Pedosphere 20(1): 23--34, 2010
ISSN 1002-0160/CN 32-1315/P
©2010 Soil Science Society of China
Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press
| Disposal and use of sewage on agricultural lands in Pakistan:A review |
G. MURTAZA1,2 , A. GHAFOOR1, M. QADIR3.4, G. OWENS2, M. A. AZIZ1, M. H. ZIA2,5 and SAIFULLAH1 |
1 Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-38040 (Pakistan);
2 Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes SA 5095 (Australia);
3 International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo (Syria);
4 International Water Management Institute (IWMI), P.O. Box 2075, Colombo (Sri Lanka);
5 Technical Services Department, Fauji Fertilizer Company Ltd., Lahore (Pakistan) |
| ABSTRACT |
| Raw sewage is widely used on agricultural soils in urban areas of developing countries to meet water shortages. Although it is a good source of plant nutrients, such sewage also increases the heavy metal load to soils, which may impact the food chain. Management options for sewage contaminated soils includes addition of nontoxic compounds such as lime, calcium sulfate and organic matter, which form insoluble metal complexes, thus reducing metal phytoavailability to plants. In this paper we review the variation in irrigation quality of sewage at different sites and its impact on the quality of soils and vegetables. Although quality of sewage was highly variable at source, yet the effluent from food industries was relatively safe for irrigation. In comparison effluent samples collected from textile, dyeing, calendaring, steel industry, hospitals and clinical laboratories, foundries and tanneries were hazardous with respect to soluble salts, sodium adsorption ratio and heavy metals like zinc, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, cobalt and cadmium. The sewage quality in main drains was better than that at the industry outlet, but was still not safe for irrigation. In general, higher accumulation of metals in fruits and vegetable roots was recorded compared to that in plant leaves. Edible parts of vegetables (fruits and/or leaves) accumulated metals more than the permissible limits despite the soils contained ammonium bicarbonate diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid extractable metals within a safe range. In either case further scientific investigations are needed to ensure safe management strategies. Cadmium appeared to be the most threatening metal especially in leafy vegetables. It is advisable to avoid leafy vegetables cultivation in sewage irrigated areas everywhere to restrict its entry into food chain. |
| Key Words: contamination, heavy metals, irrigation, soil quality, vegetables |
| Citation: Murtaza, G., Ghafoor, A., Qadir, M., Owens, G., Aziz, M. A., Zia, M. H. and SAIFULLAH. 2010. Disposal and use of sewage on agricultural lands in Pakistan:A review. Pedosphere. 20(1): 23-34. |
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