Heavy Metal Content and Physico–Chemical Characteristics of Soils in Open  Forest and Crop Fields Near Bhusan  Sponge Iron Plant in Sambalpur District of Odisha, India

S Sahoo; S K Pattanayak; J R Sethi; K Haripal; A R Panda

Volume : II, Issue : VIII, August - 2013

Heavy Metal Content and Physico–Chemical Characteristics of Soils in Open Forest and Crop Fields Near Bhusan Sponge Iron Plant in Sambalpur District of Odisha, India

S Sahoo, S K Pattanayak, J R Sethi, K Haripal, A R Panda

Abstract :

The present study assessed heavy metal contents in the soil with special reference to Cr, Ni, Cd and investigated the soil physico-chemical properties in the neighborhood of a sponge iron plant (open forest and crop fields). Standard laboratory procedures were adopted in analyzing the soils and the data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance and correlation analysis. The experimental sites showed improvement in terms of clay fraction, bulk density and water holding capacity. However the contents of heavy metals were significantly higher in these sites when compared to unpolluted control site. The highest metal contents were 6.45ppm and 6.17ppm for Cd, 435.0ppm and 427.5ppm for Ni, and 1297.5ppm and 1192.5ppm for Cr at 1.5 km distance in the top soil of both open forest and crop fields respectively. In the control site the Cd, Ni, and Cr contents were 0.12, 13.48, and 28.75 respectively. Though high in potassium and phosphorus, the experimental sites were poor in organic carbon and total nitrogen. Highly positive correlation was observed between heavy metals and clay, organic carbon and pH of the contaminated soil indicating easy availability of the heavy metals for the vegetation. Thus it is highly essential to take immediate remediation measure in order to protect the health of flora and fauna in these areas.