Waste water use in agriculture and heavy metal pollution in soil-plant system

The use of wastewater (often untreated/inadequately treated) for irrigation in agriculture has been practiced for many years in arid zones of industrialized as well as developing countries. Farmers mostly use wastewater for growing vegetables and fodder in urban areas because they do not have to use costly fertilizers. The use of wastewater is thus a highly economical option. But this water is loaded with salts, heavy metals and disease causing microorganisms. Continuous use of untreated city effluents for growing of vegetables may result in salinization of soil and accumulation of heavy metals in soil in phyto-toxic concentrations. The intake of contaminated vegetables may prove a health risk. This paper therefore, discusses heavy metal pollution in soil-plant system due to the use of waste water in agriculture.