Tanneries impact on groundwater quality: a case study of Kasur city in Pakistan.

Leather industry is the second largest export-earning sector of Pakistan. However, because of poor waste management, this industry has been continuously polluting the environment. In this paper, the impact of tanneries on the groundwater quality of Kasur city (i.e., the second largest leather producing city) is examined. The study is conducted in the following three phases: (I) water samples collection, (II) determination of physio-chemical properties, and (III) application of data mining techniques. In phase I, groundwater samples were collected from various sources such as hand pumps, motor pumps, and tube wells. In phase II, several physio-chemical properties such as (i) total dissolved solids (TDS), (ii) pH, (iii) turbidity, (iv) electrical conductivity (EC), (v) total hardness (TH), (vi) total alkalinity (TA), (vii) nitrates, (viii) chromium, (ix) fluoride, and (x) chloride were estimated. The estimated values of all these foregoing parameters are then compared with the Punjab Environmental Quality Standards for Drinking Water (PEQSDW). In phase III, principle component analysis and cluster analysis of the estimated parameters were performed to elucidate the relation between various parameters and to highlight the highly vulnerable sites, respectively. The results exhibit that most of the sampling collections sites are at the threshold of losing quality water. Moreover, it is also found that Mangal Mandi carries the worst groundwater quality among all sampling locations. Overall, it is concluded that serious attention is due from the water and wastewater authorities to further investigate and monitor the groundwater quality of Kasur before the country strikes with another pandemic after COVID-19.

Assessing soil properties and chemical quality indices under trees outside forests (TOFs) in temperate Himalayan region.

Trees outside forests (TOFs) have assumed importance in view of its potential to mitigate CO2 under different carbon pools with soil as the prominent pool. The ability of any TOF practice to fix soil organic carbon (SOC) efficiently depends on its SOC build up and soil quality that varies across different strata within TOFs. Soil physico-chemical properties under six TOF practices (boundary plantation, roadside plantation, riverside plantation, horticulture, scattered patches with clumpy plantation (SPCP), and woodlot) in central region of Kashmir valley were investigated to assess SOC content and soil quality. Additive soil quality index (ASQI) approach was used to assess soil quality using "lower or higher is better" criteria. Correlation analysis between soil variables was carried out to assess the relationships. The results showed that TOF soils in the region were sandy clay loam in texture with slightly acidic to alkaline pH and electrical conductivity within normal limits. Lowest bulk density (0.94 g cm-3) was found in SPCP and highest (1.38 g cm-3) in roadside plantation. Highest SOC %, available nitrogen (N), and available phosphorus (P) values were observed in SPCP and lowest in boundary plantation. Average available potassium (K) was observed highest in SPCP (333.04 kg ha-1) and lowest in riverside plantation (244.58 kg ha-1). Soil pH showed significant but negative correlations with SOC and other nutrients (N and P). A significant but perfect positive correlation was observed between SOC and available N. SOC content was found highest in SPCP (60.16 t ha-1) and lowest in boundary plantation (34.56 t ha-1). The hypothesis that all soils under different TOF strata have similar quality and same SOC build up rate was observed otherwise with SPCP exhibiting highest CSQI. SPCP was observed to be more qualitative and dynamic growing system among all strata with an enhanced capacity to fix and conserve SOC to help mitigate climate change. Present study demands plantation of more trees outside the forest areas especially in the pattern of SPCP for enrichment of soil and enhancement of carbon sequestration.