title: Accumulation and translocation of metals in soil and different parts of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) amended with sewage sludge.
abstract: A pot experiment was conducted to study the accumulation and translocation of metals in French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Plants were grown in soil amended with up to 100 % sewage sludge. Significant (p < 0.01) changes to soil characteristics were observed. The maximum growth of P. vulgaris was noted in the treatment with 40 % of sewage sludge. Metal concentrations were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in P. vulgaris after sewage sludge amendment where Fe > Zn > Cd > Cu > Cr > Pb. The translocation for Fe and Zn was in the order of leaves > shoot > root > fruits, for Cd, shoot > root > leaves > fruits, for Cu and Pb shoot > leaves > root > fruits and for Cr root > shoot > leaves > fruits of P. vulgaris. All accumulated metal concentrations except Cd in the fruit were below the FAO/WHO standard limits. Thus, the amendment of agricultural soil by sewage sludge might be feasible. However, a regular monitoring of metal levels in agricultural products is recommended to prevent their accumulation in the food chain.
authors.affiliation: Agro-ecology and Pollution Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Life Sciences, Gurukula Kangri University, Haridwar, 249404, Uttarakhand, India, drvksorwal@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vinod
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Chopra
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D027805:Phaseolus / Q000378:metabolism*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D008670:Metals; D012722:Sewage; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants