Modern methods for treating and protecting soils contaminated with heavy metals in some areas of Wasit Governorate

Authors

  • Mahdi Wasmey Seheib Alaidi Department of Soil and Water Recourses, College of Agriculture, Wasit University, Iraq

Abstract

To evaluate the state of pollution with some heavy elements (lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium,
mercury, iron) and how to treat it in a highly efficient and low-cost way, and to achieve this goal, a
field study was conducted to determine the impact of the Al-Ahdab oil field in Al-Ahrar district -
Wasit Governorate on soil pollution with heavy elements in the areas surrounding the field, where
soil samples were collected from three sites 500, 1000 and 1500 m from the pollution source in
addition to the fourth site (comparison). Soil samples were collected at two depths of 30-0 and 60-30
cm from the southeastern and northwestern parts. Where the sunflower plant was planted on
3/15/2023 in an area of 5 * 10 = (50) m2 in the contaminated soil of the Al-Ahdab oil field to show
the extent of the plant's ability to reduce soil pollution with heavy elements. After 60 days of plant
growth, the plant was completely uprooted with the roots and the plant was disposed of, which was
considered polluted due to its absorption of heavy elements. The heavy elements in the soil were
estimated before and after planting the plant using the Atomic Absorption device. The study showed
that planting the sunflower plant achieved the best results in reducing the amount of pollutants in the
soil at the lowest cost and for a large area of soil compared to the previously used chemical
techniques, which were very expensive and for a limited amount of soil and not an area. The study
showed that the sunflower plant led to a reduction in the percentage of pollution with heavy elements
to 35-30% for only one season, which means the necessity of planting the plant for more than one
season to completely purify the soil from pollutants on the one hand and increase soil fertility on the
other hand, especially since the sunflower plant is one of the strongest plants in fixing nitrogen in the
soil and reducing pollutants by reducing the movement and transfer of pollutants in the soil and
reducing the horizontal and vertical migration of pollutants that cause groundwater pollution.

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Published

2024-11-14