Toxic Metal Absorptivity to Agriculture Soil
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
Soil contamination has increased by several folds within the recent past due to various man made
activities. Various types of toxics involve in the processes of making contaminated soil profiles.
There are many toxic metals and chemical complexes which contaminate soils. When toxic agents
contact with soils they may absorb or adsorb in to the soil structure depending on their structural
and physical properties. One of the major sources of contaminant is agrochemicals. Due to
expansion of agricultural practices and over use of agrochemicals (pesticides, weedicides,
insecticides, fungicides and others) the effect has become adverse.
Sri Lanka is covered with versatile range of soils with highly contrast physical properties. In this
study, soil samples from different agricultural areas in Badulla district have been used to determine
their quantity of toxic metal absorptivity quantitatively.
Method
Five areas were selected where there are many types of agricultural activities. Uncontaminated
samples were collected from these farms (Mirigama, Passara, Badulla Bandarawela and
Welimada). Soil properties like moisture content, soil pH, bulk density, hydraulic conductivity,
soil porosity were studied in order to categorize the soil types.
Soil columns were made for these samples and metal absorptivity was studied by adding Roundup
pesticide (which is heavily used agrochemical in the area). Concentration of the agrochemical was
kept at its normal dosage. Original agrochemical was fully studied with ASS to identify the
containing metal ions and the obtained leachates were also measured for the same set of metal
ions to confirm their soil absorptivity under specific time period.
Obtained AAS results interpreted to identify the correlations between soil properties and toxic
metal absorptivity.
Description
Keywords
Materials Sciences, Mineral Sciences, Soil Science, Agriculture