Elemental Analysis of Soil and Crop Quality in Wheat‐Maize Cultivation Cycle Utilizing Energy Dispersive X‐Ray Fluorescence Technique

ABSTRACT This study evaluates wheat‐maize rotation impacts on soil health and element transfer in Nawanshahr, Punjab under uniform fertilization. Total 80 Samples including soil and crop samples from two consecutive season cycle of 20 sites were analyzed for major (K, Ca, Fe) and minor (Mn, Rb, Zr, Cu) elements using Energy Dispersive X‐ray Fluorescence technique. Physicochemical parameters and characterization were done to analyze the impact and to correlate the consecutive cycles. Potential risk indices (Contamination Factor (CF), Pollution Load Index (PLI)) were also assessed to evaluate elemental pollution associated with cultivation of wheat‐maize cycle on agricultural fields of Nawanshahr region of Punjab. Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) was also determined to examine soil‐to‐crop transfer of elements. Method validation was conducted using multiple internationally recognized Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) to ensure accuracy, linearity (R 2  > 0.95), and reliability of elemental quantification for crop and soil samples. To make this study comprehensive Soil texture, soil pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC) and Soil Organic carbon (SOC) was also determined. Mean soil K decreased by 5.4% and crop K by 6.5, reflecting higher maize uptake. Soil Ca (0.45% wt–0.85% wt) increased ~15% with strong positive correlation to K, Rb, and SOC. Soil Fe (1.39% wt–3.05% wt) remained stable, while crop Fe declined ~6%. Soil Mn (211–667 mg/kg) rose ~6% with stronger Mn‐Fe interaction; crop Mn (~54 mg/kg) was stable. Soil Rb and Zr increased slightly (~3%–3.8%), with marginal crop increases (~6%–9%). Soil Cu was stable (20.2 mg/kg), while crop Cu rose ~10%, indicating consistent uptake. Results also revealed strong elemental associations emerged (K‐Ca; Fe‐Cu; Rb‐Ca). Soil‐crop transfer of Zr and Fe was consistently low, while BCF values highlighted higher uptake of K and Ca in maize. Indices confirmed low contamination. Soil contamination across two crop cycles was low to moderate for K, Ca, Fe, Mn, Rb, Zr, and Cu, with no CF ≥ 3. Mn and Cu showed localized enrichment. PLI values remained below 1, indicating unpolluted soil and minimal anthropogenic impact. The study also assessed human health risk using the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) for Mn, Cu, and Fe which remained within safe limits, the elevated Total THQ (> 1) across both cycles indicates a potential cumulative non‐carcinogenic risk. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) was done to differentiates the soil into geochemical groups consistent with elemental behavior observed across the two crop cycles.