Abstract


Research Report
STUDY ON HEAVY METAL ACCUMULATION IN THE PLANTS GROWN IN THE SOIL AMENDED WITH CETP SLUDGE IN DIFFERENT COMPOSITIONS

Mansi Varshney, Sourabh Kumar, S.K. Goyal, and Priyanka Saxena

Author Affiliation:

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, (CSIR-NEERI) Delhi Zonal Centre, New Delhi


Pages: 7-12

Abstract:

Present study was carried out to demonstrate the utility of sludge generated from a CETP of Delhi as a resource and its use as a soil supplement with special emphasis on heavy metal accumulation in plants. Sludge collected from Wazirpur CETP was analyzed for certain heavy metals. Soil was amended with sludge in 5%, 10%, 20% and 30% to grow experimental plants, in duplicates. The plants were allowed to grow for 45 days and then analyzed for heavy metals using ICP-OES. Results concluded that the addition of sludge in soil do not affects the plant growth in general, but heavy metal content in plant parts increased appreciably after 10% sludge addition. Bioaccumulation Factor (BAF) of more than 1 in case of Cr and Pb in Desi chana and of Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb in Indian mustard indicate that the plants are accumulators of the above-mentioned metals and they may be evaluated for phytoremediation. Sewage sludge contains good amount of nutrients, but due to high concentration of toxic metals, it cannot be applied for land application in considerable amount. However, sewage sludge can still be considered as a beneficial alternative, in order to supplement the organic fertilizers, after suitable chemical characterization and risk assessment.

Keywords:

Soil

Sewage sludge

amendment

heavy metals

Bioaccumulation

Phytoremediation