Assessment of Wastewater Irrigation Impact on Soils and Crops in Peri-Urban Area of Nagpur, Maharashtra, India

A. R. Mhaske; C. S. Pangul; S. S. Balpande

doi:10.52151/jae2021581.1758

Authors

A. R. Mhaske Agricultural Engineering Section, College of Agriculture, Dr. PDKV, Nagpur Author
C. S. Pangul M. Tech. Student, Department of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, Post Graduate Institute, Dr. PDKV, Akola- 444104 Author
S. S. Balpande Associate Professor, Soil Science Section, College of Agriculture, Dr. PDKV, Nagpur Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52151/jae2021581.1758

Keywords:

Wastewater, heavy metals, micronutrients contamination, wastewater irrigation

Abstract

The wastewater from Nagpur city, Maharashtra, discharged into Nag River, is used for irrigating vegetables and other agricultural crops since 1990 without any consideration to soil, plant and human health. A study was conducted in five villages viz., Pawangaon, Kem, Adaka, Titur, and Chitapur of Nagpur district during 2018 -2019 to assess the impact of wastewater irrigation on soils and crops in peri-urban area of Nagpur. The soils, under long term use of wastewater irrigation, had relatively lower bulk density (1.27-1.33 Mg.m-3) and saturated hydraulic conductivity (1.40-1.48 cm.h-1). Available N, P, K status of those soils was appreciably higher as compared to the soils irrigated by open well water. The concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Co in wastewater irrigated soils were comparatively higher, and were above the recommended safe limits. The concentrations of micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu) and heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Pb, Co) in wastewater irrigated crops like wheat, chickpea, and spinach were higher than those of open well irrigated crops. This study suggested that the consumption of vegetables grown on wastewater irrigated fields might prove hazardous for human health leading to several fatal diseases.

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