Salinity and distribution of some heavy metals in the soil of al-Nasiriya area, south of Iraq

Abstract EN

During the period from the first of May to December 2011, 53 boreholes were drilled in the Al-Nasiriyah area at 15m depth each.

53 soil samples were collected from the interval (0 – 50) cm.

and 52 soil samples collected from the interval (50 – 100) cm.

All samples were analyzed to determine the concentration of the heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cr, Ni, Co, Cu) in addition to TDS and SO3.

The results show that the soil salinity ranges from moderately saline to extremely saline and the analysis of the heavy metals indicated that soil of the study area is relatively free from pollution for the time being.

Prediction maps showed that Ni, Cu and Cr have slightly higher values in bottom layer soil than in the top soil layer, while Co and Pb have the same values in the two layers.

The minelogical composition of the soil was determined by analyzing (50) samples by XRD and the results shows that quartz is the most abundant mineral followed by calcite, feldspar, halite, and gypsum.

Montmorillonite is the most abundant among the clay minerals, followed by palygorskite, illite, and kaolinite.

Grain size analysis results show that the clay fraction is a dominant content in the soil of the area followed by sand and silt fractions.