ISSN: 2636-8498
Effects of Saharan dust cloud water in the remediation of soil having high heavy metal content
1Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Department of Environmental Engineering, Istanbul, Turkey; Düzce University, Department of Environmental Engineering, Düzce, Turkey
2Düzce University, Department of Environmental Engineering, Düzce, Turkey
Environmental Research & Technology 2021; 3(4): 249-258 DOI: 10.35208/ert.945835
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Abstract

Studies revealed that the precipitation from the Saharan Desert brings on a natural fertilizer effect on the plants, contributing to the growth of plants during daytime. In this study, the effectiveness of the Saharan dust has been investigated in the remediation of soil, which has been a very low pH value and high concentrations of various metals. The effects of using the solution obtained by dilution of Saharan dust (as namely Saharan dust water) and Saharan dust on the development of Phaseolus vulgaris and the amount of metal passing to the plant were investigated. It was observed that no plant growth occurred when no remediation was
provided on the soil. When metal amounts penetrating the plant was considered, lower metal concentrations were determined in the plants growing with mixtures in which Saharan dust was added and which were irrigated with Saharan dust water compared to mixtures in which compost was added and which were irrigated with Saharan dust water. It was observed that irrigation with Saharan dust water and/or addition of Saharan dust was making the soil suitable for the growth of the plant by increasing its pH in a similar way as adding compost. It was seen that the compost and Saharan dust, and that the solution obtained by Saharan dust water were enabling remediation in soil containing high amounts of metal and having an acidic character at a level as to enable plant growth, and are causing a decrease in the amounts of heavy metal penetrating the plant.