Current World Environment

Introduction

Soils are basic to Civilization Supplying various economic and cultural services as well as being the subtract for plant and with water it constitute society's most important, source as a life support system. They provide food, fiber, support building and road help to convert sunlight to usable forms of energy and other resource. Soil the outermost layers of the earth is a product of geological processes and human intervention. Soils are integral and vital part of our environment and may be defined as discrete bodies produced by interaction of climate, vegetation and surficial geological materials on earth Surface. It is composed of minerals altered physically and chemically from original bed rock, organic chemicals and biomass and pore space fill with air water and dissolved material . The quality and security of soil have always affected human civilization. Man has made soil fertile on large scale, providing more source food resource for the ever-growing population .Yet there is a good threat of soil in many instance, on marginal soils or in less resilient soil region. A good environment ethic requires equally good soil care of open spaces and forests, woods and desert for better quality of life future generations of town country populations.¹

The word soil means different things to different people. It can be (I)organized body of nature (II) a Substrate for plant growth (III)physical ground on which housing industries and roads and constructed. Soils are dynamic natural bodies comprising the upper most layer of earth exhibiting distinct organization of their mineral and organic components including water and air which formed in response to atmospheric and biosphere force acting on various parent materials under diverse topographic conditions over a period of tim.²

Metals are interinsic component of earth crust with the rapid development the evaluation of metal based industries had led to the contamination of environment and exposure of man and ecosystem to the toxic levels thus presenting a potential health hazards to man as well as wild life.

Plant and animals are dependents on the soil for the supply of nitrogen and mineral elements. Essential elements can be classified in to the major elements Ca, Mg, K, Na, P and S and essential trace elements of micro-nutrients such as Cu,Mn,Fe,Co,Se,I and B etc.All of these elements are required for normal growth and maintenance of health in plants and animals.The Composition of plants and animals is also influenced by presence of a wide range of non - essential trace element present in the soil such as As, Cd, Pb and Hg. Total soil concentration of trace elements whether essential or nonessential vary very widely³ and in different soils, the level of any element may vary as much as 1000 fold. The possible variation in trace elements levels in soil are Considerably, then those of major elements.

Heavy metal Contamination is a serious threat to soil quality science metals persist in the soil indefinitely common source of heavy metal contamination include applied sewage, industrial wastes etc . Heavy metal contamination in known to have adverse effect on soil biological functions, including the size, activity and diversity of soil microbial community.^4,5&6 There is strong evidence that soil microbes are more sensitive to heavy metal contamination than crop plants and animals.⁷ Nevertheless, minimization of metal transfer from soil is an important consideration since accumulation of metals for human health issue.⁸

Critical allowable levels for heavy metal loadings to soils and limits for heavy metal concentrations have been set in the Russian Federation by state Committee for hygiene (9)and in most other parts of the world.^8,10 Physico- Chemical and biological properties of soil govern the gaseous transfer water movements, plant growth and decomposition of complex organic substance in it, any alteration in these properties due to industrial or anti eco activity leads to change in fertility of soil.¹¹

The current study is based on the soil quality of industrial areas of district Etah and Kanshiram Nagar along with the Agra - Philibhit highway, around the industrial areas, residential areas, as towns and small villages are also situated .In the study area pollution creating agents like gases , liquids and solid wastes pollute the air , water and soil of adjoining environment. Some type of industrial activities dispose solid waste effluents therefore must measure the capacity of soil to support ecosystem functions, to substain biological productivity. Therefore the focus of soil quality in on properties or processes impacted by soil management. In this study we focus on the chemical evaluation of soil quality by examining the statistical characteristics and seasonal variations of soil samples collected from different sites .

Materials and Methods

Soil sample were collected from 12 selected sites .All sites are located in areas of industrial activity and also adjoining with agricultural areas .The selected soil samples were accumulated in high quality of polythene bags and labeled properly .The soil samples were scrutinized in laboratory for some physico-chemical properties as moisture content, pH, electrical conductance and heavy metal content by employing standard  method of analysis.^{12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,&20}

Result and Disussion

The result of analysis of the physico - chemical properties and heavy metals in soil samples are showed in given Table -1,and mean values of the physico-chemical properties in Table 2.
 

Table 1: Seasonal Variation in Various Soil Quality Parameters Click here to View table

The mean moisture contents at site 1was15.68% and ranged 13.85% to 18.16%. In site 2 the mean moisture content was 7.57% and ranged 6.14% to 9.80% Similarly at Site 3to12. The mean value of moisture Content were 9.68%,11.50%,8.32%,10.43%,16.58%,11.60%,5.45%,8.89%,8.24%,and 10.29% with the ranged 8.21% to11.24%,8.22%to16.34%,7.30% to 18.21%,4.53% to 6.12%,5.31to14.19%,5.6% to 11.42% and 7.01% to 18.39%.

The mean value of pH of in site 1 was 7.79 with ranged 6.18 to 9.20.In site 2 the mean pH was 8.48 with ranged 7.43 to 9.90 similarly at site 3 to 12 the mean pH were 8.02, 9.57, 7.82, 8.17, 6.02, 8.29, 7.01, 8.83, 7.89 and 8.03 with the ranged 7.6 to 8.4 ,8.7 to 10.31,6.28 to8.12 ,7.2 to 9.2, 5.6 to 7.2, 7.33 to 9.24 ,6.35 to 7.79 ,7.86 to9.86, 7.42 to8.23 ,7.15to8.79.

The electrical conductivity of site 1 ranged 3.17ds/m to 4.14ds/m with the mean value of 3.81ds/m.In site 2 the mean electrical conductivity was 2.03ds/m with the ranged 1.84ds/m to 2.29ds/m. In similar way the electrical conductivity of site 3to 12 were 2.77ds/m to 2.93ds/m, 2.82ds/m to 3.33ds/m,2.01ds/m to 3.47ds/m ,2.79ds/m to 3.17ds/m ,3.1ds/m to 4.9ds/m ,1.98 ds/m to3.17 ds/m,2.36 ds/m to 3.18 ds/m,1.93 ds/m to 2.68 ds/m,2.79 ds/m to 3.82 ds/m and 1.28 ds/m to 2.14 ds /m, with the mean value of electrical conductivity 2.90 ds/m,3.05 ds/m,2.69 ds/m,2.97 ds/m,4.05 ds/m,2.30 ds/m, 2.89 ds/m, 2.34 ds/m, 3.22ds/m and 1.80 ds/m.

The Lead content site 1 ranged 18.3 to µg/g 21.92 µg/g with the mean value Of the 19.86 µg/g . In Site 2 the mean lead content was 20.99 µg/g ranged between 19.74 µg/g to 23.11µg/g . Similarly the lead content ranged in site 3 to 12 as fallow18.99 µg/g to 24.33 µg/g, 26.14 µg/g to 34.13µg/g ,18.17µg/g to 23.94µg/g , 28.49µg/g to 34.31µg/g ,12.20 µg/g to 18.63 µg/g, 18.74 µg/g to 23.43 µg/g ,24.29µ g/g to 31.80 µg/g, 20.20 µg/g to 29.31µg/g,, 17.09 µg/g to 23.66 µg/g , 31.38 µg/g to 46.34 µg/g  with mean value of 21.14 µg/g , 29.21 µg/g , 20.63µg/g , 31.37 µg/g , 15.07 µg/g 20.97 µg/g ,27.70 µg/g ,24.06 µg/g , 20.82 µg/g, 37.62 µg/g.

The copper content at site 1 ranged 14.14 µg/g to 16.22 µg/g with the mean value of 15.25 µg/g. In site 2 mean copper content was 14.00µg/g ranged between 10.32 µg/g to 19.29 µg/g. Similarly the copper content ranged at site 3 to 12 as follow 12.14 µg/g to 16.17 µg/g, 14.61 µg/g to 19.12 µg/g , 13.91µg/g to 16.49 µg/g , 14.71µg/g to 16.61 µg/g , 12.41µg/g to 19.06µg/g , 10.11µg/g to 14.17µg/g , 13.23 µg/g to 19.44 µg/g , 08.63 µg/g to 13.14µg/g ,11.43µg/g to 15.21µg/g and 14.11µg/g to 17.6µg/g With mean value of copper content were 14.21µg/g , 16.66µg/g , 14.96µg/g, 15.71µg/g, 14.92µg/g , 12.19µg/g ,16.69µg/g , 10.54µg/g , 13.48µg/g and 15.83µg/g .

The cadmium content of selected site 1ranged0.62µg/g to0.89µg/g with the mean value of 0.74µg/g.In site 2 ranged 0.72µg/g to 0.94µg/g with the mean value of 0.84µg/g . In Site 3 cadmium content ranged 0.52µg/g to 0.72µg/g with the mean value of 0.61µg/g . Similarly the cadmium content ranged at Site 4 to 12 as 0.74µg/g to 0.91µg/g , 0.48µg/g to 0.69µg/g , 0.57µg/g to 0.89µg/g , 0.59µg/g to 0.93µg/g ,0.33µg/g to 0.41µg/g ,0.43µg/g to 0.92µg/g ,0.42µg/g to 0.72µg/g , 0.57µg/g to 0.72µg/g and 0.37µg/g to 0.61µg/g with the mean value of cadmium content as 0.85µg/g ,0.56µg/g , 0.71µg/g ,0.76µg/g ,0.37µg/g ,0.70µg/g, 0.56µg/g ,0.65µg/g and 0.50µg/g .

The zinc content of site 1ranged 29.11 µg/g to 37.23 µg/g , with mean value of 32.82 µg/g. In selected site 2 ranged 24.23 µg/g to 33.11 µg/g ,with the mean value of zinc content 27.25 µg/g. Similarly the zinc content ranged at site 3 to 12 as 29.33 µg/g to 33.36 µg/g , 38.56 µg/g to 43.20 µg/g ,23.14 µg/g to 27.21 µg/g , 39.96 µg/g to 44.32 µg/g ,24.06 µg/g to 35.71 µg/g , 34.39 µg/g to 44.27 µg/g ,36.39 µg/g to 45.51 µg/g ,44.31:g/g to 54.81 µg/g ,25.35 µg/g to 30.79 µg/g and 38.31 µg/g to 44.72 µg/g with the mean value of zinc content as 31.57 µg/g, 41.19 µg/g , 27.16 µg/g , 41.92 µg/g , 30.56 µg/g ,39.51 µg/g , 40.68 µg/g ,49.53 µg/g ,28.20 µg/g and 41.18 µg/g.
 

Table 2: Mean Value of Various Soil Quality Parameters Click here to View table

In this study an investigation has been developed. The pHvalue of soil decides the nature of soil . The Study of soil pHis also important because it controls the microbial actions inside soil.²⁰ Soil pHmay influence nutrient adsorption and growth of plants, pHof a good quality soil should be 7.0 but due to different type of activity on earth , alter the soil pH. In current study some soil samples have higher pH.That is alkaline in nature and they need to give gypsum for reducing alkalinity of certain areas.

The conductivity of the soil sample defines the concentration of ions along with the migration when electric current is passed through the solution of soil samples. The long term industrial activity or use of sewage water have increased . The E.C. of soil and may alter the fertility of soil with the deposition of metal contamination in Soil the electrical conductivity rise up . Lead is a known cumulative poison causing acute and chronic disease manifestation in the body long -term effects of chronic lead toxicity comprise hyperactivity, renal malfunctioning mild anemia, lever cirrhosis and brain damage. In current study and investigation an irregular pattern of distribution was notice in different seasons.²¹ Copper is an essential element in the human being for metabolism .Human being especially require copper as a trace elements in the formation of R.B.C. and some enzymes. The 0.05 ppm values are not generally regarded as toxic but more than 1.5 ppm may cause sickness and in extreme cases liver damage . Copper toxicity is a fundamental cause of 'Wilson's disease". The periodical decline of copper may be due to remobilization from self sediments and subsequent diffusion in to the overlying waters and release of copper from organism during degradation and decay and involvement in bio-geo-chemical cycles.²²

Cadmium is not highly toxic to plant at low concentration . If the cadmium is present in plant leaves, creates toxicity to animals through food chain.²³

Zinc is as an essential metal for life of human being as well as plant . Normally soil contains 10-300 ppm zinc with average value about 50-55 ppm while in industrial areas the value of content as 15-572 ppm. The excess of zinc compounds are corrosive to skin , eyes and other body parts. They cause a special type of dermatitis as “Zinc Pox”²²

Acknowledgments

The author Amit Dwivedi is highly tankfull to the Dr. R.N.Kaisarwani H.O.D.Chemistry ,P.G. college Ganjdundwara, Kanshiramnagar and Dr. Ashok Kumar H.O.D. (Retd.) Saint John's College Agra for giving their valuable suggestions and  facilities .

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