This study examines the impacts of heavy metals in irrigation water on soil quality and crop productivity in Ghana. Data was synthesized from 41 studies across 10 study areas spanning seven regions in Ghana. 10 heavy metals were identified from the synthetized data, namely, cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe) and chromium (Cr). The synthesized data revealed that certain regions such as Upper East, Ashanti and Ahafo exhibits elevated cadmium level in soil and the western region showed high concentrations of Hg, As, Pb, and Cu exceeding WHO limits in irrigation water. Due to their economic importance and susceptibility to metal contamination, the analysis of the effects of these metals on crop productivity focused on maize and leafy vegetables. The findings show that metals such as As, Ni, and Cu, in irrigation water significantly affect soil metal concentration but do not affect crop productivity, but Hg, Zn, Pb, and Co rather influence crop yield. Interestingly, while Hg and Pb reduce yield in leafy vegetables, they positively affect maize productivity, highlighting the potential for tailored crop selection based on soil metal concentration to improve Agricultural outcomes.
References
[1]
Affum, A. O., Osae, S. D., Kwaansa-Ansah, E. E., & Miyittah, M. K. (2020). Quality Assessment and Potential Health Risk of Heavy Metals in Leafy and Non-Leafy Vegetables Irrigated with Groundwater and Municipal-Waste-Dominated Stream in the Western Region, Ghana. Heliyon, 6, e05829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05829
[2]
Agbeshie, A. A., Adjei, R., Anokye, J., & Banunle, A. (2020). Municipal Waste Dumpsite: Impact on Soil Properties and Heavy Metal Concentrations, Sunyani, Ghana. Scientific African, 8, e00390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00390
[3]
Alengebawy, A., Abdelkhalek, S. T., Qureshi, S. R., & Wang, M. (2021). Heavy Metals and Pesticides Toxicity in Agricultural Soil and Plants: Ecological Risks and Human Health Implications. Toxics, 9, Article 42. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9030042
[4]
Amankwah, E., Antwi-Agyei, P., Nyantakyi, E., Mensah, N., Sebiawu, G., Akomeah, S. et al. (2023). Assessment of Irrigation Water Quality for Vegetable Production in the Bono and Bono East Regions. Journal of the Ghana Institution of Engineering, 23, 18-24. https://doi.org/10.56049/jghie.v23i3.51
[5]
Amengor, J., & Kwasi Amengor, J. K. (2024). An Investigation of Heavy Metal Pollution Impact on Drinking Water Quality in the Birim River Sub-Basin of Ghana. University of Calgary PRISM Repository. https://prism.ucalgary.ca
[6]
Amoah, K. K. (2019). Influence of Biochar and Irrigation on Crop Production in the Coastal Savannah Zone of Ghana. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Cape Coast. https://ir.ucc.edu.gh/xmlui/handle/123456789/7173
[7]
Ankamah, U. (2022). To Help or Hurt: Stories about Gold Mining in a Community in Rural Ghana. https://www.academia.edu/download/91822458/GOLD_MINING_AND_ACCUMULATION_BY_DISPOSSESION_IN_RURAL_GHANA.pdf
[8]
Ankrah, D. A., Freeman, C. Y., & Afful, A. (2020). Gendered Access to Productive Resources—Evidence from Small Holder Farmers in Awutu Senya West District of Ghana. Scientific African, 10, e00604. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00604
[9]
Asare-Donkor, N. K., & Adimado, A. A. (2020). Groundwater Quality Assessment in the Northern and Upper East Regions of Ghana. Environmental Earth Sciences, 79, Article No. 205. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-020-08956-x
[10]
Aslam, M., Aslam, A., Sheraz, M., Ali, B., Ulhassan, Z., Najeeb, U. et al. (2021). Lead Toxicity in Cereals: Mechanistic Insight into Toxicity, Mode of Action, and Management. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, Article 587785. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.587785
[11]
Assibey-Yeboah, S., & Koomen, I. (2022). Progress Report HortiFresh West Africa 2021: Commercial Fruit & Vegetable Sector Development in West Africa Programme. Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation. https://library.wur.nl/WebQuery/wurpubs/fulltext/628765
[12]
Ayivor, J. S., Pabi, O., D. Ofori, B., Yirenya-Taiwiah, D. R., & Gordon, C. (2015). Agro-diversity in the Forest-Savannah Transition Zone of Ghana: A Strategy for Food Security against Climatic and Socio-Economic Stressors. Environment and Natural Resources Research, 6, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.5539/enrr.v6n1p1
[13]
Balkhair, K. S., & Ashraf, M. A. (2016). Field Accumulation Risks of Heavy Metals in Soil and Vegetable Crop Irrigated with Sewage Water in Western Region of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 23, S32-S44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2015.09.023
[14]
Bampoe, E., Cobbina, S. J., & Doke, D. A. (2023). Assessment of Heavy Metal Levels and Associated Human Health Risk in Dust from High and Low Traffic Transport Stations in the Tamale Metropolis, in the Northern Region of Ghana. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 20, 8497-8508. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-022-04522-z
[15]
Banson, A. K., Amankwah, R. K., & Ndur, S. A. (2020). Sources of Arsenic Distribution at Obuasi in Ghana. International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation,7, 157-166. https://www.rsisinternational.org
[16]
Bellon, M. R., Kotu, B. H., Azzarri, C., & Caracciolo, F. (2020). To Diversify or Not to Diversify, That Is the Question. Pursuing Agricultural Development for Smallholder Farmers in Marginal Areas of Ghana. World Development, 125, Article 104682. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.104682
[17]
Bempah, C. K., & Ewusi, A. (2016). Heavy Metals Contamination and Human Health Risk Assessment around Obuasi Gold Mine in Ghana. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 188, Article No. 261. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5241-3
[18]
Boateng, T. K., Opoku, F., & Akoto, O. (2019). Heavy Metal Contamination Assessment of Groundwater Quality: A Case Study of Oti Landfill Site, Kumasi. Applied Water Science, 9, Article No. 33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-019-0915-y
[19]
Chopra, A. K., Pathak, C., & Prasad, G. (2009). Scenario of Heavy Metal Contamination in Agricultural Soil and Its Management. Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 1, 99-108. https://doi.org/10.31018/jans.v1i1.46
[20]
DalCorso, G., Manara, A., Piasentin, S., & Furini, A. (2014). Nutrient Metal Elements in Plants. Metallomics, 6, 1770-1788. https://doi.org/10.1039/c4mt00173g
[21]
Damoah, P. B. (2013). Effects of Small Scale Mining Activities on the Ankobra River: A Case Study in the Amenfi East District of the Western Region. Master’s Thesis, Kwame Nkrumah University.
[22]
Dikinya, O., & Areola, O. (2010). Comparative Analysis of Heavy Metal Concentration in Secondary Treated Wastewater Irrigated Soils Cultivated by Different Crops. International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology, 7, 337-346. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03326143
[23]
Ebo Yahans Amuah, E., Amanin-Ennin, P., & Antwi, K. (2022). Irrigation Water Quality in Ghana and Associated Implications on Vegetables and Public Health. A Systematic Review. Journal of Hydrology, 604, Article 127211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.127211
[24]
Emmanuel, A., Cobbina, S. J., Adomako, D., Duwiejuah, A. B., & Asare, W. (2014). Assessment of Heavy Metals Concentration in Soils around Oil Filling and Service Stations in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 8, 256-266. https://doi.org/10.5897/ajest2014.1664
[25]
Enu, P. (2014). Analysis of the Agricultural Sector of Ghana and Its Economic Impact on Economic Growth. Academic Research International, 5, 267-277. http://www.savap.org.pk/journals/ARInt./Vol.5(4)/2014(5.4-28).pdf
[26]
Ertani, A., Mietto, A., Borin, M., & Nardi, S. (2017). Chromium in Agricultural Soils and Crops: A Review. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 228, Article No. 190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-017-3356-y
[27]
Essel, K. K. (2017). Heavy Metals Geochemistry in Selected Districts of Upper East Region Soils, Ghana. Environmental Earth Sciences, 76, Article No. 358. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6661-2
[28]
Fagariba, C. J., Song, S., & Baoro, S. K. G. S. (2018). Climate Change in Upper East Region of Ghana; Challenges Existing in Farming Practices and New Mitigation Policies. Open Agriculture, 3, 524-536. https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2018-0057
[29]
Fianko, J. R., & Korankye, (2020). Quality Characteristics of Water Used for Irrigation in Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture in Greater Accra Region of Ghana: Health and Environmental Risk. West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 28, 131-143.
[30]
Fosu-Mensah, B. Y., Addae, E., Yirenya-Tawiah, D., & Nyame, F. (2017). Heavy Metals Concentration and Distribution in Soils and Vegetation at Korle Lagoon Area in Accra, Ghana. Cogent Environmental Science, 3, Article 1405887. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2017.1405887
[31]
Frampton, G., Whaley, P., Bennett, M., Bilotta, G., Dorne, J. C. M., Eales, J. et al. (2022). Principles and Framework for Assessing the Risk of Bias for Studies Included in Comparative Quantitative Environmental Systematic Reviews. Environmental Evidence, 11, Article No. 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-022-00264-0
[32]
Frimpong, S. K., & Koranteng, S. S. (2019). Levels and Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Soil of Public Parks in Southern Ghana. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 191, Article No. 588. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7745-0
[33]
Gillispie, E. C., Sowers, T. D., Duckworth, O. W., & Polizzotto, M. L. (2015). Soil Pollution Due to Irrigation with Arsenic-Contaminated Groundwater: Current State of Science. Current Pollution Reports, 1, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40726-015-0001-5
[34]
GSA. (2020). Agriculture and Nutrition Data, Average Crop Yield. https://statsghana.gov.gh/gssmain/fileUpload/Agriculture%20&%20Environment/Thematic%20Brief_Arable%20Crops.pdf
[35]
Gyamfi, E., Appiah-Adjei, E. K., & Adjei, K. A. (2019). Potential Heavy Metal Pollution of Soil and Water Resources from Artisanal Mining in Kokoteasua, Ghana. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 8, 450-456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2019.01.007
[36]
Gyampo, M. A., Ntiforo, A., & Kumi, M. (2012). Assessment of Heavy Metals in Waste-Water Irrigated Lettuce in Ghana: The Case of Tamale Municipality. Journal of Sustainable Development, 5, 93-102. https://doi.org/10.5539/jsd.v5n11p93
[37]
Hadjipanagiotou, C., Christou, A., Zissimos, A. M., Chatzitheodoridis, E., & Varnavas, S. P. (2020). Contamination of Stream Waters, Sediments, and Agricultural Soil in the Surroundings of an Abandoned Copper Mine by Potentially Toxic Elements and Associated Environmental and Potential Human Health-Derived Risks: A Case Study from Agrokipia, Cyprus. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27, 41279-41298. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10098-3
[38]
Hadzi, G. Y., Ayoko, G. A., Essumang, D. K., & Osae, S. K. D. (2019). Contamination Impact and Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Soils from Selected Major Mining Areas in Ghana. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 41, 2821-2843. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00332-4
[39]
Koranteng, J. (2019). Effects of Small-Scale Gold Mining on Farming in Atiwa West District. PhD Thesis, University of Cape Coast. https://ir.ucc.edu.gh/xmlui/
[40]
Kubier, A., Wilkin, R. T., & Pichler, T. (2019). Cadmium in Soils and Groundwater: A Review. Applied Geochemistry, 108, Article 104388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2019.104388
[41]
Kumi, S., Adu-Poku, D., & Attiogbe, F. (2023). Dynamics of Land Cover Changes and Condition of Soil and Surface Water Quality in a Mining-Altered Landscape, Ghana. Heliyon, 9, e17859. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17859
[42]
Lente, I., Keraita, B., Drechsel, P., Ofosu-Anim, J., & Brimah, A. K. (2012). Risk Assessment of Heavy-Metal Contamination on Vegetables Grown in Long-Term Wastewater Irrigated Urban Farming Sites in Accra, Ghana. Water Quality, Exposure and Health, 4, 179-186. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-012-0077-8
[43]
Lente, I., Ofosu-Anim, J., Brimah, A. K., & Atiemo, S. (2014). Heavy Metal Pollution of Vegetable Crops Irrigated with Wastewater in Accra, Ghana. West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 22, 41-58.
[44]
Mengistu, D. A. (2021). Public Health Implications of Heavy Metals in Foods and Drinking Water in Ethiopia (2016 to 2020): Systematic Review. BMC Public Health, 21, Article No. 2114. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12189-3
[45]
Mensah, E., Kyei-Baffour, N., Ofori, E., & Obeng, G. (2009). Influence of Human Activities and Land Use on Heavy Metal Concentrations in Irrigated Vegetables in Ghana and Their Health Implications. In E. K. Yanful (Eds.), Appropriate Technologies for Environmental Protection in the Developing World (pp. 9-14). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9139-1_2
[46]
Methley, A. M., Campbell, S., Chew-Graham, C., McNally, R., & Cheraghi-Sohi, S. (2014). PICO, PICOS and SPIDER: A Comparison Study of Specificity and Sensitivity in Three Search Tools for Qualitative Systematic Reviews. BMC Health Services Research, 14, Article No. 579. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-014-0579-0
[47]
Meuser, H. (2010). Causes of Soil Contamination in the Urban Environment. In H. Meuser (Ed.), Contaminated Urban Soils (pp. 29-94). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9328-8_3
[48]
MoFA Production Figures (2016). https://mofa.gov.gh/site/images/pdf/AGRICULTURE%20IN%20GHANA%20(Facts%20&%20Figures)%202021.pdf
[49]
MoFA (2021). Agriculture in Ghana (Facts and Figures). https://mofa.gov.gh/site/images/pdf/AGRICULTURE%20IN%20GHANA%20(Facts%20&%20Figures)%202021.pdf
[50]
Moomen, A., Yevugah, L. L., Boakye, L., Osei, J. D., & Muthoni, F. (2024). Review of Applications of Remote Sensing Towards Sustainable Agriculture in the Northern Savannah Regions of Ghana. Agriculture, 14, Article 546. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14040546
[51]
Muhammad, Z., Maria, K., Mohammad, A., Muhammad, S., Zia-ur-Rehman, F., & Muhammad, K. (2015). Effect of Mercury on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek). Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 19, 191-199. https://doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v19i2.4
[52]
Nartey, E., Dowuona, G., Ahenkorah, Y., Mermut, A., & Tiessen, H. (1997). Variability in the Properties of Soils on Two Toposequences in Northern Ghana. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science, 30, 115-126. https://doi.org/10.4314/gjas.v30i2.1963
[53]
Natasha, Shahid, M., Khalid, S., Niazi, N. K., Murtaza, B., Ahmad, N. et al. (2021). Health Risks of Arsenic Buildup in Soil and Food Crops after Wastewater Irrigation. Science of the Total Environment, 772, Article 145266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145266
[54]
Obiri-Nyarko, F., Quansah, J. O., Asare, S. V., Fynn, O. F., Okrah, C., Debrah, S. K. et al. (2024). Determination of Threshold Values and Heavy Metal Pollution Assessment of Soils in an Industrial Area in Ghana. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 196, Article No. 546. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-024-12660-9
[55]
Obiri, S. (2018). Human Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Heavy Metals in Selected Mining Communities in Ghana. https://inis.iaea.org/search/search.aspx?orig_q=RN:52006176
[56]
Osafo, E. (2011). The Effect of Small Scale Gold Mining Activities on the Birim River in the East Akim Municipality of the Eastern Region. Master’s Thesis, Kwame Nkrumah University.
[57]
Owusu, G., Dilys, E., & Maccarthy, S. (2020). Situational Analysis Study for the Agriculture Sector in Ghana. https://ccafs.cgiar.org/donors
[58]
Page, M. J., Moher, D., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D. et al. (2021). PRISMA 2020 Explanation and Elaboration: Updated Guidance and Exemplars for Reporting Systematic Reviews. BMJ, 372, n160. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n160
[59]
Prasad, S., Yadav, K. K., Kumar, S., Gupta, N., Cabral-Pinto, M. M. S., Rezania, S. et al. (2021). Chromium Contamination and Effect on Environmental Health and Its Remediation: A Sustainable Approaches. Journal of Environmental Management, 285, Article 112174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112174
[60]
Ravanipour, M., Hadi, M., Rastkari, N., Hemmati Borji, S., & Nasseri, S. (2021). Presence of Heavy Metals in Drinking Water Resources of Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28, 26223-26251. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13293-y
[61]
Sakyi, S., Kwame Appiah-Adjei, E., Asare, A., Asante, D., & Appiah-Adjei, E. K. (2022). Quality and Potential Health Risk Assessment of Groundwater in Asante Akim Central Municipality, Ghana. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1441875/v1
[62]
Sandeep, G., Vijayalatha, K. R., & Anitha, T. (2019). Heavy Metals and Its Impact in Vegetable Crops. International Journal of Chemical Studies, 7, 1612-1621.
[63]
Sarpong, K., Acheampong, A., Darko, G., & Akoto, O. (2022). Potentially Toxic Metal Loads in Soils Supporting Medicinal Plants in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Chemistry Africa, 5, 715-729. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42250-022-00341-4
[64]
Scells, H., Zuccon, G., Koopman, B., Deacon, A., Azzopardi, L., & Geva, S. (2017). Integrating the Framing of Clinical Questions via PICO into the Retrieval of Medical Literature for Systematic Reviews. In Association for Computing Machinery (Ed.), Proceedings of the 2017 ACM on Conference on Information and Knowledge Management (pp. 2291-2294). ACM. https://doi.org/10.1145/3132847.3133080
[65]
Shamseer, L., Moher, D., Clarke, M., Ghersi, D., Liberati, A., Petticrew, M. et al. (2015). Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015: Elaboration and Explanation. BMJ, 349, g7647. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g7647
[66]
Tang, Y., Zhang, J., Wang, L., Wang, H., Long, H., Yang, L. et al. (2023). Water Deficit Aggravated the Inhibition of Photosynthetic Performance of Maize under Mercury Stress but Is Alleviated by Brassinosteroids. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 443, Article 130365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130365
[67]
Tay, C. K., Dorleku, M., & Doamekpor, L. K. (2019). Human Exposure Risks Assessment of Heavy Metals in Groundwater within the Amansie and Adansi Districts in Ghana Using Pollution Evaluation Indices. West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 27, 23-41.
[68]
Amoah, K. K. (2019). Influence of Biochar and Irrigation on Crop Production in the Coastal Savannah Zone of Ghana. PhD. Thesis, University of Cape Coast. https://ir.ucc.edu.gh/xmlui
[69]
Obiri, S. (2018). Human Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Heavy Metals in Selected Mining Communities in Ghana. PhD. Thesis, University of Ghana.
[70]
Wang, S., Wu, W., Liu, F., Liao, R., & Hu, Y. (2017). Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Soil-Crop Systems: A Review for Wheat and Corn. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24, 15209-15225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8909-5
[71]
Yiridomoh, G. Y., Appiah, D. O., Owusu, V., & Bonye, S. Z. (2021). Women Smallholder Farmers Off-Farm Adaptation Strategies to Climate Variability in Rural Savannah, Ghana. GeoJournal, 86, 2367-2385. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-020-10191-7
[72]
Zulfiqar, U., Farooq, M., Hussain, S., Maqsood, M., Hussain, M., Ishfaq, M. et al. (2019). Lead Toxicity in Plants: Impacts and Remediation. Journal of Environmental Management, 250, Article 109557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109557
