Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of African Postgraduate Studies - Department of Natural Resources

This study aimed to investigate heavy metals status in some agricultural contaminated soils at Menofia Governorate- Egypt and in Northern Africa, beside the changes in metals status as a result of different applications of many organic amendments (i.e. Farmyard manure "FYM", Compost "C" and Biochar "BC") on some soil chemical properties .i.e. pH, EC, OM and CEC and the soils content of both total and available biogenic (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) and non-biogenic (Co, Cd, Ni and Pb) as heavy metals. The relationships between soil chemical properties and its content of both available and total heavy metals were also studied. Surface soil samples (0-30 cm) were collected from four different sites and pollution point sources. These sites at Menofia Governorate; Shibin El-Kom (unpolluted); Berket El-Saba (high way); Quesna (industrial waste water) and El-May (sewage waste water). The data obtained showed that effect of organic amendments treatments of soil samples with different incubation periods on soil pH, EC, CEC and OM content followed similar trends at all investigated soils locations. For the different soil locations, the highest content of total Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd and Ni was found in Quesna, the highest total Pb was in Berket El-Saba and total Co was in El-May location. The lowest values of total heavy metals content under study were existed in the soil of Experimental Farm (shibin El-Kom). Also, the increasing rates of applied organic amendments contributed to a slight increase in the soil total heavy metals contents. The highest total heavy metals contents were associated for with biochar followed by compost applications. On the other hand, the available forms of heavy metals were increased due to the farmyard manure and compost applications, where both them exhibited more influence

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