Umma Farhana Khushi, Sirajul Hoque and S. Z. K. M Shamsad
Keywords: Assessment, heavy metals, tea plants, tea growing soils, phyto-toxic levels
Abstract: An investigation was conducted at Bilashchhara and Shatgaon Tea Estates of Sreemangal under Moulvibazar district in Bangladesh to assessing the heavy metal accumulation in soils and their transfer to tea leaves. Thirteen composite soil and leaf samples were gathered from different elevations of the gardens where soil samples were from 0 to 25 cm depth and leaf samples were from three levels (upper, middle and lower leaves). Tea leaves were collected from the corresponding sites of the soils. The study showed that the heavy metal contents in soils of both the gardens were almost similar. Fertilized soils contained more heavy metals than the control soils. Chromium (Cr) and Cadmium (Cd) were not detectable in soils. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Fe, Cr, and Ni in tea leaves were below the phytotoxic levels. Lead (Pb) and Cd were not found in leaves irrespective of the gardens.
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