The distribution of some heavy metals in cultivated soils of El Hammam Area

الملخص EN

Eight soil profiles representing the soils of the study area were selected, their relevant characteristics were evaluated.

Total and DTPA-extractable heavy metals were determined using the recommended methods.

Morphological properties of the representative profiles reflect the calcareous nature.

Topography is commonly almost flat to slightly undulating and the slope is flat to gently sloping.

Soil color varies from very pale brown to brown.

Soil texture is loamy sand to clay loam, the soil structure is dominated with sub angular blocky.

The identified pedagogical features are mostly fine nodules, concretions and soft, gypsum spots or nodules and varicolored iron stains.

The soils are non-saline.

Total heavy metals in the deep soil profiles ranged from 2.4 to19.2, 16.56 to 53.81, 1324 to 16650, 54.48 to 1.5, 224.8 to 9.93, 0.5 to 27.45, 0.5 to12.19, 334.4 to985.5 and from15.0 to 96.39 ppm for Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Co, Cr, Ni, Sr and V, respectively.

On the other hand, the elements in the moderately deep soil profiles ranged from 2.8 to11.23, 16.72 to 32.58, 2593 to 15130, 97.34 to 2.45, 147.8 to 4.66, 1.08 to 13.82, 0.5 to 4.65, 335.7 to 856.0 and from 26.17 to 58.5ppm for these metals, respectively.

The amounts of DTPA-extractable heavy metals in the deep soil profiles ranged from0.382 to 1.427, 0.753 to1.731, 1.465 to 3.788, 0.241 to 3.566, 0.004 to 0.103,0,01 to 0.065, 0.037 to 0.178, 0.037 to 1.428 and from 1.008 to 3.026 ppm for Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Co, Cr, Ni, Sr and V, respectively.

In the moderately deep soil profiles, DTP Aextractable metals ranged from 0.406 to 0.833, 0.871 to1.938, 0.196 to 3.103, 0.381 to 1.484, 0.004 to 0.043, 0.01 to 0.048, 0.057 to 0.152, 0.43 to 2.04 and from 0.975 to 2.426 ppm for Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Co, Cr, Ni, Sr and V, respectively.

To shed light on the factors affecting total and DTPA-extractable heavy metals in the studied soils, the correlation coefficients were calculated and discussed. The statistical measures, i.e., weighted mean, trend and specific range of these elements were computed and interpreted in each of the studied soil profiles.