PhD

Status of Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb and Cd in samples of selected soils, fertilizers,
manures and crops were estimated. A critical analysis of the total content of
these heavy metals in the soils studied here revealed that Cu arid Cd are existing
beyond the critical level in the some of the samples. In the wetland soils, content
of all heavy metals was lowest for phytotoxicity and food safety in samples from
absolute control plots of rice PME at Pattambi, Moncompu and Kayamkulam and
highest in samples from plots receiving maximum quantity of organic manures and
inorganic fertilizers. The DTPA extractable form is only a very minor part of
their total content. The heavy metal load of the commonly used P fertilizers in
Kerala is found to be highly variable. Zn is the highest contaminant followed by
Pb, Ni, Cd and Cu. With respect to manures commonly used in Kerala, Zn is the
most abundant among the five elements studied followed by Cu.
Retention of heavy metals was found to be more in the roots of all plants
compared to the above ground portions except Zn in amaranthus. The grain,
straw and root of rice plants collected from PME plots which were receiving
organic manures and inorganic fertilizers continuously for several years had a
distinctly higher content of all heavy metals compared to the samples obtained
from absolute control plots. The content of Cu in rice samples and that of Zn and
Cu in the fodder samples from sewage farm exceeded the critical level to express
phytotoxicity. In some of the samples of amaranthus and cowpea, content of Zn,
Pb and Cd exceeded the food safety standards prescribed in Germany.




Studies on the pattern of retention of applied Cd and Ni in undisturbed
soil columns of important soil types of Kerala showed that retention of Cd and Ni
was more in the top than in the bottom layers. Higher retention and lower leaching
loss of applied Cd and Ni was observed in the columns not treated with FYM.
Pot culture studies have shown a significant reduction in yield of rice,
sesame and cowpea at various levels of Cd and Ni with and without FYM. Nutrient
content of seed, shoot and root showed variations but did not reveal any specific
pattern in various crops. In cowpea, low levels of Cd and Ni in the absence of
FYM stimulated nodulation and nitrogen content. Intake of Cd and Ni in various
plant parts of rice, sesame and cowpea was in the order root> shoot> seed. It
was more in the presence of FYM than in its absence. The toxic effects of Ni on
growth and yield parameters were of lesser magnitude compared to Cd especially
in rice and cowpea. Maximum accumulation of Cd in edible portions was recorded
by sesame with no ill effect on germination. However a moqerate accumulation of
Cd in rice seeds resulted in significant reduction in germination.
An alarming observation obtained from the study was that almost all
samples of rice grains exceeded the food safety standard of 1 mg Cd kg-1 indicating
that rice, the staple food of the people of Kerala is contaminated with Cd, the
most hazardous heavy metal for human health. This pioneer study on the heavy
metal status of selected soils and crop plants of Kerala has brought out the need for conducting detailed studies on these aspects.