (<i>Solanum melongena</i> L.) grown in a sewage sludge amended soil contaminated with Cd, Pb and Ni were 30, 30 and 60 mgkg^-1, respectively. The obtained results demonstrated that the sewage sludge application caused a significance accumulation of metals in the fruits of eggplant. The concentrations of these metals in the fruits were in the order of: Pb > Cd > Ni. The fruits of eggplant were not safe for the human consumption, because the levels of heavy metals exceeded the permissible limits. These, heavy metals in different parts of eggplant can be ranked in the order of: roots > shoots > fruits, were (mgkg^-1). The soil-plant transfer factor (TF) showed that the order of uptake of metals by eggplant was: Cd > Ni > Pb. This calls for concern especially in the case of Pb and Cd which are highly toxic and of no known biological use. Therefore, Eggplant should not be cultivated in the farms and fields which use sewage sludge contaminated with heavy metals as an amendment.