Abstract
Sediments of sewage contaminated Fuleli canal was sampled before and after addition of sewage for over 25 k.m. and analysed for loss on iginition, pH, conductance, organic carbon, water soluble chloride, sulphate, carbonate, phosphates, Na, K, Ca and Mg, The sediments were also examined for total (Fe, Cu, Ni, Mn, Zn, Pb, Co and Cd) and bioavailable (Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn) metal contents.
The sediments showed alkaline character and contained wide range of variation in soluble salts. The major cations and total metal contents indicated following decreasing pattern Ca > Mg > Na > K; Fe >> Mn > Zn > Ni > Cu > Pb > Co > Cd.
The bioavailable metal contents crossed the safe limits for the use of sediments of contaminated portion of the canal for agricultural purposes.