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Nutrient Losses of Agricultural Land Due to Brick Manufacturing in the Central Region of Bangladesh

M. K. RAHMAN
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka

M. EUNUSH
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka

G.M. FAZLUL HAQUE
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka

H. R. KHAN
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka

A. J. M. ABDUR ROUF
Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology , Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Nutrient losses due to brick production were evaluated at 50 Upazilas in nine districts of the central region of Bangladesh. The average land area occupied by a brick kiln was 0.59 ha . Water- extractable N, P, K and S, and total N, P, K and S decreased by 67, 60, 62, 53, 67, 67, 87 and 33% in burnt bricks compared to unburnt one, respectively. Permanent loss of huge quantity of plant nutrients is occurring due to brick manufacturing every year in Bangladesh

Keywords: Agricultural land, Brick manufacturing, Nutrient loss

Location: 50 Upazila of the country

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Performance

Objectives:

The objective of this study was to assess the depletion of fertile agricultural land and nutrient losses viz . nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur in burnt bricks compared to unburnt one produced at 50 Upazilas of nine districts in Bangladesh.

Methodology:

Unburnt and burnt bricks were collected from 50 Upazilas at the rate of one brick kiln per Upazila of nine districts in Dhaka division. Brick kilns were surveyed and data regarding the land area occupied by a brick kiln was recorded . Samples of unburnt and burnt bricks were collected, air-dried, crushed and passed through 2 mm mesh sieves and kept in plastic bottles for chemical analysis. Air-dried samples were analyzed in triplicate and calculation was done on dry weight basis . Water-extractable N was determined following micro-Kjeldahl's distillation method. Available P was extracted with 0.5 M NaHCO₃ (1 : 3) as recommended by Olsen et al. and determined with a spectrophotometer. Water- extractable potassium and sulfur were measured by flame photometer and spectrophotometer, respectively . Total nitrogen was determined by micro-Kjeldahl's distillation method. Total phosphorus, potassium and sulfur contents were determined by digestion with a mixture of concentrated HCL/HNO₃ (1 : 3) as described by Schlichting et al. Total phosphorus was determined by the yellow color method, total potassium by flame photometer and total sulfur was measured by spectrophotometer after developing turbidity with BaCL₂ using Tween-80, respectively. Mean and standard deviation were determined following statistical packages in Office 2000 program .

Source of Information: Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 24(1): 53-57, 2015 (January)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The present experiment revealed that brick manufacturing through burning causes huge losses of fertile agricultural lands as well as nutrients in the central region of Bangladesh.

Knowledge Management: Journal