Lotus Cultivation in Contaminated Water: Potential Risks and Solutions
Anup Gadekar *
Floriculture and Landscaping, Horticulture Section, College of Agriculture, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.
Disha Katre
Environment and Resource Management, TERI- School of Advanced Studies, New Delhi, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This article explores the potential risks associated with lotus cultivation in polluted water sources and presents viable solutions to mitigate these challenges. Lotus cultivation plays a significant role in agriculture, providing economic, cultural, and medicinal benefits. However, the increasing contamination of water bodies due to industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and domestic waste poses serious risks to the safety and productivity of lotus farming. Toxic chemicals such heavy metals, pesticides, and infections can accumulate in lotus plants due to contaminated water, which can then have an impact on soil quality, marketability, and human health. Strategies such as water quality monitoring, phytoremediation, sustainable farming practices, and policy interventions are discussed to ensure the long-term sustainability and safety of lotus production. Farmers can embrace environmentally friendly practices while preserving their financial viability by highlighting the significance of safe growing techniques.
Keywords: Lotus cultivation, water contamination, heavy metals, phytoremediation, sustainable agriculture, water quality monitoring