Arsenic contamination of soils and agricultural plants through irrigation water in Nepal.
This study monitored the influence of arsenic-contaminated irrigation water on alkaline soils and arsenic uptake in agricultural plants at field level. The arsenic concentrations in irrigation water ranges from <0.005 to 1.014 mg L(-1) where the arsenic concentrations in the soils were measured from 6.1 to 16.7 mg As kg(-1). The arsenic content in different parts of plants are found in the order of roots>shoots>leaves>edible parts. The mean arsenic content of edible plant material (dry weight) were found in the order of onion leaves (0.55 mg As kg(-1))>onion bulb (0.45 mg As kg(-1))>cauliflower (0.33 mg As kg(-1))>rice (0.18 mg As kg(-1))>brinjal (0.09 mg As kg(-1))>potato (<0.01 mg As kg(-1)).
Dahal
B M
BM
Institute of Soil Research, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU), Peter Jordan Strasse 82, A-1190 Vienna, Austria.
Fuerhacker
M
M
Mentler
A
A
Karki
K B
KB
Shrestha
R R
RR
Blum
W E H
WE
D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D009390:Nepal; D012275:Oryza; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014675:Vegetables; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis; D014881:Water Supply
D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic