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Groundwater-soil-crop Relationship with Respect to Arsenic Contamination in Farming Villages of Bangladesh - a Preliminary Study

Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Kyushu University, 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi -Ku, Fukuoka 812 8581, Japan

Kazuhiko Egashira
Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812 8581, Japan

Masakazu Tani
Faculty of Design, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 815 8540, Japan

M. Jahiruddin
Department of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

Abu Zofar Md. Moslehuddin
Department of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

Zulfikar Md. Rahman
Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

To clarify the groundwater-soil-crop relationship with respect to arsenic (As) contamination, As concentration was measured in tubewell (TW) water, surface soil from farmyards and paddy fields, and fresh taro (Colocasia esculenta) leaves from farmyards in the farming villages of Bangladesh. The As concentration in TW water from farmyards was at least four times higher than the Bangladesh drinking water standard, and the concentration in fresh taro leaves was equal to or higher than those reported previously for leafy vegetables in Bangladesh. As concentration of surface soils in both farmyards and paddy fields was positively correlated with that of the TW water. Further, the concentration in surface soil was positively correlated with levels in fresh taro leaves in the farmyard. This study, therefore, clarified the groundwater-soil-crop relationship in farmyards and the relationship between groundwater-soil in paddy fields to assess the extent of As contamination in Bangladeshi villages.

Keywords: Concentration, Farmyard, Paddy field, Taro leaves, Tubewell

Location: High Ganges River Floodplain in the agro-ecological zone of Bangladesh

Start Date: 01-03-2007

End Date: 31-03-2007

Program Area: Knowledge Management

Commodity: Contamination of soil

Objectives:

1. The present study examined the relationship between As concentrations in tubewell (TW) water, surface soil and taro (Colocasia esculenta) leaves growing around TW in farmyard, as well as in TW water used for irrigation and the surface soil of irrigated paddy field around TW.

Methodology:

The villages of Marua and Samta are located in the Jessore District of Bangladesh (Fig. 1) where groundwater is highly contaminated by As. The area is located on the High Ganges River Floodplain in the agro-ecological zone of Bangladesh. The soil type in this agro-ecological zone is Calcareous Dark Grey/Brown Floodplain soil with low fertility. Rainy and dry seasons in Jessore City extend from May to October and from November to April, with seasonal rainfall of 1700 and 90 mm, respectively. Paddy rice cultivation is common throughout the country and single, double or triple cropping is undertaken annually in the study villages. The paddy rice is grown in the rainy and dry seasons under rain-fed and irrigated conditions, respectively. In this area, the depth to groundwater is 30e50 m for shallow TWs (STW) and 130e150 m for deep TWs (DTW). In the villages, taro is often grown in the vicinity of farmyard TWs, where the surrounding environment is frequently exposed to extracted water. The leaves of taro are used as a vegetable in the villages. Sampling was conducted in March 2007. Groundwater from the STWs, fresh taro leaves, and surface soil surrounding the STWs were collected from two farmyards in Marua Village. In addition, STW water used for drinking and surrounding soil samples at an uncultivated farmyard were collected. Samples of groundwater for irrigation use, one from an STW and another from DTW, and surface soil samples from the two corresponding paddy fields were collected outside the settlement. Grains of fresh paddy rice could not be sampled because rice was not being harvested during the month of the study. In Samta Village, groundwater from the STW and surface soil from the area surrounding the TW where crops were not growing were sampled from two farmyards. Before the sampling, no rainfall occurred for more than 3 days in either of the villages, and the effect of rainfall on the As concentrations was thus considered to be negligible. During sampling, 100 mL of groundwater was collected from each TW. Soil was collected at a depth of 50 mm at five locations at a site to give a total of 500 g collected at each site. The soil was mixed thoroughly to produce a composite sample for analysis. Three to five taro leaves were sampled at each site and mixed uniformly after shredding for analysis. The surface soil samples were air-dried and the taro leaves’ samples were oven-dried at 60⁰C, and then, the dried samples were digested to extract the As from the samples. The digestion was done using the HNO₃/H₂O₂ digestion method at the Department of Soil Science laboratory at the Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. The As concentrations of TW water, and the digested solutions of the soil and taro leaves were measured using an atomic absorption spectrometer at the Asian Arsenic Network Laboratory in Jessore City.

Source of Information: Environmental Pollution 156 (2008) 563-565

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The As concentration in TW water from farmyards was at least four times higher than the Bangladesh drinking water standard, and the concentration in fresh taro leaves was equal to or higher than those reported previously for leafy vegetables in Bangladesh. As concentration of surface soils in both farmyards and paddy fields was positively correlated with that of the TW water. Further, the concentration in surface soil was positively correlated with levels in fresh taro leaves in the farmyard.

Knowledge Management: Journal