Chapters authored
Remediation of Soil Impacted by Heavy Metal Using Farm Yard Manure, Vermicompost, Biochar and Poultry Manure
Soil contamination by organic and inorganic compounds is a universal concern nowadays. One such contamination is heavy metal exposure to the soil from different sources. The discharge of effluents from various factories in Punjab like tanning industries, leather industries, and electroplating industries generate a large volume of industrial effluents. These industrial units discharge their effluents directly or through the sewer into a water tributary (Buddha Nallah) and this water is being used for irrigating the crops. The heavy metals enter into the food chain thus contaminating all resources i.e. air, soil, food, and water. Preventive and remedial measures should be taken to reduce the effects of heavy metals from soil and plants. Organic soil amendments like FYM, Vermicomposting, Biochar, and poultry manure have been used to deactivate heavy metals by changing their forms from highly bioavailable forms to the much less bioavailable forms associated with organic matter (OM), metal oxides, or carbonates. These amendments have significant immobilizing effects on heavy metals because of the presence of humic acids which bind with a wide variety of metal(loid)s including Cd, Cr, Cu, and Pb.
Part of the book: Soil Science