Heavy metals contamination in vegetables and its growing soil

The present study was carried out to analyse the heavy metal contamination in soils and vegetable crops. Soil samples as well as vegetable samples were collected from commercially growing vegetable belts of Central Kashmir (Noorbah (Srinagar) and Narkara (Budgam) area of Jammu and Kashmir. The soils and vegetable samples were analyzed for Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb. The mean values showed slightly higher amount of the heavy metals in the soils of Noorbagh (Srinagar). Furthermore, the edible part of radish had higher amount of these heavy metals respectively compared to tomato owing to the excessive discharge of domestic sewage in the irrigation channels. The heavy metal concentration in both the vegetable crops were below the critical limits of Indian standards but continuous monitoring of these metals is necessary to ensure the good quality of vegetables for consumption.