Soil Pollution Assessment in Agricultural Drainage Canals in Southern Kirkuk Governorate, Iraq

• Huda Hadi Mohammed 1* Dhahir K. Ali 2

  Author

This study Conducted to assess the level of heavy metal pollution in the soil of agricultural drainage canals located in southern Kirkuk Governorate .Twenty three soil samples taken from the soil with the control sample nearby the two canals (A,B) in (0-30) cm depth. Laboratory analyses were conducted to determine the concentrations of heavy metals, namely iron (Fe), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) and to determine the degree of pollution using the pollution factor (CF). The results showed the iron contamination factor values varied between 0.497 to 0.770 for the drainage (A), while drainage (B) values varied between 0.497 to 0.905 representing low pollution and manganese contamination factor values varied between0.264 to 0.276 for the drainage (A) while drainage (B) values varied between 0.267 to 0.278 representing low pollution, and the lead was contamination factor values varied between 0.264 to 0.276 for the drainage (A) while drainage (B) vales varied 0.267 to 0.278 classified as having low pollution. Zinc contamination factor values varied between 0.666 to 1.200 for the drainage(A) while drainage (B) values varied between 0.876 to 1.258 representing low to moderate contamination , while nickel contamination factor values varied 0.735 to 6.539 for the drainage (A) while drainage (B) values varied between 0.950 to 1.115,and showed cadmium contamination factor values varied between 0.000 to 6.363 for the drainage (A) while drainage(B) values varied between 0.000 to 4.545. Cadmium was found to have the highest pollution levels compared to the other elements, with values ​​ranging from moderate to high to very high, indicating the impact of ongoing agricultural activities and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Spatial distribution maps revealed variations in the spread of heavy metals within the drains due to the influence of drainage water and local soil characteristics.                                                                                                   

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