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Accumulation of Potentially Toxic Metals in Egyptian Alluvial Soils, Berseem Clover ( Trifolium alexandrinum L.), and Groundwater after Long-Term Wastewater Irrigation

Author

Listed:
  • Ahmed S. Abuzaid

    (Soils and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Benha 13518, Egypt)

  • Hossam S. Jahin

    (Central Laboratory for Environmental Quality Monitoring, National Water Research Center, Elkanatir 13621, Egypt)

  • Amany A. Asaad

    (Central Laboratory for Environmental Quality Monitoring, National Water Research Center, Elkanatir 13621, Egypt)

  • Mohamed E. Fadl

    (Division of Scientific Training and Continuous Studies, National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (NARSS), Cairo 11769, Egypt)

  • Mohamed A. E. AbdelRahman

    (Division of Environmental Studies and Land Use, National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (NARSS), Cairo 11769, Egypt)

  • Antonio Scopa

    (Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari ed Ambientali (SAFE), University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10-85100 Potenza, Italy)

Abstract

The reduced availability of water resources in Egypt has imposed the need to intensify the use of wastewater for crop irrigation in the alluvial soils. Relevant effects can derive from contents of potentially toxic metals (PTMs) in supply resources soils, crops, and groundwater in these areas. For this reason the PTM content has to be monitored to evaluate and minimize health hazards. Therefore, in this context, two areas of the SE Nile Delta subjected to 25 year of wastewater irrigation, using agricultural drainage water (ADW) and mixed wastewater (MWW) were chosen and compared with a nearby site irrigated with Nile freshwater (NFW). At each of the three sites, ten samples of irrigation water, topsoil, berseem clover ( Trifolium alexandrinum L.) plants, and seven groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn. Results indicate that the total contents of Co, Cu, Ni, and Zn in soils collected from the three sampling sites and Pb in the MWW-irrigated soils were higher than their average natural contents in the earth’s crust, indicating potential risks. The DTPA-extractable contents of Cu in the three sites, in addition to Pb and Zn in the MWW-irrigated soils, exceeded the safe limits. The MWW-irrigated soils showed a considerable degree of metal contamination, while the NFW- and ADW-irrigated soils showed moderate and low levels of contamination, respectively. The contents of the six PTMs in the three sites showed low individual ecological risks, except for Pb in the MWW-irrigated soils that showed a moderate risk; however, the overall ecological risk remained low in all samples. The values of Co, Cu, and Ni in berseem shoot in addition to Pb from the MWW-irrigated soils were over the maximum permissible levels for animal feeding. Values of root-to-shoot translocation factor were lower than 1.0 for Cr, Co and Ni but higher than 1.0 for Cu, Pb, and Zn. Berssem plant is a good candidate for phytofiltration of Cr, Co and Ni, while for extracting Cu, Pb and Zn from polluted soils. The groundwater samples collected from the three sampling sites showed lower metal concentrations than the safe limits for drinking standards. Further remediation studies should be taken into account to alleviate potential environmental and health-related risks when using supply resources different from freshwater.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmed S. Abuzaid & Hossam S. Jahin & Amany A. Asaad & Mohamed E. Fadl & Mohamed A. E. AbdelRahman & Antonio Scopa, 2021. "Accumulation of Potentially Toxic Metals in Egyptian Alluvial Soils, Berseem Clover ( Trifolium alexandrinum L.), and Groundwater after Long-Term Wastewater Irrigation," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-19, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:8:p:713-:d:603236
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Radwa A. El Behairy & Ahmed A. El Baroudy & Mahmoud M. Ibrahim & Elsayed Said Mohamed & Dmitry E. Kucher & Mohamed S. Shokr, 2022. "Assessment of Soil Capability and Crop Suitability Using Integrated Multivariate and GIS Approaches toward Agricultural Sustainability," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Yasser M. Zakarya & Mohamed M. Metwaly & Mohamed A. E. AbdelRahman & Mohamed R. Metwalli & Georgios Koubouris, 2021. "Optimized Land Use through Integrated Land Suitability and GIS Approach in West El-Minia Governorate, Upper Egypt," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-21, November.
    3. Abdul Jabbar & Asif Iqbal & Muhammad Aamir Iqbal & Umer Ayaz Aslam Sheikh & Junaid Rahim & Sadaf Khalid & Rehab M. Hafez & Anees-ul-Husnain Shah & Aftab Ahmad Khan & Muhammad Sultan Ali Bazmi & Ahmad , 2022. "Egyptian Clover Genotypic Divergence and Last Cutting Management Augment Nutritive Quality, Seed Yield and Milk Productivity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-18, May.

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