Consequence of irrigation with arsenic and zinc contaminated water on accumulation of zinc in radishes plant

Reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture is becoming more attractive due to the growing demand for water, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions like Iran.In some areas, industrial wastewaters distribute arsenic in the water and vegetables, among the other plants, are mainly irrigated by municipal and industrial wastewater. This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of radish irrigation using water contaminated with arsenic and zinc and to measure the zinc concentration in the edible parts of radish plant. The experiments were designed in the form of a factorial completely randomized design with three replications in which radishes were planted in pots about five kilograms. Arsenic concentration at four levels (0, 100,300 and 600 μg/l) and zinc concentration at three levels (0, 10, and 50 mg/l) were added to the irrigation water. The pots were equally irrigated once every 3 to 4 days. After harvesting and laboratory operations, zinc concentration was measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The study indicated that zinc concentration in radish tubers is correlated with the concentration of zinc in water. The results of the analysis of variance table for the effect of zinc and arsenic-contaminated irrigation water on zinc concentration in radish roots, tubers and leafs show only one treatment (zinc concentration in water) on the property is significant at 5 and 1%. The results of the comparison table revealed that Zn uptake was decreased with increasing arsenic up to 300 μg/l. It was found that zinc concentration in radish roots, tubers, and leafs is correlated with the concentration of zinc in water. Moreover, there was a competition between the absorption of zinc and arsenic in plants. With increasing arsenic in irrigation water, transition of Zn was reduced to aerial part.