AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND FOOD SAFETY ASSESSMENT OF TOMATO (Solanum lycopersicum L.) IRRIGATED WITH POLLUTED WATER FROM RAMGARH LAKE, INDIA
Abstract
The use of polluted urban lake water for vegetable irrigation presents a critical trade-off between agronomic benefits and food safety risks. This study evaluated the effects of irrigation with heavy metal-contaminated water from Ramgarh Lake, Gorakhpur, on the growth, yield, and heavy metal accumulation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Mahyco NO.63 F1 Hybrid). A two-year pot experiment (2024–2025) compared tap water irrigation (control) with raw wastewater from the lake's outflow channel. Polluted water significantly enhanced seed germination (95.2% vs 84.9% in control), vegetative growth (28.5% increase in plant height), and fruit yield (41.1% increase). However, substantial heavy metal accumulation occurred in both soil and edible tissues. Lead concentrations in tomato fruits (1.28 mg/kg) exceeded the FAO/WHO permissible limit of 0.30 mg/kg by over fourfold, while cadmium, arsenic, copper, chromium, and zinc remained within safety thresholds. Bioaccumulation factors for fruits ranged from 0.254 (As) to 0.631 (Cu), indicating moderate metal uptake. Transfer factors from leaves to fruits ranged from 0.873 to 1.014, suggesting restricted metal translocation to reproductive tissues. These findings demonstrate that while Ramgarh Lake water offers agronomic value through nutrient supplementation, its use for tomato irrigation poses significant food safety concerns due to lead contamination, necessitating careful management and continuous monitoring.