Assessment of Physico-Chemical and Heavy Metals in the Soils of Tirupati Urban and Tirumala, A.P, India

Dr. Putaka Ramesh, T. Damodharam

Abstract: In the present study, assessment of physico-chemical and heavy metal contaminants in soil samples from various localities of Tirupati and Tirumala was undertaken. Pollutants of heavy metals like Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, and Ni have been studied and soil characterization was carried out like pH, electrical conductivity (EC), nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium etc. The studied metal concentration in soil samples ranges from 0.46 to 69.16 g/g. The results showed that Cd, Pb, Zn and Cr concentrations were relatively higher in tirupati urban soils. The concentrations of Cd, Pb, Zn, Cr and Ni were found to be high at Alipiri forest than the other forest regions, which was contributed mostly by anthropogenic sources whereas, Tirumala forest samples were similar to their acceptable limits. The results indicate that the soil samples were moderately polluted when compared to SEPA and Indian standards and there is a dire need to implement reduction strategies to reduce land pollution for fast industrialization and urbanization.

Keywords: Heavy metal contaminants, physico-chemical characterization, anthropogenic sources, land pollution