Magnetic susceptibility and heavy metal contamination in agricultural soil of Tadla plain

Excessive accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soils may not only result in environmental contamination, but elevated heavy metal uptake by crops may also affect food quality and safety. This study is conducted in two agricultural topsoil parcels according to the road emission proximity. Magnetic susceptibility is highly recorded in parcel 1 near the road compared to the values recorded in parcel 2 far away from road exhausts. Heavy metals show high values in parcel 1 near the road and are correlated positively with the magnetic susceptibility. The enrichment of Pb, Cd, Cu, Fe and Zn in parcel 1 soils was strongly influenced by anthropogenic activities, and Pb accumulated in fine particles was mainly derived from past vehicular emissions. According to the PLI values, studied areas do not shows highly pollution factors for Cd, Cu, Zn and Cr. But the high PLI value of lead in both parcels is signifying high pollution degree.