Accumulation of heavy metals in vegetables, pulse and wheat grown in fly ash amended soil.

The present investigation deals with the study of heavy metals accumulation in fields receiving fly ash from a thermal power plant and subsequent upta ke in the different parts of the crop plants growing in the respective fiel d. The metal content (Cd,Cu, Zn, Fe, Ni, Ct and Pb) in the soil samples are higher than that in the control soil and lower than that in the background value. In case of Cd, Zn and Pb the concentration is either below or withi n the critical concentration. In the edible parts of the plant Cu, Zn and P b concentration are within the recommended permissible limits, whereas Cd, Cr and Ni show a little higher concentration. Overall, the results show tha t the heterogeneous accumulation of metals in plants, varies from species t o species and also within the different parts of a same plant. This study c an be exploited for the use of fly ash in cultivated fields and selection o f a suitable variety for cultivation.