Impact of Long-Term Reclaimed Water Irrigation on the Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil: An In-Situ Experiment Study in the North China Plain

The widespread use of reclaimed water has alleviated the water resource crisis worldwide, but long-term use of reclaimed water for irrigation, especially in agricultural countries, might threaten the soil environment and further affect groundwater quality. An in-situ experiment had been carried out...

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Main Authors: Xiaomin Gu, Yong Xiao, Shiyang Yin, Honglu Liu, Baohui Men, Zhongyong Hao, Peng Qian, Huijun Yan, Qichen Hao, Yong Niu, Hui Huang, Qiuming Pei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-02-01
Series:International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/4/649
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spelling doaj-143d399426da45f79c0ec19436789b9c2020-11-25T00:59:50ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012019-02-0116464910.3390/ijerph16040649ijerph16040649Impact of Long-Term Reclaimed Water Irrigation on the Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil: An In-Situ Experiment Study in the North China PlainXiaomin Gu0Yong Xiao1Shiyang Yin2Honglu Liu3Baohui Men4Zhongyong Hao5Peng Qian6Huijun Yan7Qichen Hao8Yong Niu9Hui Huang10Qiuming Pei11School of Geographic Science, Nantong University, Nantong 226000, ChinaFaculty of Geosciences and Environmental Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 611756, ChinaSchool of Renewable Energy, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, ChinaBeijing Water Science and Technology Institute, Beijing 100044, ChinaSchool of Renewable Energy, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, ChinaBeijing Water Science and Technology Institute, Beijing 100044, ChinaSchool of Geographic Science, Nantong University, Nantong 226000, ChinaGeological Environmental Monitoring Central Station of Qinghai Province, Xining 810008, ChinaInstitute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Science, Shijiazhuang 050061, ChinaForestry College of Shangong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, ChinaDepartment of Chemistry, Nantong Vocational University, Nantong 226007, ChinaFaculty of Geosciences and Environmental Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 611756, ChinaThe widespread use of reclaimed water has alleviated the water resource crisis worldwide, but long-term use of reclaimed water for irrigation, especially in agricultural countries, might threaten the soil environment and further affect groundwater quality. An in-situ experiment had been carried out in the North China Plain, which aimed to reveal the impact of long-term reclaimed water irrigation on soil properties and distribution of potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Zn and Pb) in the soil profile as well as shallow groundwater. Four land plots were irrigated with different quantity of reclaimed water to represent 0, 13, 22 and 35 years’ irrigation duration. Pollution Load Index (PLI) values of each soil layer were calculated to further assess the pollution status of irrigated soils by potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Results showed that long-term reclaimed water irrigation caused appreciable increase of organic matter content, and might improve the soil quality. High soil organic matter concentrations conduced to high adsorption and retention capacity of the soils toward PTEs, which could reduce the risk of PTEs leaching into deep layers or shallow groundwater. Highest levels of Cr, Pb and Zn were observed at 200⁻240 cm and 460⁻500 cm horizons in plots. Longer irrigation time (35 years and 22 years) resulted in a decreasing trend of As, Cd, Hg, Pb and Zn in lower part of soil profiles (>540 cm) compared with that with 13-years’ irrigation years. Long-term reclaimed water irrigation still brought about increases in concentrations of some elements in deep soil layer although their content in soils and shallow groundwater was below the national standard. Totally speaking, proper management for reclaimed water irrigation, such as reduction of irrigation volume and rate of reclaimed water, was still needed when a very long irrigation period was performed.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/4/649reclaimed water irrigationpotentially toxic elements pollutionsoil contaminationNorth China Plain
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Xiaomin Gu
Yong Xiao
Shiyang Yin
Honglu Liu
Baohui Men
Zhongyong Hao
Peng Qian
Huijun Yan
Qichen Hao
Yong Niu
Hui Huang
Qiuming Pei
spellingShingle Xiaomin Gu
Yong Xiao
Shiyang Yin
Honglu Liu
Baohui Men
Zhongyong Hao
Peng Qian
Huijun Yan
Qichen Hao
Yong Niu
Hui Huang
Qiuming Pei
Impact of Long-Term Reclaimed Water Irrigation on the Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil: An In-Situ Experiment Study in the North China Plain
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
reclaimed water irrigation
potentially toxic elements pollution
soil contamination
North China Plain
author_facet Xiaomin Gu
Yong Xiao
Shiyang Yin
Honglu Liu
Baohui Men
Zhongyong Hao
Peng Qian
Huijun Yan
Qichen Hao
Yong Niu
Hui Huang
Qiuming Pei
author_sort Xiaomin Gu
title Impact of Long-Term Reclaimed Water Irrigation on the Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil: An In-Situ Experiment Study in the North China Plain
title_short Impact of Long-Term Reclaimed Water Irrigation on the Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil: An In-Situ Experiment Study in the North China Plain
title_full Impact of Long-Term Reclaimed Water Irrigation on the Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil: An In-Situ Experiment Study in the North China Plain
title_fullStr Impact of Long-Term Reclaimed Water Irrigation on the Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil: An In-Situ Experiment Study in the North China Plain
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Long-Term Reclaimed Water Irrigation on the Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil: An In-Situ Experiment Study in the North China Plain
title_sort impact of long-term reclaimed water irrigation on the distribution of potentially toxic elements in soil: an in-situ experiment study in the north china plain
publisher MDPI AG
series International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
issn 1660-4601
publishDate 2019-02-01
description The widespread use of reclaimed water has alleviated the water resource crisis worldwide, but long-term use of reclaimed water for irrigation, especially in agricultural countries, might threaten the soil environment and further affect groundwater quality. An in-situ experiment had been carried out in the North China Plain, which aimed to reveal the impact of long-term reclaimed water irrigation on soil properties and distribution of potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Zn and Pb) in the soil profile as well as shallow groundwater. Four land plots were irrigated with different quantity of reclaimed water to represent 0, 13, 22 and 35 years’ irrigation duration. Pollution Load Index (PLI) values of each soil layer were calculated to further assess the pollution status of irrigated soils by potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Results showed that long-term reclaimed water irrigation caused appreciable increase of organic matter content, and might improve the soil quality. High soil organic matter concentrations conduced to high adsorption and retention capacity of the soils toward PTEs, which could reduce the risk of PTEs leaching into deep layers or shallow groundwater. Highest levels of Cr, Pb and Zn were observed at 200⁻240 cm and 460⁻500 cm horizons in plots. Longer irrigation time (35 years and 22 years) resulted in a decreasing trend of As, Cd, Hg, Pb and Zn in lower part of soil profiles (>540 cm) compared with that with 13-years’ irrigation years. Long-term reclaimed water irrigation still brought about increases in concentrations of some elements in deep soil layer although their content in soils and shallow groundwater was below the national standard. Totally speaking, proper management for reclaimed water irrigation, such as reduction of irrigation volume and rate of reclaimed water, was still needed when a very long irrigation period was performed.
topic reclaimed water irrigation
potentially toxic elements pollution
soil contamination
North China Plain
url https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/4/649
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