Sources of heavy metals in vegetables in Cape Town and possible methods of remediation

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dc.contributor.advisorRaitt, Lincoln
dc.contributor.advisorBrendonck, L.
dc.contributor.authorMeerkotter, Marÿke
dc.contributor.otherDept. of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
dc.contributor.otherFaculty of Science
dc.date.accessioned2013-07-25T13:27:23Z
dc.date.accessioned2024-10-30T13:10:24Z
dc.date.available2012/03/28 10:52
dc.date.available2012/03/28
dc.date.available2013-07-25T13:27:23Z
dc.date.available2024-10-30T13:10:24Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.descriptionPhilosophiae Doctor - PhDen_US
dc.description.abstractCape Town includes two vegetable farming areas within the city limits, the Joostenbergvlakte/Kraaifontein area and the Philippi area. Both areas supply produce to local markets and further afield. Sporadically, high levels of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc have been found to occur in some of the soils, irrigation water resources and crops. To find the sources of specifically Cd, Pb and Zn to these agricultural systems, extensive analysis of several heavy metals in inputs such as fertilizers, agrochemicals and supplementary water resources to these farming areas was undertaken. Heavy metal concentrations in soils, irrigation water resources and crops were also determined. Two mitigation techniques that could be used to remediate Cd, Pb and Zn contamination were investigated. The first mitigation method included immobilization of heavy metals as phosphate complexes by using a triple super phosphate fertilizer, while the second method involved mobilisation and thus leaching of heavy metals away from plant roots using EDTA. These mitigation methods were tested in a pot experiment using cabbage as the experimental crop and soil from these areas as growth medium. A survey of common farming practices in these two areas and farmers willingness to use remediation methods was conducted.en_US
dc.description.countrySouth Africa
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10566/16864
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of the Western Capeen_US
dc.rights.holderUniversity of the Western Capeen_US
dc.subjectCadmiumen_US
dc.subjectLeaden_US
dc.subjectZincen_US
dc.subjectAgricultural resourcesen_US
dc.subjectCrop quality Mitigation/remediation methodsen_US
dc.subjectTriple super phosphate fertilizeren_US
dc.subjectEDTAen_US
dc.subjectVegetable farming practicesen_US
dc.subjectPollution sourcesen_US
dc.titleSources of heavy metals in vegetables in Cape Town and possible methods of remediationen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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Philosophiae Doctor - PhD (Biodiversity and Conservation Biology)