DETERMINATION OF THE CONCENTRATION LEVELS OF VARIOUS TRACE an‎d TOXIC ELEMENTS IN SOME MAIZ (ZEA MAYS L.) CULTIVARS

In the present investigation the level of trace and toxic elements were determined in five different cultivars of maize as well as soil of its agricultural plot, by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometric technique. The all maize hybrids and certified samples are treated with nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide followed by dissolution in deionized water. The validity of acid digestion method was checked by employing certified reference sample of Spinach NBS-1570. The measured values of elements are in closed agreement with certified values. The great ranges of each element were observed in (mg/kg). Maize hybrids contained higher concentration of Al, Ba, Cu, Co, Ni. Pb, Cr, and Cd (18.18 ± 1.77, 5.22 ± 0.92, 1.95 ± 0.23, 0.53 ± 0.07, 0.77 ± 0.07, 1.72 ± 0.38, 0.45 ± 0.07 and 0.68 ± 0.12) were estimated in EVS-10, EV-5089, Hybrid-202, Gohar, and OPV hybrids respectively. The results obtained from the collected and certified samples were compared by conducting the t-test at 95% confidence limit. The concentration of trace and toxic elements in all maize varieties collected and certified samples is below the values recommended by WHO and hence is accepted.