Iranian Journal of Forest

Iranian Journal of Forest

Spatial distribution and risk assessment of heavy metals in soil and leaf of pistachio trees (Case Study: Kabootar Khaneh - Rafsanjan)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
E. Solgi 1
H. Abbasitabar 2
F. Hasanvand 3
F. Bakhshi 3
1 Prof., Dept. of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran
2 Ph.D. Student of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran
3 BSc, Dept. of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran
10.22034/ijf.2024.362563.1891
Abstract
Introduction: Soil contamination by heavy metals can change soil quality, because they are permanent and does not change by biological processes. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentration, spatial distribution and risk assessment of heavy metals including copper, zinc, chromium and nickel in the soil and leaf of pistachio trees in the Kabootar Khaneh area in Rafsanjan city, Kerman province, Iran.
Materials and Methods: Soil sampling was performed based on a systematic random method from the  depth of 0 to 20 cm. After chemical analysis of the samples, the concentration of heavy metals was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Risk assessment of heavy metals was carried out using enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and ecological risk index. Variogram analysis and spatial distribution map of heavy metals in soil were analyzed by ArcGIS 9.3 software and kriging method.
Results: The average concentration of chromium, copper, zinc and nickel in soil samples was 20.91, 12.11, 53.2 and 29.32 mg/kg, respectively. In leaf samples, concentration of copper and zinc were 0.91 and 13.78 mg/kg, respectively. Nickel and chromium were not detected in leaf samples. The concentration of heavy metals in soil and leaf samples was below WHO and the FAO standards, Additionally, the results of pollution risk assessment showed that the soil of the region was in the low category of enrichment and low risk in terms of heavy metal concentrations. Spatial distribution maps showed that the concentration of copper and zinc increased and chromium decreased towards the north of the region. Nickel had the highest concentration in the north of the region.
Conclusions: The leaf of the trees near the road had the highest amount of copper accumulation. The accumulation of zinc in the leaf of trees was also high in the whole region. In general, the concentrations of heavy metals in soil samples and pistachio leaf were below the standard limit considered as safe.
Keywords
Agricultural soil
Geostatistics
Heavy metals
Pistachio
Risk Assessment

Subjects

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Iranian Journal of Forest
Volume 16, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
Summer 2024
Pages 243-256

  • Receive Date 05 November 2022
  • Revise Date 09 December 2024
  • Accept Date 14 January 2024