Trends in soil science in Switzerland

Phytoremediation is an emerging technology based on the use of green plants to remove, contain, inactivate or destroy harmful environmental pollutants. Recent developments in Europe and the USA show that the approach is somewhat different on both sides of the Atlantic. In Europe, phytoremediation has more basically been research driven and, based on the outcomes, applications have been envisaged. By contrast, the approach in the USA is more application and experience driven. In spite of a growing track record of commercial success, more demonstration projects are needed to prove that phytoremediation is effective in order to rigorously measure its underlying economics, and to expand its applications. More fundamental research is also required to better understand the complex interactions between pollutants, soil, plant roots and micro-organisms at the rhizosphere level, to increase the bioavailability of pollutants, to fully exploit the metabolic diversity of plants and, thus, to successfully implement this new green technology.     

Trace metals in precipitation in Sweden

Trace metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn) concentrations in atmospheric precipitation have been routinely monitored in Sweden since the autumn of 1983. Concentrations are highest in southern Sweden and decrease northward. It is postulated that the long range transport of anthropogenic pollutants from the rest of Europe is the major source of Cd, Pb, and Zn in precipitation. Evidence for this hypothesis is that enrichment factors indicate anthropogenic origin, and Swedish atmospheric emissions of Zn and Cd are 2 to 3 times smaller than deposition fluxes. Also, Cd, Pb, and Zn concentrations are correlated in both space and time and are also well correlated with exSO₄ ⁺, a substance known to be of anthropogenic origin transported long distances.     

天津半干旱地区不同种植年限菜田土壤微生物变化特征的研究

对天津周边半干旱地区不同种植年限的菜田土壤微生物状况调查研究表明 ,该地区土壤微生物以细菌为主 ,夏季微生物总量大大高于冬季 ;随着种菜年限的增加 ,耕层和亚耕层微生物总量都有增加趋势 ,其中细菌和放线菌增加明显 ,真菌有下降趋势 ;真菌类群分析表明 ,少数纤维素分解菌 ,如青霉 (Penicillium)、木霉 (Trichoderma)等为优势菌 ,而糖和木质素分解菌仅占少数。用尖孢镰刀霉 (Fusariumuoxysporum)、大肠杆菌 (Escherichia coli)接种不同种菜年限土壤 ,检测土壤拮抗菌状况发现 ,拮抗菌仅在种植年限长的老菜田的放线菌中发现。表明北方半干旱地区菜田土壤细菌为优势菌 ,主要存在于土壤微孔隙中 ;而适于生活在土壤疏松大孔隙中的真菌数量极少。应注意土壤结构的改良 ,为丰富土壤微生物提供良好的生态环境     

沈阳市城市表土中微生物区系变化的初步研究

在沈阳市远郊-近郊-市区等不同城市化水平区内选取林地、草地和路边土几种不同利用方式下的表层土壤,对土壤中的微生物状况进行了初步分析。结果表明,随着城市化水平的提高,土壤中微生物的数量表现为明显的减少趋势。其中变化较大的是细菌,而真菌和放线菌的变化不明显。     

天津半干旱地区不同种植年限菜田土壤微生物变化特征的研究

对天津周边半干旱地区不同种植年限的菜田土壤微生物状况调查研究表明 ,该地区土壤微生物以细菌为主 ,夏季微生物总量大大高于冬季 ;随着种菜年限的增加 ,耕层和亚耕层微生物总量都有增加趋势 ,其中细菌和放线菌增加明显 ,真菌有下降趋势 ;真菌类群分析表明 ,少数纤维素分解菌 ,如青霉 (Penicillium)、木霉 (Trichoderma)等为优势菌 ,而糖和木质素分解菌仅占少数。用尖孢镰刀霉 (Fusariumuoxysporum)、大肠杆菌 (Escherichia coli)接种不同种菜年限土壤 ,检测土壤拮抗菌状况发现 ,拮抗菌仅在种植年限长的老菜田的放线菌中发现。表明北方半干旱地区菜田土壤细菌为优势菌 ,主要存在于土壤微孔隙中 ;而适于生活在土壤疏松大孔隙中的真菌数量极少。应注意土壤结构的改良 ,为丰富土壤微生物提供良好的生态环境     

2013年我国种植业化肥施用状况分析

【目的】我国农用化肥消费量大,数据来源不同,统计口径各异,行业内大多引用国家统计局公布的数据,但该数据无法推算出氮肥、磷肥、钾肥分类消费量。我国区域间、季节间、作物间化肥消费情况的报道很少,在调节化肥供需、指导化肥行业健康发展时显得依据不足。调查种植业化肥施用状况可以为指导肥料生产、供应提供重要依据。【方法】以农业部339个国家级基层肥料信息网点为依托,根据我国农业生产习惯和我国政府部门统计习惯,将一年分为三个用肥季,1 5月份为春耕季,6 8月份为夏播季,9 12月份为秋冬种季。在三个季节,每个网点随机调查30个农户的主要种植作物施用氮肥、磷肥、钾肥、复合(混)肥(包括配合式)量,经两级土壤肥料部门审核后,采用省份、相似种植区域、全国三级逐级加权平均的方法,推算了不同区域、不同季节、不同作物单位面积施肥量;再用作物单位面积施肥量、该作物全国种植总面积、样本中施肥面积占该作物种植面积的比例推算了作物全年、不同季节化肥施用量。同时,分析了主要作物、不同季节化肥施用状况以及供需平衡情况,不同季节、不同区域供肥情况和农民的购肥习惯。【结果】2013年我国种植业化肥施用量5498万吨(折纯下同),其中,氮肥(实物量)3382万吨,磷肥1175万吨,钾肥941万吨。粮食作物化肥总用量为2782万吨,占种植业化肥总用量的50.6%;其次是果树和蔬菜,三类作物占种植业化肥施用总量的82.8%,经济、园艺作物单位面积化肥施用量大于粮食作物。春耕、夏播、秋冬种化肥施用量分别占全年化肥施用量的34.2%、35.6%、30.2%。复混肥料和尿素是农民最常购买的两种肥料,从全年来看,农民施用复混肥料和尿素的样本数分别占总样本数的72.5%和71.6%,春耕、夏播、秋冬种农民购买尿素和复合(混)肥的样本数分别占该阶段样本数的70.9%和62.9%、84.9%和78.1%、56.6%和83.9%。春耕和夏播时期农民多数选用尿素,秋冬种多数选用复混肥料,东北、西北、华中南地区农民多选用尿素,华北、西南、华东地区农民多选用复混肥料。另外,我国氮肥、磷肥供应分别过剩1080万吨、680万吨,钾肥缺口370万吨,供需矛盾突出。氮、磷、钾养分配合式为15-15-15的复混肥样本数占农民选购复混肥总样本数的33.3%,说明复混肥养分结构不尽合理。【结论】建议国家进一步遏制氮肥、磷肥过剩产能,优化产品结构,大力推广科学施肥技术。     

植物响应低磷胁迫的蛋白质泛素化途径研究进展

磷是构成许多关键性大分子的重要底物,在植物体内许多生理生化反应中都发挥着重要作用,磷供应不足会极大地限制作物的产量和品质。在漫长的进化过程中,植物形成了一系列适应低磷胁迫的机制,其中,蛋白质水平的泛素化修饰对植物响应低磷胁迫起重要作用。泛素化修饰可以改变靶蛋白的活性、稳定性及其在亚细胞的定位等。对关键蛋白的泛素化修饰在植物低磷胁迫响应中的调控功能和机制进行归类总结,综述植物蛋白质泛素化途径调控低磷胁迫的研究进展。蛋白质泛素化修饰研究主要从泛素、酶和靶蛋白3个组分方面进行。泛素由76个氨基酸组成,并以逐步共轭级联的方式与靶蛋白相连,形成泛素–蛋白质复合体,该复合体被运输至26S蛋白酶体内消化与降解,从而调控众多生理过程。蛋白质泛素化修饰通过改变根系形态构型,影响磷转运子和转录因子的活性和定位,从而促进或抑制植物对土壤磷的吸收以及向地上部的运输,进而调节磷稳态。最后,提出了对植物响应低磷胁迫的蛋白质泛素化需要进行的研究。     

Variation in ozone concentration in relation to local climate in south-west Sweden

Ozone (O₃) concentration and air temperature/relative humidity were monitored using diffusive samplers (weekly, 3 m above ground) and Tinytag loggers (10 min sampling, 1 m above ground, self-ventilating radiation shields), respectively, in the forested landscape of south-west Sweden, 40 km north-east of Gothenburg. Two forest sites were included, one at a hilltop (175 m a.s.l.), and one in a nearby (～1 km) valley (110 m a.s.l.). In addition, a valley site (～3 km from the forest sites, 60 m a.s.l.) in an agricultural landscape was included, where ozone was measured using both a UV-based monitor and diffusive sampling. At the agricultural site measurements of temperature and relative humidity were made using a radiation shield with forced ventilation and with Tinytags, as on the forest sites, in addition to observations of wind speed and the vertical temperature gradient. Furthermore, comparison with O₃ concentrations at urban and coastal sites in the region was made. The temperature dependent, systematic error of using a self-ventilating radiation shield was estimated and corrected for. It was found that the elevated forested site experienced higher O₃ concentrations and lower evening cooling rates in calm situations as compared to the forest site in the valley and in particular as compared to the agricultural site. This can be explained by a stronger coupling with the planetary boundary layer at the elevated site and more pronounced night-inversions at the valley sites. The difference in weekly O₃ concentration between the two forested sites was correlated with the difference in average minimum night-time temperature. The coastal site had the highest ozone concentrations, related largely, but not fully, to higher night-time O₃ concentrations. The urban site showed a depression in O₃ concentration associated with the combination of large NO emissions and slow air mixing during the morning traffic rush hours.     

Sediment denitrification in waterways in a rice-paddy-dominated watershed in eastern China

Purpose

Rice-paddy-dominated watersheds in eastern China are intensively cultivated, and lands with two crops receive as much as 550–600 kg?ha^–1?year^–1 of nitrogen (N), mainly through the addition of N-based fertilizers. However, stream N concentrations have been found to be relatively low. Waterways in the watersheds are assumed to be effective “sinks” for N, minimizing its downstream movement. We directly measured net sediment denitrification rates in three types of waterways (ponds, streams/rivers, and a reservoir) and determined the key factors that control net sediment denitrification. Such information is essential for evaluating the impact of the agricultural N cycle on the quality of surface water.

Materials and methods

The pond–stream–reservoir continuum was sampled every 2 months at nine sites in an agricultural watershed between November 2010 and December 2011. Net sediment N₂ fluxes/net sediment denitrification rates were determined by membrane inlet mass spectrometry and the N₂/Ar technique. A suite of parameters known to influence denitrification were also measured.

Results and discussion

Net denitrification rates ranged between 28.2?±?18.2 and 674.3?±?314.5 μmol N₂–N?m^–2?h^–1 for the streams, 23.7?±?23.9 and 121.2?±?38.7 μmol N₂–N?m^–2?h^–1 for the ponds, and 41.8?±?17.7 and 239.3?±?49.8 μmol N₂–N?m^–2?h^–1 for the reservoir. The mean net denitrification rate of the stream sites (173.2?±?248.4 μmol N₂–N?m^–2?h^–1) was significantly higher (p?<?0.001) than that of the pond sites (48.3?±?44.5 μmol N₂–N?m^–2?h^–1), and the three types of waterways all had significantly higher (p?<?0.01) mean net denitrification rates in summer than in other seasons. Linear regression and linear mixed effect model analysis showed that nitrate (NO₃ ^?–N) concentration in surface water was the primary controlling factor for net sediment denitrification, followed by water temperature. Using monitoring data on NO₃ ^?–N concentrations and temperature of the surface water of waterways and an established linear mixed effect model, total N removed through net sediment denitrification in the pond–stream–reservoir continuum was estimated at 46.8?±?24.0 t?year^–1 from July 2007 to June 2009, which was comparable with earlier estimates based on the mass balance method (34.3?±?12.7 t?year^–1), and accounted for 83.4 % of the total aquatic N. However, the total aquatic N was only 4.4 % of the total N input to the watershed, and thus most of the surplus N in the watershed was likely to be either denitrified or stored in soil.

Conclusions

High doses of N in a rice-paddy-dominated watershed did not lead to high stream N concentrations due to limited input of N into waterways and the high efficiency of waterways in removing N through denitrification.     

红壤区不同肥力水稻土根际硝化作用特征

通过根际培养箱(三室)——速冻切片技术研究了红壤地区高、低两种肥力下水稻苗期根表、根际和土体土壤矿质态氮含量和硝化强度,以及水稻生长、氮素积累的差异。结果表明,肥力水平对水稻根表和根际土壤铵态氮(NH4+-N)含量无显著影响,但高肥力显著提高土体土壤NH4+-N含量,以及根表、根际和土体土壤硝态氮(NO3--N)含量及硝化强度。两种肥力水稻土硝化强度最大值均出现在距根表2 mm处,分别为0.20和0.31μmol kg-1 h-1。土体土壤硝化强度随距根表距离增加而降低,低肥力土壤在距根表10～40mm处时硝化强度接近本底值,而高肥力土壤在距根表20～40 mm处时接近本底值。与不种水稻的CK相比,种植水稻显著提高根际土壤硝化强度。高肥力能显著改善水稻生长,增加植株氮素积累量,尤其显著促进根系生长及通气组织发育。由于红壤稻田肥力水平的差异造成水稻根际硝化强度以及水稻吸收NO3-的差异,导致高肥条件下水稻显示出更强的生长势和氮素吸收利用能力。因此,合理提高红壤稻田肥力水平对改善红壤区水稻根际土壤硝化作用及水稻氮素营养具有重要意义。     

闽北不同土地利用方式径流量动态变化特征

采用定位研究方法和小集水区试验技术方法,通过两年的降雨量数据观测,对闽北地区木荷林地、杉木林地、封山育林地和对照等不同土地利用方式的小集水区进行坡面径流动态规律研究。研究结果表明:试验小区地表径流的产生主要是受降雨量的影响,而与降雨强度的关系不大,地表径流量与降雨量之间呈现出极显著的非线性二次抛物线关系(P<0.01)。4种不同土地利用方式的月平均径流量一般随月降雨量的增大而增大,并且在同1月份间其平均地表径流量的大小趋势为:对照>封山育林>杉木>木荷,均是在6月份达到最大值,9月份出现最小值。对照比木荷林地、杉木林地、封山育林地更容易产生地表径流,林地具有较好的涵养水源和保持水土作用。     

我国主要梨园施肥现状分析

以国家梨产业技术体系为平台,对全国18个梨综合试验站744个主要梨园施肥种类、施肥时期、施用量和施用方式等进行调查。结果表明,全国范围内梨树施用的有机肥以猪牛羊杂粪为主,商品有机肥施用很少或几乎不施;施用的化肥以尿素和三元素复混肥为主,有的地区偏施尿素或三元素复混肥,复混肥中氮磷钾的比例较混乱,高磷高钾肥多。从施用时期看,以化肥作为部分基肥、果实膨大期追肥的现象较为普遍,而萌芽前追肥和花芽分化期追肥状况各地区差异较大。有机肥单位面积施用量和单株施用量差异较大,大多数梨园有机肥施用量不足,其中有4个试验站30% 左右的梨园不施有机肥;化肥的用量差异较大,盲目施肥或经验施肥现象严重。施肥方式以穴施和条施为主,施肥的深度差异较大。通过分析,指出各地梨树施肥存在的问题,以期为梨优质高产提供科学的施肥依据。     

我国泥石流防治进展

从20世纪50年代开始,我国先后在西部开展了交通沿线和典型区域的泥石流综合科学考察,进行了东川蒋家沟、波密古乡沟、武都火烧沟等10余处泥石流定点观测,在铁道科学研究院西南研究所和中国科学院成都山地灾害与环境研究所建立了大型模拟实验室。针对山区公路、铁路、航道、矿山、城镇、农田、水电工程、风景区等建设与保护中的防灾减灾需求,研发了一系列泥石流监测和预警仪器,建立了单沟和区域泥石流预测预报模型,实现了泥石流预报的气象业务作业;建立了泥石流危险度评价和风险评价模型,提出了泥石流风险分析和风险管理方法;发展了岩土工程措施与生态工程措施相结合的泥石流综合治理技术;开发出城镇、道路、农田、矿山、风景区等泥石流防治模式,构建了系统的泥石流防治理论与技术,实施了大量的泥石流治理工程,取得了较好的减灾实效。我国山区社会经济的发展带来了人口密度与经济密度的增加,使得泥石流防治任务愈加艰巨,对泥石流减灾提出了更高的要求。为了做好泥石流防治工作,应该加强泥石流基础理论研究;发展基于泥石流形成理论的机制预报模式,提高泥石流预报精度;改进泥石流防治工程设计参数确定方法,完善灾害防治技术规程;加强灾害风险管理理论与方法研究,注重地震区泥石流风险预测;同时,认识泥石流的资源化属性,开发资源利用技术。     

Variability in growth and nutrient accumulation in sorghum grown in waterlogged soils

Abstract

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a potential crop for use in lowland paddy soils following rice in the Philippines. Little is known about the variability in sorghum germplasm with respect to yield potential in these soils, or the alterations in mineral uptake which might occur if late season rains resulted in waterlogging. Eight sorghum cultivars including the most widely used Philippine cultivar were grown after rice under flooded or non‐flooded conditions. Flooding was initiated 30 days after seeding and terminated when most cultivars were at or near the boot growth stage. Flooding markedly reduced dry matter production, and delayed bloom date on the average of 5.5 days. Grain yield was reduced about 57% over all cultivars. Early maturing cultivars were not reduced in days to bloom as much as the late maturing types, and there was a significant cultivar x treatment interaction for both bloom date and grain yield. Later maturing cultivars outyielded the other cultivars at physiological maturity in both flooded and non‐flooded conditions. Concentrations of the major nutrients N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S were decreased in foliage at the boot stage due to flooding. The only nutrient to fall below published “critical” levels in leaf tissue, however, was N, and plants growing in these conditions showed classical N deficiency symptoms. Iron and Mn concentrations were significantly higher in foliage at the boot stage with flooding, but not high enough to be considered toxic. Most differences observed at boot still existed at maturity, but of less magnitude. Marked variability existed in the response among cultivars to waterlogging. It would appear that flooding tolerant genotypes could be selected which would improve existing cultivar choices for use in these difficult soils.     

Current trends in conservation education in Japan

Conservation education (CE) is an important component of environmental education. Its goal is to teach the theory and practice of preservation and restoration of biodiversity affected by human activities so that people can increase their awareness of conservation issues and change their attitudes and behavior to promote environmental conservation.This paper describes two successful case studies to highlight trends in CE in Japan. One case is a project implemented to create “agricultural wetlands” that resulted in the establishment of a Ramsar Convention site comprised of a restored wetland and its adjacent rice paddy in a rural area near Sendai City in northern Japan. Rice paddy fields are a major component of Satoyama, which are traditional agricultural ecosystems in Japan and occupy 40% of the undeveloped landscape in Japan (Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan, 2007. Third National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan. Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan, Tokyo). Restoration of Satoyama and wetlands by local citizens is a key component of CE practices in Japan, where practical, hands-on, community-based learning is important. The second CE project, geared toward university students and citizens in Yokohama, restored degraded dragonfly ponds and created butterfly biotope in the second largest city in Japan. Restoration of habitat that is centered around highly visible, popular species such as dragonflies and butterflies also benefits other, less prominent species that share these habitats, yet allows residents to easily monitor the benefits of the project.     

热带地区玄武岩发育土壤中的生物硅及其发生学意义

运用重液分离法对海南岛北部不同喷发期玄武岩发育的7个土壤剖面生物硅进行了分离和测定,发现生物硅的含量变幅为2.9～54.0 g kg-1,其中最小值出现在发育时间较长的HE11剖面的B2层,最大值出现在发育时间较短的HE09剖面的表层。生物硅的剖面分布特征和有机碳、总氮比较相似,呈现出随土壤深度的增加含量逐渐降低的趋势,在0～40 cm范围之内这种现象更明显。生物硅和总硅之间极显著相关性表明生物硅土壤硅循环中起着主要作用。随着风化强度的提高,黏粒含量的增加,土壤pH逐渐降低,土壤中的生物硅含量有逐渐下降的趋势。初步认为:在土壤发育的初期阶段,来自原生矿物的直接风化释放的溶解硅有利于生物硅在土壤中保存和积聚。而随着土壤的进一步发育,原生矿物的逐渐被分解,土壤的pH下降和黏粒含量进一步增加,土壤中的生物硅也会被溶解、利用,结果是其含量逐渐下降。至发育的高级阶段,土壤中的硅进一步淋失,pH和黏粒含量逐渐趋于稳定。在陆地生物"泵"作用下,生物成因硅会被植物循环利用并维持在一个含量相对稳定的状态。     

Changes in proteolytic bacteria in paddy soils in response to organic management

Proteolytic bacterial communities, which mineralize organic nitrogen, play a key role in agricultural systems. In this study, alkaline metalloprotease (apr) gene fragments from proteolytic bacteria were investigated in bulk and rhizosphere paddy soil from four fields under organic management (for 2, 3, 5, and 9 years), and from one field under conventional management (for 2 years). We analyzed the abundance and structure of the proteolytic bacterial communities using real-time quantitative PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Our results showed that the abundance of proteolytic bacteria ranged from 1.57?×?10⁸ to 8.02?×?10⁸?copies/g of soil. In addition, the abundance of the proteolytic bacteria in the paddy soils under organic management was significantly higher than those in the paddy soil under conventional management. Moreover, the gene copy numbers in the rhizosphere soils were significantly higher than those in the bulk soils. The abundance of proteolytic bacteria tended to increase with the duration of organic management, with the highest abundance being found in the soil that had been under organic management for 5 years. However, the proteolytic bacteria communities in the paddy soils were not significantly affected by management practices. Phylogeny analysis showed that all gel bands obtained represented genes from Pseudomonas. Additionally, correlation analysis and canonical correspondence analysis showed that C/N, C, and N were important factors that influenced the abundance and community structure of the proteolytic bacteria. These results suggest that proteolytic bacteria are indicators in organic management systems, depolymerize organic N and hence maintain soil sustainability.

Abbreviations: CM: conventional management; OM: organic management; DGGE: denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis; qPCR: real-time quantitative PCR detecting system; COFCC: China organic food certification center; CCA: canonical correspondence analysis     

城市环境岩土工程的地下水灾害问题

从环境岩土工程学的角度出发,分析了人类在城市岩土工程活动中对地下水造成的一系列影响.文章概述了地面沉降、地下水过量开采及水质污染的现状,并简要的解释了地面沉降的机理以及地下水灾害问题引起的严重后果.最后提出了一些预防与治理措施.     

省域农用地猪粪负荷强度时空演变分析

种养循环是解决农业面源污染,促进化肥减量化以及种植业和养殖业可持续发展的重要途径。测算并合理利用农用地粪便承载力是促进区域种养业循环的基础。为了通过种养业循环解决生猪养殖污染问题,本文运用排放系数法测算2007—2016年中国31个省（市、自治区）农用地猪粪负荷强度和承载潜力,并利用ArcGIS空间统计模型分析其时空格局演变特征,运用多元线性回归模型探讨农用地猪粪负荷强度时空分异的主要影响因素。研究结果表明：1）2007—2016年中国农用地猪粪负荷强度总体上并不高,平均值为4.148 t·hm^-2,但省际差异较大。2）负荷强度总体上呈现先增后降特征,其中,青海和西藏呈现持续上升态势,新疆呈现“降-升-升”态势,宁川黔冀4个省域呈现持续降低态势,上海等12个省域呈现“升-升-降”,重庆等6个省市呈“升-降-降”态势,内蒙古等6个省域呈现“降-升-降”态势。负荷强度整体上表现出显著的空间自相关性,自相关性呈现先减弱后增强变动态势。热点区域呈向北部、西部转移趋势。3）城乡收入比、上一年成本利润率、人均猪肉消费量、人口密度、区位、人均农作物面积、河网密度和河流截面水质优良比例等因素对农用地猪粪负荷强度产生了显著影响。其主要通过市场规律、供给-需求关系、环境承载力、养殖规制和政府政策影响负荷强度变化。4）提出根据省域负荷强度热点北移西进的态势以及各地承载潜力,制定生猪养殖业区域规划和负面清单政策,引导种养业在一定区域内实现循环耦合等政策建议。     

Nitrate contents in some vegetables in Tunisia

This study reports the nitrate level of 22 vegetables species collected from 40 farms in several locations of an intensive agricultural area in two regions of Tunisia (Sousse and Monastir). Nitrate levels ranged between 57 and 2970 mg kg^?1. The highest and the lowest levels were found in turnip and tomato, respectively. Only five species (potato, field bean, cauliflower, pea and artichoke) had exceeded the norms established by the World Health Organization. Factors influencing nitrate accumulation in some vegetables were analyzed and discussed. It was observed that nitrate contents in vegetables varied depending on the type of vegetables, genetic factor, level of nitrogen fertilization and soil nitrogen content.