A study of contamination of the northern Jordan valley agricultural fields by various metal ions using regression analysis.

Abstract

Geochemical analysis were performed in lower subsurface soil samples of 10,20,30 and 40cm depth, collected from seven regions in the northern Jordan valley. Eighteen descriptors (variables) for each sample were used. Among them were metal ions concentrations, such as Pb, Ti, Co, Zn, Mg, Fe, Na, K, Al, Cu, Si, and Mn. Other variables were pH, EC, and TDS. The soils in the study area are found to be alkaline since the pH value ranging between 9.2 - 9.5. Location 6 shows the highest TDS value, that's 1219.2 ppm. All the locations show high concentration ofPb, ranges between 50 (loc.l) to 150 ppm (loc.6). Zn values shows high concentration almost in all the locations, 100 (loc.l) to 300 ppm (loc.5 and 7). The Cd concentration very high in locations, 1,2,3 and 4 with ranges between 4 to 6.9 ppm. Ti concentration ranges between 3700 (loc.5 and 7) to 12300 ppm (loc.l).The sources of this increase, may be attributed to the water used in irrigation, fertilizers and the different types of pesticides, as indicated by the chemical and regression analysis.