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Effects of wastewater irrigation on soil physico-chemical properties and vegetables quality: A review
7-16.Views:487This study analyses the use of raw urban wastewater for irrigation and its effects on soil characteristics and heavy metal pollution within crops. There is rampant use of urban waste water by small scale urban vegetable farmers in Zimbabwe. This is posing health hazards to the consumers of urban vegetables and decrease in soil functioning. The significance of this study was to appraise the research study related to the use of urban waste water to answer the research question: What is the impact of waste water on selected soil physico-chemical properties and quantities of heavy metals in vegetables irrigated with waste water? A systematic review of 3100 articles from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar (2010–2024) was performed within PRISMA guidelines. After excluding irrelevant studies, 49 from Nigeria, Bangladesh, Iran, Egypt, India, Pakistan, China, Saudi Arabia, and DRC were selected for analysis. These countries were found to have a lot of literature on urban waste water irrigation. This literature review identified an overview of existing literature on urban waste water irrigation and synthesise findings to provide a comprehensive overview of the topic The results showed (P<0.05) soil properties changed significantly: pH (6.0–7.0 to 4.5–5.5), electrical conductivity (0.2–0.4 to 1.5–2.0 dS/m), organic matter (2–3% to 4–6%), cation exchange capacity (10–15 to 20–25 meq/100g) all aligning with the intended outcomes. The level of nutrients (N, P, K) shifted alongside the source of wastewater. Soil also accumulated heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Pb, Fe, Mn, Cu) while the crops accumulated unsafe levels of Pb (2.5 mg/kg), Cd (1.2 mg/kg), and Cr (3.1 mg/kg) which surpassed WHO/FAO limits. The results highlighted the concern for health and environmental hazards. Treatment of the wastewater, monitoring of the soil, and stricter guidelines are needed for safe agricultural practice.
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Hungarian fruits and vegetables of high anti-oxidant activity as functional foods (Review article)
13-21.Views:985Recently, projects aiming to enhance the consumption of fruits and vegetables are intensified. Experts agree in the principle of fresh vegetable foods being a valid panacea in averting risks of ailments as well as curing immune-insufficiency, inflammations, moreover, certain cancerous processes. It is generally accepted that among substances of biological activity the anti-oxidant compounds such as vitamins C, E and carotenoids, etc. have the major role in this process. Hungarian agriculture has outstanding chances in utilising its natural as well as cultivated plant resources and favourable climatic conditions. It would be, however, necessary to build up a databank of antioxidant substances found in fruits and vegetables and including the modifying effects of technology, growing site, variety, etc. The concept of promoting the trade of Hungarian food-specialities as "Hungaricum" needs, urgently, the aid of a databank of that kind. Some of those excellent products are for instance the sour cherry, pepper and onion. They enjoy high priority as "Hungaricum" in the EU and it should be enhanced by intense and consequent research work, which may prove their role as functional foods. The USA is the leading country in research on the anti-oxidant substances of sour cherries, and up to now more than 17 compounds have been found in Hungarian varieties among others. In pepper fruits used as vegetable and source of vitamin C, the analyses are still lacking because research of the past concentrated on the products of milled spice pepper. Onion and garlic are entirely unexplored in this respect. It should be noted that availability of these fresh products in the moderate climate is restricted to a relatively short season. For that reason, some processing and preservation methods are needed in order to use those fruits and vegetables as functional foods all around the year. The scientifically founded endeavour as a solution of the questions mentioned is stimulated by vigorous commercial interests as well as by the urgent needs of the consumers to improve their health.
