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Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of soil applications MSW (municipal solid waste) compost on the fruit yield and heavy metal accumulation in the leaf and fruit of eggplant plant (Solanum melongena). Soil collected from the surface soil (0-30 cm) from the fields cropped in a wheat-corn rotation in Nagpur, India was used as an experimental soil. The heavy metal content of untreated greenhouse soil was well within the accepted normal range of values. Pots containing different amounts (corresponding to 0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 T/ha, as dry weight basis) of MSW compost were used to grow eggplant plants under controlled greenhouse conditions. Fruit yield and Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd and Cr contents in the leaves and fruits of eggplant were determined. MSW compost applications led to greater fruit yield at low application rates, but higher application rates (100 and 200 T/ha) of MSW compost depressed plant growth and fruit yield. It was found that the MSW compost applications brought about a sharp increase for heavy metals in the plant material. At low MSW compost treatments, the concentrations of heavy metals in plants were below the phytotoxic levels. However, in high MSW compost treatments, according to background and toxicity limits, heavy metal status of leaves and fruits were ranged in high levels and Pb concentrations in eggplant fruits were exceeded foodstuff index and limit values for edible vegetables. The resulting data demonstrate that the MSW compost was a source of Heavy metals for the soil and MSW compost application caused an important accumulation of heavy metals in eggplant.

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