Article Info Received : 03.03.2016 Accepted : 25.05.2016 Twenty soil samples were collected from North of Atbara (Dar-Mali locality),River Nile State, Sudan (17.82289 to 17.82389N and 33.99974 to 34.02127E) inside and outside gold mining area in order to assess the influence of the gold mining on the concentrations of selected heavy metals (Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, Hg) in study area. The soil contamination by heavy metals of study area was studied using two parameters; (i) Comparison of the heavy metals concentrations with mean concentrations in most world soils, (ii) Enrichment Factor (EF). Results revealed that the concentrations of heavy metals were varying in the study area, the highest concentrations were obtained at the center of mining area particularly inside the mining basins of gold extraction. The concentrations of Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Co, Ni, and Pb were ranged from (4.85 to 34.65 mg kg -1 soil), (6,355 to 14,635 mg kg -1 soil), (37.35 to 655 mg kg -1 soil), (11.85 to 42.7 mg kg -1 soil), (0 to 16.5 mg kg -1 soil,) (2.5 to 47.3 mg kg -1 soil) and (2.65 to 823.5 mg kg -1 soil), respectively. The results also indicated that the soil samples which collected from inside mining basins have a highest EF for most heavy metals particularly Pb, which showed EF value of (676.3), suggesting that the Pb may be derived from anthropogenic source. This study recommends regular monitoring of heavy metals in the soils around the Artisanal gold Mining for conservation and protection from pollution.

An artisanal gold mining region located in North of Atbara (Dar-Mali locality), River Nile State, Sudan (17.82289 to 17.82389N and 33.99974 to 34.02127E) has been studied with the aim to evaluate the soil contamination with mercury (Hg) using two parameters; (i) Comparison of the Hg concentration with the mean concentrations in world soils, (ii) Enrichment Factor (EF). The results revealed that, the concentrations of the Hg are varying in the studied area and the highest concentrations were obtained inside the mining basins used for gold extraction (2.62 mg kg-1 soil) it is around 29 times more than mean Hg concentration in world soils, while the lower concentrations are found at recent Nile River terrace (0.10 mg kg-1 soil). The results also indicated that the soil samples collected from inside mining basins had a highest E.F value (352.84) that means, this site must be closed and remediation process should be started immediately. While the E.F value of recent Nile River terrace site was 8.74, means, all studied sites have significant contamination with Hg. The mobility of Hg may have influenced by northeast wind, or water runoff from mining zone to nearest areas at same wind direction or water flow direction.

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The objective was to investigate the effect of treatments interactions of application of irrigation canal sediments, humate fertilizer and irrigation interval on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth and yield attributes in high terrace soils. Treatments were arranged in a split-split plot design with four replicates. Application of irrigation canal sediments constituted three rates (0, 30 and 60 ton/ha), three rates of humate fertilizer were used (0, 2 and 4 kg/fed) and two levels of irrigation interval were imposed (10 and 15 days). The soil of the experimental site is characterized by high amount of sand and low chemical soil fertility and the climatic zone of the area is described as desert. The results showed significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) due to the interactions effect of these three factors on number of plants/m 2 , plant height, number of spikes/m 2 , number of seeds/spike, 1000-seeds weight, grain yield and straw yield for both seasons. Also, treatments interactions had highly significant effects (P ≤ 0.01) on number of tillers/m 2 and harvest index, and very highly significant differences (P ≤ 0.001) on biological yield of wheat in both seasons. The best combination of irrigation canal sediments, humate fertilizer and irrigation interval which gave the highest values of growth, yield and yield components of wheat for both seasons; except for number of plants/m 2 in the second season and straw yield in both seasons, was the interaction effect of application of 60 ton/ha irrigation canal sediments, 4 kg/fed humate fertilizer and 10 days irrigation interval.