Increase in the world population has increased demand for water. Sewage has been used in different countries in agriculture and landscape irrigation. Its high nutrient load increases crop yields and reduces the need for costly fertilizer inputs. But, concentration of heavy metals in agricultural products irrigated by sewage is a cause of serious concern due to potential health problems of contaminated products. In this research, a pistachio orchard in the lands of Shahid Bahonar University in Kerman, Iran, was irrigated with treated sewage and different parameters and data were collected. Results showed that heavy metals such as Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn were absorbed by pistachio roots and transported to other organs, tissues, and fruits. The amount of Pb, Cu, Cd, and Zn in pistachio fruits irrigated with sewage was higher than ATSDR standards, which means that this practice may cause health problems for consumers and could put the environment at risk. One possible solution for sewage usage can be mixing it with irrigation water in different ratios, as was done in this research.
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Safari, M. (2013). Investigation of the Heavy Metals in Root, Stem, and Fruit of Pistachio (Pistacia vera) Irrigated with Treated Sewage. Journal of Water Research in Agriculture, 26(4), 439-445. doi: 10.22092/jwra.2013.131422
MLA
Mehri Safari. "Investigation of the Heavy Metals in Root, Stem, and Fruit of Pistachio (Pistacia vera) Irrigated with Treated Sewage". Journal of Water Research in Agriculture, 26, 4, 2013, 439-445. doi: 10.22092/jwra.2013.131422
HARVARD
Safari, M. (2013). 'Investigation of the Heavy Metals in Root, Stem, and Fruit of Pistachio (Pistacia vera) Irrigated with Treated Sewage', Journal of Water Research in Agriculture, 26(4), pp. 439-445. doi: 10.22092/jwra.2013.131422
VANCOUVER
Safari, M. Investigation of the Heavy Metals in Root, Stem, and Fruit of Pistachio (Pistacia vera) Irrigated with Treated Sewage. Journal of Water Research in Agriculture, 2013; 26(4): 439-445. doi: 10.22092/jwra.2013.131422
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