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Carbon Economy and Heavy Metal Contamination in Two Peri-urban Areas of Dhaka City in Relation to Indigenous Vegetable Cultivation Practices

Farzana Hossain
Bangladesh Australia Centre for Environmental Research (BACER-DU), Department of Soil, Water & Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000

M. T. A. Chowdhury
BCSIR, Dr. Kudrat-i Khuda Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205

S. M. Imamul Huq
BCSIR, Dr. Kudrat-i Khuda Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A stud y was conducted to observe the pattern of carbon economy and the extent of heavy metal (Pb, Cd , Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and Ni) contamination under vegetable cultivation in the peri- urban areas of Dhaka city. For this research work, soils under different vegetables a nd rice cultivation as well as under no cultivation practices a nd the growi ng plants were collected from two peri-urban areas around Dhaka city- one f rom Narsingdi area where sustainable conservation practices ha ve been adopted under vegetable cultivation and another from Dharnrai area where crops (vegetables and rice) are cultivated in a traditional way. The fields in Narsingdi area were along the Dhaka- Sylhet highway whereas the fields in Dharnrai area were at an interior area and far away from Dhaka-Aricha highway. The vegetable fields under sustainable agricultural practices sequester more C than rice and uncultivated fields. The contents of heavy metals in soils under different agricultural practices and accumulation of those metals in cultivated plants showed a wide variability. The mean concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Fe, Mn, Cu and Ni) in soils were found to be lower in fields along the road side than that in the interior area. On the other hand, the mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, Mn and Cu in plants were higher in road side vegetables than in vegetables of the interior area. Both positive and negative relationships were observed between the carbon and heavy metal contents in soils for individual soils. But most of the correlations were insignificant. The assessment of contamination of arable lands and vegetables cultivated in the peri- urban areas of Dhaka city has been found to be soil type, crop, agricultural practices, type of fertilizers and pesticides and heavy metal species dependent.

Keywords: Peri-urban agriculture, Carbon sequestration

Location: Department of Soil, Water & Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Non-commodity: Carbon sequestration

Objectives:

To assessment of carbon sequestration in peri-urban agricultural lands (vegetables and rice) and fallow lands.

Methodology:

The present experiment was carried out to study the carbon (C) and heavy metal (Pb, Cd, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and Ni) contents of soils in several fields of two peri-urban areas around Dhaka city in Bangladesh. Soils under different vegetable and rice cultivation as well as under no cultivation practices were collected from two peri-urban areas- one from Narsingdi area and another from Dhamrai area. The soil and plant samples were collected from the agricultural fields of surrounding area of Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Village: Khundapara, Thana: Shibpur, District: Narsingdi where sustainable conservation practices have been adopted under vegetable cultivation. The geo-location of the sampling site is 24 o 00.07' N and 90° 46.297' E. The soils are Old Brahmaputra Floodplain belonging to Sonatala series. Four sampling spots were selected from the Narsingdi sampling site. Soil and plant samples were collected from each spot except spot 4. Only soil sample was collected from spot 4 as there were no agricultural practices and for the present purpose, spot 4 is used as control field condition. Spot 3 was selected from rice field to compare the carbon and heavy metal contents in soil and plant between vegetables and rice. Samples were collected from the agricultural fields of surrounding area of Dhamrai in Village: Bashna, Union: Shanora, Thana: Dhamrai, District: Dhaka. The geo-location of the sampling site is 23^o56.7.6' Nand 90⁰07.720' E. The soils are Young Brahmaputra Floodplain belonging to Melandaha series. The sampling sites were selected from the i nterior area of Dhamrai and far away from Dhaka-Aricha highway. Five sampling spots were selected from the Dhamrai sampling site. Soil and plant samples were collected from each spot except spot 5. Only soil sample was collected from spot 5 as there were no agricultural practices and for the present purpose, spot 5 is used as control field condition. Spot 4 was selected from rice field to compare the carbon and heavy metal contents in soil and plant between vegetables and rice. Various physical, chemical and physico-chemical parameters of The soil samples were analyzed in the laboratory in order to assess their nutritional and heavy metal status of the soils.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Sci . Res. 23 (2): 103-114, 2010 (December)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Peri-urban farmers and consumers should know the importance of peri-urban farming and their environmental impacts as well. Understanding the hazards for producers, consumers and on the urban ecosystem is essential for determining strategies that multiply benefits and mitigate risks. With effective urban planning, peri-urban agriculture can grow and blossom into its full potential keeping their negative impacts under tolerance level. With this point of view, sustainable peri-urban agriculture is required. The sustainability of peri-urban agriculture will depend on proper developmental policy from the government. Finally, there is a need for local authorities, especially cities, to take an important role in promoting peri-urban agriculture since it has a vital implication in the vegetable basket of the urban population.

Knowledge Management: Journal