Effect of irrigation with maritza and ergene rivers water on soil contamination and heavy metal accumulation in rice crop

Abstract

This research was conducted to investigate the level of contamination in the soil and rice plants irrigated with Maritza and Ergene Rivers’ water contaminated by industrial and domestic wastewater. Whether heavy metal concentrations in the water, soil and plant reached to critical levels was examined. Waters from Maritza River, Ergene River and mixed of Maritza and Ergene Rivers were qualified as the 1st, 4th and 3rd class, respectively, according to the inland water quality classification in terms of heavy metal loads. While Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn concentrations of the soils of all research area were below the critical limit, Ni concentrations of the soil were found to be above the critical limit with the values between 32.1 and 43.8 ppm. Cadmium and Co contents of the soil were very small. As for the plants, heavy metals were mainly concentrated in the roots. Lead concentrations of the rice irrigated by Ergene and mixed of Maritza and Ergene rivers’ water changed between 0.25 and 0.35 ppm, which was above the critical level of 0.2 ppm suggested by Turkish Food Codex. © 2015, National Centre for Agrarian Sciences. All Rights reserved.