Contamination of shallow groundwater system and soil-plant transfer of trace metals under amended irrigated fields

This study focuses on experimental pilot assessment of contamination of shallow groundwater systems and soil-plant transfer of trace metals under amended irrigated fields. The study approach involved a pilot experimental (greenhouse) set-up of organo-mineral amended test plots/troughs (40 cm x 47 cm x 46 cm) planted with two common vegetable crops (Amaranthus hybridus and Abelmoschus esculentus) and irrigated with wastewater. In addition to the geochemical analyses of the primary un-amended and amended soils before planting as well as residual soils after harvesting, measurements of the physico-chemical parameters and chemical analyses of trace metals concentrations in irrigation leachates and harvested vegetable tissues were also undertaken following appropriate standard sample preparation and analytical methods. The results of the geochemical analyses carried out on irrigation leachate samples collected during the sprouting stage revealed that most of the analyzed trace metals in the collected leachates exhibited 2-10 folds depletion (except for Cu and Co with enrichment of about 1.5-3 folds) compared to the initial wastewater used for irrigation. A situation attributed to uptake/bioaccumulation of these metals and selective enrichment in the residual soils as well as to leaching by infiltrating irrigation water. Nonetheless, the observed higher trace elements concentrations in the second sets of leachates collected during harvesting stage compared to the first sets of leachates collected during the sprouting/vegetative stage is an indication of higher plant uptake during sprouting/vegetative stage or initial sorption/complexation of biosolids amendment before later vertical re-mobilization by infiltrating irrigation water. Although, virtually all of the analyzed metals exhibited elevated concentrations (2-173 ppm) in both A. hybridus and A. esculentus, a closer evaluation revealed 1.2-8.2 folds enrichment of Cr, Co, Ni, Cd, Cu, and Pb in A. esculentus compared to that of A. hybridus, an indication of the fact that phyto-accumulation of trace metal is plant-specific and dependent on physiological set-up. The overall evaluation had clearly demonstrated the potential danger of bioaccumulation of toxic trace metals under biosolid amended soils as well as impacts of irrigation-induced leaching on the shallow groundwater quality, while the need to evolve a sustainable agricultural practices is also highlighted.Capsule Organo-mineral amendment can lead to trace metal bioaccumulation (in plants) and irrigation-induced leaching to shallow groundwater system.