Impacts of nine heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, K, Fe, Mn, and Zn) contamination in irrigation water on the soil, shoots, and roots of barely were investigated. Due to freshwater shortages, the use of available and inexpensive urban wastewater with input from local industrial factories containing heavy metals in irrigation is still practiced in the Middle East including Palestine. Barely was grown in plastic pots flled with sandy soil irrigated with simulated treated wastewater during two growing seasons. The metal treatments investigated include one, three, nine, and 15 multiples of the average metal content of treated efuent. Results showed that (i) Barley showed similar growth responses but diferent metal uptake patterns, (ii) Cd, Fe, Pb, and Zn in roots and shoots of barley were higher
than WHO permissible levels, (iii) all metals accumulated in the soil had lower content than WHO permissible levels, (iv) The average value of enrichment factor (EF) for most heavy metals used was around unity indicating poor enrichment to soil and translocation to roots and shoots, (v) The highest Translocation factor (TF = 57.8) and Bioconcentration Factor (BCF = 126.8) was observed for K indicating its role in enhancing barley’s tolerance to drought and its efectiveness in using barley in phytoremediation, and (vi) Barley growth and development and soil quality parameters were signifcantly afected by repetitive and increased irrigation with wastewater containing heavy metals. 

Title

Scientifc Reports

Publisher

Springer Nature

Publisher Country

United Kingdom

Indexing

Thomson Reuters

Impact Factor

4.99

Publication Type

Online only

Volume

13

Year

2023

Pages

12