J. Glob. Innov. Agric. Soc. Sci., 2014, 2(4): 158-162. ISSN (Online): 2311-3839; ISSN (Print): 2312-5225 DOI: 10.17957/JGIASS/2.4.460 http://www.jgiass.com QUANTIFICATION OF THE HEAVY METALS IN THE AGRICULTURAL SOILS OF MARDAN DISTRICT, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN Nida Gul1,*, Mohammad Tahir Shah1, Sardar Khan2 and Said Muhammad3 1 National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan 2Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Pakistan 3Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, COMSATS, Abottabad, Pakistan * Corresponding author’s e-mail:
[email protected] Soil samples were collected from Mardan district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan and were analyzed for physico-chemical parameters (pH, EC, SOM), major cations (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn) and heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cr, Cd, As) concentrations using atomic absorption spectrometer. Based on concentration values, the major cations was found in order of Na> Ca >Fe> K > Mg >Mn. Increasing order of the heavy metal concentrations were as Zn > Cr > Ni > Cu >Pb> As > Cd. The enhanced values of heavy metals in the studied soils could be due to sulfide and mafic minerals in the soils of the study area. Metal concentrations were used to quantify pollution contamination factors (CFs) and pollution load index (PLI). It can be concluded from this classification that soils of the study area are polluted with some of the heavy metals. Keywords: major cations, heavy metals, contamination factor, pollution load index INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS Soil is an important part of the nature. The presence of Study Area Profile: Mardan district is among the major major cations and heavy metals, soil organic matter (SOM), districts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.