Sewage water irrigation effects on some potentially toxic trace elements in soil and potato plants in northwestern India

Sewage water is used for irrigation to improve crop yields, but it may affe ct the soil and crop quality. The effects of discharging the effluents of a leather complex on the concentrations of some potentially toxic elements ( Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Al, As, Cr and Ni) in sewage water and the effects of irrig ation with contaminated sewage water on the concentrations of these element s in soils and in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) leaves and tubers were stud ied near Jalandhar city, Punjab, in northwestern India. Two treatments were 10 yr of irrigation with 300 mm of sewage water + 300 mm of ground water p er annum (SW) and with 600 mm of ground water per annum (GW). Soils of the study fields were Typic Ustochripts with sandy to loamy sand texture. The c oncentrations of all elements except As increased following the addition of leather complex effluents in the sewage water, with the biggest increase i n the concentration of Cr (from 2.7 mg to 14.0 mg Cr L-1). The SW treatment increased concentrations of all elements in soil except As, and the increa se was significant to 60 cm depth for Fe, Mn, Zn, Al and Ni and to 30 cm de pth for Cu and Cr. Irrigation with SW also increased the concentrations of these elements in potato leaves and tubers and the increase was generally h igher in leaves than in tubers. The proportional increase of Cu, Fe, Zn and Al was less in plants than in soils, that of Mn and Cr was almost similar in plants and in soil, and that of Ni was more in plants than in soil. Thes e elements, which accumulate in soils and crops, may become health hazards to humans and/or animals. Therefore, continued monitoring of the concentrat ions of potentially toxic elements in soil and plants and/or treatment of s ewage water before using for irrigation is needed.