Effect of Treated Wastewater Irrigation on the Accumulation and Transfer of Heavy Metals in Lemon Trees Cultivated in Arid Environment

Horticulturae

Ziad B. Al-Rawashdeh¹  Khaled A. Al-Habahbeh¹  Rabea S. Al-Sayaydeh¹  Jehad S. Al-Hawadi¹  Jamal Y. Ayad²  Randa N. Albdaiwi³ 

[1] Department of Agriculture Sciences, Faculty of Shoubak College, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt 19117, Jordan;Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, School of Agriculture, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan;Department of Land, Water and Environment, School of Agriculture, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan;

关键词: arid climate;    bioconcentration factor;    Citrus limon;    translocation factor;    water scarcity;   

DOI  :  10.3390/horticulturae8060514

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The Middle East is considered as one of the driest regions of the world and the use of municipal-treated wastewater (TWW) for agricultural purposes is needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of continuous irrigation of TWW in lemon orchards on the accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in the soil, as well as their uptake and translocation to aerial parts of the trees. For this purpose, two lemon orchards were selected to be irrigated from two different water sources: TWW from a tertiary treatment plant and freshwater (SW) from Moses springs in Jordan. Continuous irrigation with TWW resulted in higher concentrations of nutrients and HM accumulation in the soil as compared to SW. However, HM accumulation in the soil was found to be within the acceptable range according to the standards of the WHO. On the contrary, the continuous irrigation with TWW resulted in the accumulation of HMs in plant parts when compared to SW irrigation; the fruits were clearly affected by the accumulation of high levels of Cd and Pb that exceed the maximum limits for the presence of HMs in plant tissues. The irrigation of lemon trees with TWW had a significant effect on the bioaccumulation factor and translocation factors (TF) of HMs into different lemon tree parts. Heavy metal accumulation coincided with high translocation rates to different tree parts, and this is considered to be a main challenge for long-term irrigation with TWW in arid environments.

【 授权许可】

Unknown