Relationship Between Extractable Metals in Acid Soils and Metals Taken Up by Tea Plants

Abstract

The accumulation of heavy metals in plants is related to concentrations andchemical fractions of the metals in soils. Understanding chemical fractions and availabilities of the metals in soils is necessary for management of the soils. In this study, the concentrations of copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in tea leaves were compared with the total and extractable contents of these heavy metals in 32 surface soil samples collected from different tea plantations in Zhejiang province, China. The five chemical fractions (exchangeable, carbonate‐bound, organic matter‐bound, oxides‐bound, and residual forms) of the metals in the soils were characterized. Five different extraction methods were also used to extract soil labile metals. Total heavy metal contents of the soils ranged from 17.0 to 84.0 mgCukg^?1, 0.03 to 1.09 mg Cd kg^?1, 3.43 to 31.2 mg Pb kg^?1, and 31.0 to 132.0 mg Zn kg^?1. The concentrations of exchangeable and carbonate‐bound fractions of the metals depended mainly on the pH, and those of organic matter‐bound, oxides‐bound, and residual forms of the metals were clearly controlled by their total concentrations in the soils. Extractable fractions may be preferable to total metal content as a predictor of bioconcentrations of the metals in both old and mature tea leaves. The metals in the tea leaves appeared to be mostly from the exchangeable fractions. The amount of available metals extracted by 0.01 mol L^?1 CaCl₂, NH₄OAc, and DTPA‐TEA is appropriate extractants for the prediction of metals uptake into tea plants. The results indicate that long‐term plantation of tea can cause sol acidification and elevated concentrations of bioavailable heavy metals in the soil and, hence, aggravate the risk of heavy metals to tea plants.     

A Laboratory Study on Revegetation and Metal Uptake in Native Plant Species from Neutral Mine Tailings

Lygeum spartum, Zygophyllum fabago and Piptatherum miliaceum are typical plant species that grow in mine tailings in semiarid Mediterranean areas. The aim of this work was to investigate metal uptake of these species growing on neutral mine tailings under controlled conditions and their response to fertilizer additions. A neutral mine tailing (pH of soil solution of 7.1–7.2) with high total metal concentrations (9,100 and 5,200 mg kg^?1 Zn and Pb, respectively) from Southern Spain was used. Soluble Zn and Pb were low (0.5 and <0.1 mg l^?1, respectively) but the major cations and anions reached relatively high levels (e.g. 2,600 and 1,400 mg l^?1 Cl and Na). Fertilization caused a significant increase of the plant weight for the three species and decreased metal accumulation with the exception of Cd. Roots accumulated much higher metal concentrations for the three plants than shoots, except Cd in L. spartum. Shoot concentrations for the three plants were 3–14 mg kg^?1 Cd, 150–300 mg kg^?1 Zn, 4–11 mg kg^?1 Cu, and 1–10 mg kg^?1 As, and 6–110 mg kg^?1 Pb. The results indicate that neutral pH mine tailings present a suitable substrate for establishment of these native plants species and fertilizer favors this establishment. Metal accumulation in plants is relatively low despite high total soil concentrations.     

DISTRIBUTION AND SEQUENTIAL EXTRACTION OF SOME HEAVY METALS FROM SOILS IRRIGATED WITH WASTEWATER FROM MEXICO CITY

A sequential extraction procedure was used to fractionate Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn in 4 soil profiles into the designated forms of water soluble + exchangeable, organically bound, carbonate and Mn oxides bound. Soil profiles were obtained from the Rural Development District 063, State of Hidalgo, which have been irrigated with wastewater coming out of the basin of Mexico. The total heavy metal contents range as follows: Cu, 8.9 to 86.5 mg kg^-1 Cd, 0.86 to 5.07 mg kg^-1 Pb, 18.1 to 131.7 mg kg^-1 and Zn, 101 to 235.5 mg kg^-1. The highest concentrations of total heavy metals were found in the surface layers at all soil profiles. Sequential chemical fractionation indicated that the four metals were predominantly associated with the organic fraction at most soil samples. The contents in all fractions of the four metals showed a decrease with depth which has been explained by the variations in the organic matter and CaCO₃ contents in the different layers of soils. These soil properties were also the most important variables in the biological availability of the metals in these soils.     

Heavy‐Metal Contamination of Soil and Vegetables in Wastewater‐Irrigated Agricultural Soil in a Suburban Area of Hanoi,Vietnam

The To Lich and Kim Nguu Rivers, laden with untreated waste from industrial sources, serve as sources of water for irrigating vegetable farms. The purposes of this study were to identify the impact of wastewater irrigation on the level of heavy metals in the soils and vegetables and to predict their potential mobility and bioavailability. Soil samples were collected from different distances from the canal. The average concentrations of the heavy metals in the soil were in the order zinc (Zn; 204 mg kg^?1) > copper (Cu; 196 mg kg^?1) > chromium (Cr; 175 mg kg^?1) > lead (Pb; 131 mg kg^?1) > nickel (Ni; 60 mg kg^?1) > cadmium (Cd; 4 mg kg^?1). The concentrations of all heavy metals in the study site were much greater than the background level in that area and exceeded the permissible levels of the Vietnamese standards for Cd, Cu, and Pb. The concentrations of Zn, Ni, and Pb in the surface soil decreased with distance from the canal. The results of selective sequential extraction indicated that dominant fractions were oxide, organic, and residual for Ni, Pb, and Zn; organic and oxide for Cr; oxide for Cd; and organic for Cu. Leaching tests for water and acid indicated that the ratio of leached metal concentration to total metal concentration in the soil decreased in the order of Cd > Ni > Cr > Pb > Cu > Zn and in the order of Cd > Ni > Cr > Zn > Cu > Pb for the ethylenediaminetetraaceitc acid (EDTA) treatment. The EDTA treatment gave greater leachability than other treatments for most metal types. By leaching with water and acid, all heavy metals were fully released from the exchangeable fraction, and some heavy metals were fully released from carbonate and oxide fractions. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the vegetables exceeded the Vietnamese standards. The transfer coefficients for the metals were in the order of Zn > Ni > Cu > Cd = Cr > Pb.     

广东大宝山矿区土壤重金属污染

Soil contamination in the vicinity of the Dabaoshan Mine, Guangdong Province, China, was studied through determi- nation of total concentrations and chemical speciation of the toxic metals, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb, using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results showed that over the past decades, the environmental pollution was caused by a combination of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb, with tailings and acid mine drainage being the main pollution sources affecting soils. Significantly higher levels （P ≤ 0.05） of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb were found in the tailings as compared with paddy, garden, and control soils, with averages of 1486, 2516, 6.42, and 429 mg kg^-1, respectively. These metals were continuously dispersed downstream from the tallings and waste waters, and therefore their concentrations in the paddy soils were as high as 567, 1 140, 2.48, and 191 mg kg^-1, respectively, being significantly higher （P ≤ 0.05） as compared with those in the garden soils. The results of sequential extraction of the above metals from all the soil types showed that the residual fraction was the dominant form. However, the amounts of metals that were bound to Fe-Mn oxides and organic matter were relatively higher than those bound to carbonates or those that existed in exchangeable forms. As metals could be transformed from an inert state to an active state, the potential environmental risk due to these metals would increase with time.     

Fraction Distributions of Lead,Cadmium, Copper,and Zinc in Metal‐Contaminated Soil before and after Extraction with Disodium Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid

Abstract: The fraction distributions of heavy metals have attracted more attention because of the relationship between the toxicity and their speciation. Heavy‐metal fraction distributions in soil contaminated with mine tailings (soil A) and in soil irrigated with mine wastewater (soil B), before and after treatment with disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), were analyzed with Tessier's sequential extraction procedures. The total contents of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) exceeded the maximum permissible levels by 5.1, 33.3, 3.1, and 8.0 times in soil A and by 2.6, 12.0, 0.2, and 1.9 times in soil B, respectively. The results showed that both soils had high levels of heavy‐metal pollution. Although the fractions were found in different distribution before extraction, the residual fraction was found to be the predominant fraction of the four heavy metals. There was a small amount of exchangeable fraction of heavy metals in both contaminated soils. Furthermore, in this study, the extraction efficiencies of Pb, Cd, and Cu were higher than those of Zn. After extraction, the concentrations of exchangeable Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn increased 84.7 mg·kg^?1, 0.3 mg·kg^?1, 4.1 mg·kg^?1, and 39.9 mg·kg^?1 in soil A and 48.7 mg·kg^?1, 0.6 mg·kg^?1, 2.7 mg·kg^?1, and 44.1 mg·kg^?1 in soil B, respectively. The concentrations of carbonate, iron and manganese oxides, organic matter, and residue of heavy metals decreased. This implies that EDTA increased metal mobility and bioavailability and may lead to groundwater contamination.     

Forms of trace metals from inorganic sources in soils and amounts found in spring barley

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was grown on a sandy soil given different doses of cadmium carbonate (salt), copper carbonate (malachite), lead carbonate (cerussite), and zinc carbonate (smithsonite) in a pot experiment conducted in a greenhouse. The element compounds were added to the soil in amounts equivalent to the following levels of the metals: Cd 5, 10, 50 μq ^?1; Cu and Pb 50, 100, 500 μg g^?1; Zn 150, 300, 1500 μg g^?1. Sequential extraction was used for partition these metals into five operationally-defined fractions: exchangeable, bound to carbonates, bound to Fe-Mn oxides, bound to organic matter and residual. The residue was the most abundant fraction in the untreated soil for all the metals studied (43 to 61% of the total contents). The concentration of exchangeable Cd (0.2 μg g^?1), Cu (0.01 μg g^?1), Pb (0.1 μg g^?1), and Zn (1.4 μg g^?1) were relatively low in the untreated soil but increased markedly in the treated soils for Cd (up to 31 μg g^?1) and Zn (up to 83 μg g^?1), whereas only small changes were observed for Cu and Pb. The pot experiment showed a significant increase in the Cd and Zn contents of barley grown on the treated soils, but only small changes in Cu and Pb concentrations.     

Heavy metal accumulation from zinc smelters in a carbonate rock region in Hezhang County, Guizhou Province, China

In this study, four sites (Sites A, B, C and D, which were associated with varying durations of zinc smelting) namely two slag piles (Profile1, Profile 2) at Sites B and C and two water channels at Sites A and D in Hezhang County, Guizhou Province, Southwestern China, were investigated. Significantly elevated mean Pb, Zn and Cd concentrations, 11,192 (±8,991), 20,563 (±16,727) and 137 (±112) mg kg^?1 in slag Profile 1(n=10), and 12,535(±4,408), 26,189 (±6,209) and 47.9 (±30.1) mg kg^?1 in slag Profile 2 (n=12) were detected, respectively. Both profiles had high pH values (7.72 ± 0.37 in Profile 1 and 8.33 ± 0.49 in Profile 2). In addition, high mean Pb, Zn and Cd in soils (14,945 (±9,696), 17,059 (±12,534) and 61.9 (±33.6) mg kg^?1) and in stream sediments (11,450 (±7,097), 20,768 (±11,404) and 66.8 (±25.5) mg kg^?1) were found at Site D. A Composite Pollution Index (CPI) determined for each study Site confirms the anthropogenic origins of the observed Pb, Zn and Cd contamination. Small portions (<3% of the total) of exchangeable Pb and Zn fractions in samples were extracted by using a sequential extraction technique. In contrast, 37.7% (±7.69%), 21.3% (±7.75%) and 22.7% (±13.2%) of total Pb, Zn and Cd was associated with the carbonate bound fraction. This is indicative of the alkaline pH associated with the carbonate based-ores of this region. Further, total metal concentrations were positively and significantly correlated with soil Fe contents. This may in large part be due to the co-precipitation of Pb, Zn and Cd with Fe minerals in the surface weathering environment. However, a potential threat still exists with regards to the environment release of Pb, Zn and Cd as a result of an alteration of the pH environment, such as in the acidic rhizosphere environment of cultivated crops or acid deposition in this region. It is therefore suggested that immediate remediation measures are implemented to minimize potential risks.     

Trace Element Concentrations in Saltmarsh Soils Strongly Affected by Wastes from Metal Sulphide Mining Areas

Soil and water samples were analysed for trace metals and As in two watercourses and 14 sampling plots in a salt marsh polluted by mine wastes in SE Spain. Groundwater levels, soil pH and Eh were measured ‘in situ’ for a 12-month period in each sampling plot, and total calcium carbonate was also determined. Low concentrations of soluble metals (maximum Mn 1.089 mg L^?1 and maximum Zn 0.553 mg L^?1) were found in the watercourses. However, total metal contents were extremely high in the soils of a zone of the salt marsh (maximum 1,933 mg kg^?1 of Mn, 62,280 mg kg^?1 of Zn, 16,845 mg kg^?1 of Pb, 77 mg kg^?1 of Cd, 418 mg kg^?1 of Cu and 725 mg kg^?1 of As), and soluble metals in the pore water reached 38.7 mg L^?1 for Zn, 3.15 mg L^?1 for Pb, 48.0 mg L^?1 for Mn, 0.61 mg L^?1 for Cd and 0.29 mg L^?1 for As. Variable concentrations with depth indicate a possible re-mobilisation of the metals, which could be related to spatial and temporal variations of water table level, pH and Eh and to the presence of calcium carbonate. A tendency for the Eh to decrease in the warmest months and to increase in the coldest ones was found, especially, in plots that received water with a high content of dissolved organic carbon. Hence, the existence of nutrient effluent-enriched water may modify the physical–chemical conditions of the soil–water system and influence metal mobility.     

Predicting heavy metal transfer from soil to plant: potential use of Freundlich‐type functions

Soil‐plant transfer of metals is a nonlinear process. We therefore aimed at evaluating the potential of Freundlich‐type functions (c_Plant = b × c_Soil^a) to predict Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain and leaf (c_Plant) from soil concentrations (c_Soil). Wheat plants and soil A horizons, mainly developed from Holocene sediments, were sampled at 54 agricultural sites in Slovakia. Metals were extracted from soils with 0.025 M EDTA at pH 4.6 and concentrated HNO₃/HClO₄ (3:1); plant samples were digested with concentrated HNO₃. Total metal concentrations of soil samples were 0.07—25 mg Cd kg^—1, 9.3—220 mg Cu kg^—1, 14—1827 mg Pb kg^—1, and 34—1454 mg Zn kg^—1. On average, between 20 % (Zn) and 80 % (Cd) of the total concentrations were EDTA‐extractable. The total metal concentrations of grain samples were < 0.01—1.3 mg Cd kg^—1, 1.3—6.6 mg Cu kg^—1, < 0.05—0.30 mg Pb kg^—1, and 8—104 mg Zn kg^—1. The leaves contained up to 3.2 mg Cd kg^—1, 111 mg Cu kg^—1, 4.3 mg Pb kg^—1, and 177 mg Zn kg^—1. Linear regression without data transformation was precluded because of the nonnormal data distribution. The Freundlich‐type function was suitable to predict Cd (grain: r = 0.71, leaf: 0.86 for the log‐transformed data) and Zn concentrations (grain: 0.69, leaf: 0.68) in wheat grain and leaf from the EDTA‐extractable metal concentrations. The prediction of Cu and Pb concentrations in grain (Cu: r = 0.44, Pb: 0.41) was poorer and in leaf only possible for Pb (0.50). We suggest to use the Freundlich‐type function for defining threshold values instead of linear regression because it is more appropriate to simulate the nonlinear uptake processes and because it offers interpretation potential. The results suggest that the coefficient b of the Freundlich‐type function depends on the intensity of metal uptake, while the coefficient a reflects the plants' capability to control the heavy metal uptake. The latter is also sensitive to metal translocation in plants and atmospheric deposition.<?show $6#>     

Use of the BCR three-step sequential extraction procedure for the study of the partitioning of Cd, Pb and Zn in various soil samples

A slightly modified three-step sequential extraction procedure proposed by the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) for analysis of sediments was successfully applied to soil samples. Contaminated soil samples from the lead and zinc mining area in the Mezica valley (Slovenia) and natural soils from a non-industrial area were analysed. The total concentrations of Cd, Pb and Zn and their concentrations in fractions after extraction were determined by flame or electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS, ETAAS). Total metal concentrations in natural soils ranged from 0.3 to 2.6 mg kg^-1 for Cd, from 20 to 45 mg kg^-1 for Pb and from 70 to 140 mg kg^-1 for Zn, while these concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 35 mg kg^-1 for Cd, from 200 to 10000 mg kg^-1 for Pb and from 140 to 1500 mg kg^-1 for Zn in soils from contaminated areas. The results of the partitioning study applying the slightly modified BCR three-step extraction procedure indicate that Cd, Pb and Zn in natural soils prevails mostly in sparingly soluble fractions. Cd in natural soils is bound mainly to Fe and Mn oxides and hydroxides, Pb to organic matter, sulphides and silicates, while Zn is predominantly bound to silicates. In contaminated soils, Cd, Pb and Zn are distributed between the easily and sparingly soluble fractions. Due to the high total Cd, Pb and Zn concentrations in contaminated soil close to the smelter, ! and their high proportions in the easily soluble fraction (80% of Cd, 50% of Pb and 70% of Zn), the soil around smelters represents an environmental hazard.     

Effects of Soil Amended with Cadmium and Lead on Growth,Yield, and Metal Accumulation and Distribution in Parsley

A greenhouse experiment was designed to determine the cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) distribution and accumulation in parsley plants grown on soil amended with Cd and Pb. The soil was amended with 0, 5, 10 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mg Cd kg^?1 in the form of cadmium nitrate [Cd(NO₃)₂] and 0, 5, 10, 50 and 100 mg Pb kg^?1 in the form of lead nitrate [Pb(NO₃)₂]. The main soil properties; concentrations of the diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)–extractable metals lead (Pb), Cd, copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) in soil; plant growth; and total contents of metals in shoots and roots were measured. The DTPA-extractable Cd was increased significantly by the addition of Cd. Despite the fact that Pb was not applied, its availability was significantly greater in treatments 40–100 mg Cd kg^?1 compared with the control. Fresh biomass was increased significantly in treatments of 5 and 10 mg Cd kg^?1 as compared to the control. Further addition of Cd reduced fresh weight but not significantly, although Cd concentration in shoots reached 26.5 mg kg^?1. Although Pb was not applied with Cd, its concentration in parsley increased significantly in treatments with 60, 80, and 100 mg Cd g^?1 compared with the others. Available soil Pb was increased significantly with Pb levels; nevertheless, the increase was small compared to the additions of Pb to soil. There were no significant differences in shoot and root fresh weights between treatments, although metal contents reached 20.0 mg Pb kg^?1 and 16.4 mg Pb kg^?1 respectively. Lead accumulation was enhanced by Pb treatments, but the positive effect on its uptake was not relative to the increase of Pb rates. Cadmium was not applied, and yet considerable uptake of Cd by control plants was evident. The interactive effects of Pb and Cd on their availability in soil and plants and their relation to other metals are also discussed.     

Forms of Cd,Cu, Pb,and Zn in soil and their uptake by cereal crops when applied jointly as carbonates

The cereal crops (barley -Hordeum vulgare L., maize -Zea mays L., wheat -Triticum vulgare L.) were grown in a greenhouse using a sandy soil type treated with various doses of cadmium carbonate (salt), copper carbonate (malachite), lead carbonate (cerussite), and zinc carbonate (smithsonite), added jointly. The following levels of these metals were used: Cd ? 5, 10, 50μg g^?1 soil; Cu and Pb - 50,100, 500 μg g^?1 soil; Zn-150, 300, 1500 μg g-1 soil. Sequential extraction was adopted to partition the metals into five operationally-defined fractions: exchangeable, carbonate, Fe-Mn oxides, organic, and residual. The residual was the most abundant fraction in the untreated (control) soil for all the metals studied (50 to 60% of the total metal content). The concentrations of exchangeable Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were relatively low in untreated soil but increased (over the three year period) in treated soils for Cd, Zn, and Cu, whereas only small changes were observed for Ph. This experiment showed a significant increase in Cd, Zn, and Cu in tissue of plants grown on the treated soil, but a non-significant change in plant tissue with respect to Pb concentration.     

Suitability of Wastes from Olive-Oil Industry for Initial Reclamation of a Pb/Zn Mine Tailing

An incubation experiment was conducted to evaluate the ameliorating role of two organic amendments—olive-mill solid wastes and compost from olive-mill solid wastes- in the ecological reclamation of a lead/Zn-mine tailing collected in southern Spain. Four enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, urease and phosphatase) and soluble and AB-DTPA extractable Pb and Zn and were periodically determined. High concentrations of Pb (5394 mg kg^?1) and Zn (9607 mg kg^?1), mainly in insoluble forms, were recorded in the lead/zinc-mine tailing, as well as very low biochemical activity. Application of the compost from olive-mill solid waste stimulated microbial activity and the biogeochemical cycles into the mine tailing because of the initially increased dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase and urease activities, which tended to decline or remained constant during the incubation period. By contrast, these enzyme activities were scarcely affected by the incorporation of the olive-mill solid wastes because this olive-organic amendment contains extractable polyphenols (36 g kg^?1), which inhibit these enzyme activities. Phosphatase activity was enhanced by the application of both olive-organic amendments, especially when the olive-mill solid waste was added to the mine tailing. Amounts of soluble and AB-DTPA-extractable Pb and Zn in the mine tailing were increased by the application of the olive-mill solid waste, and to a lesser degree, by the compost from this olive waste. This fact could restrict the use of these olive-organic amendements as useful materials in reclamation of lead/zinc-mine tailings. Nevertheless, the increases of available lead and zinc would represent an advantage where Pb/Zn-mine tailings are reclaimed by phytoextraction, effectively reducing the metal pollution in these mining wastes.     

Anthropogenic Heavy Metal Pollution in the Surficial Sediments of the Keratsini Harbor, Saronikos Gulf, Greece

The contents of ten elements [Cd, Pb, W, Zn, Mn, As, Se, Cr, Cu, and organic carbon (C_org)] have been determined in the surficial sediments of Keratsini harbor, Saronikos Gulf, Greece. The contamination of the sediments was assessed on the basis of geoaccumulation index and to corresponding sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) effects range low/effects range median. The results revealed highly elevated Cd, Pb, W, Zn, As, Se, Cr, Cu, and C_org values (Cd, 190–1,763 mg kg^?1; Pb, 521–1,263 mg kg^?1; W, 38–100 mg kg^?1; Zn, 409–6,725 mg kg^?1; Mn, 95–1,101 mg kg^?1; As, not detectable–1,813 mg kg^?1; Se, not detectable–58 mg kg^?1; Cr, 264–860 mg kg^?1; Cu, 195–518 mg kg^?1; and C_org, 0.69–4.41%). The enrichment of metals in the sediments results from the contribution of the central Athens sewage outfall through which the waste of the Attica basin ends up in Keratsini harbor as well as from industrial and ship contaminants.     

Heavy Metal Pollution in Soils Around the Abandoned Mine Sites of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (Southwest Spain)

This paper investigates the pollution load of selected trace elements in 32 soil samples collected around 21 different mining areas of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (Southwest Spain), integrating chemical data with soil parameters to help understand the partitioning and mobility of pollutants. The minesoils are depleted in acid neutralising minerals and show limiting physicochemical properties, including low pH values and very high anomalies of potentially hazardous metals. The total concentrations of As (up to 1,560 mg kg^?1) and certain heavy metals (up to 2,874 mg kg^?1 Cu, 6,500 mg kg^?1 Pb, 6,890 mg kg^?1 Zn, 62 mg kg^?1 Hg and 22 mg kg^?1 Cd) are two orders of magnitude above the soil background values. The close association of Cd and Zn with the carbonate content in lime-amended minesoils suggests metal immobilisation through adsorption and/or co-precipitation mechanisms, after acid neutralisation, whereas As and Pb are similarly partitioned into the soil and mostly associated with iron oxy-hydroxides.     

Water extractable concentrations of Fe,Mn, Ni,Co, Mo,Pb and Cd under different land uses of Danube basin in Croatia

Abstract

Water extraction of trace elements can simulate the concentration of elements in the soil solution from where the plant takes up the elements. The objective of this investigation was to determine the water extractable concentration of seven trace elements (Fe, Mn, Ni, Co, Mo, Pb and Cd) and to assess their relationship with soil properties of the Danube basin in Croatia. Soil samples from the surface layer (0–25 cm) of 74 sites, having different land uses (forest and agricultural land), were collected. Samples were analysed for total and water extractable trace elements as well as for pH, DOC, SOC and CEC. The concentrations of water extractable fraction of trace elements were on average: 20.14 mg kg^?1 for Fe, 3.61 mg kg^?1 for Mn, 0.07 mg kg^?1 for Ni, 0.016 mg kg^?1 for Co, 0.01 mg kg^?1 for Mo, 0.01 mg kg^?1 for Pb and 0.0009 mg kg^?1 for Cd. Soil properties were in the following range: pH 4.3–8 (Avg: 6.35), DOC 6.1–73 mg l^?1 (Avg: 26 mg l^?1), CEC 1.3–24 cmol kg^?1 (Avg: 9 cmol kg^?1) and SOC 0.5–5% (Avg: 1.7%). The concentration of water extractable fraction of trace elements was significantly correlated with pH (p <0.001), DOC (p <0.001 – p <0.05) and CEC (p <0.001) but their relationship with total content of trace element and SOC was rather weak, suggesting that total metal alone cannot be an indicator of toxicity or deficiency. Results show that pH, DOC and CEC are important soil quality parameters taking part in the solubility control of trace metals in the soil rather than their total concentration. The difference between land uses has been observed as well, suggesting that a change in land use can cause a change in trace element solubility.     

Bioavailability of zinc and lead from a contaminated soil amended with pine bark-goat manure compost

The distribution in soil and plant uptake of zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) as influenced by pine bark-goat manure (PBG) compost additions were investigated from the soils artificially contaminated with Zn or Pb ions using maize (Zea mays L.) as a test crop. Soils were amended with four rates of pine bark-goat manure compost (0, 50, 100, and 200 tons ha^?1) and four rates (0, 300, 600 and 1200 mg kg^?1) of Zn or Pb. Maize was planted and grown for 42 days. At harvest, plants samples were analyzed for Zn and Pb concentration. Soils samples were analyzed for pH, extractable and diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) extractable Zn and Pb. Extractable Zn and Pb was lower in PBG compost amended soils than in unamended soils and steadily declined with increasing amount of compost applied. The extractable fraction for Zn dropped by 62.2, 65.0 and 44.6% for 300, 600 and 1200 mg Zn kg^?1, respectively when 200 t ha^?1 of PBG compost was applied. Metal uptake by maize plants were directly related to the rate of applied heavy metal ions with greater concentrations of metals ions found where metal ions were added to non-amended soils.     

Cd, Ni, Pb, and Zn Concentrations in Forest Vegetation and Soils in Maine

Bioaccumulation of trace metals in plant tissues can present a health risk to wildlife, and potentially to humans. The Passamaquoddy tribe in Maine was concerned about health risks of cadmium (Cd) because of a health advisory for moose liver and kidney consumption due to high Cd levels. This study found relatively low to moderate concentrations of Cd, nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) concentrations in four common terrestrial moose browse species, associated forest soils, and two species of aquatic vegetation on Passamaquoddy tribal land in eastern Maine. Terrestrial plant tissue concentrations ranged from 0.1 to 1.97, 0.65 to 7.08, 0.29 to 2.0, and 42 to 431 mg kg^?1 for Cd, Ni, Pb and Zn, respectively. Deciduous species, particularly aspen and birch, may be a more significant source of Cd and Zn to wildlife compared to coniferous or aquatic species. Aquatic plant tissue concentrations ranged from 0.11 to 0.14, 0.46 to 1.01, 0.8 to 0.9, and 22 to 41 mg kg^?1 for Cd, Ni, Pb and Zn, respectively. Total O horizon concentration means for coniferous and deciduous were 0.50 and 1.00, 4.27 and 4.11, 55 and 21, and 55 and 167 mg kg^?1 for Cd, Ni, Pb and Zn, respectively. The study provides baseline vegetation and soil trace metal concentrations for a remote region in Maine impacted by non-point sources.     

Metal accumulation by bermudagrass grown on four diverse soils amended with secondarily treated sewage effluent

Land treatment is increasingly being utilized as a method of waste disposal for both sewage effluent and sludges. While there has been considerable attention directed toward the fate of metallic constituents of sewage sludges, there have been fewer studies of the fate and mobility of metals appled to soils in sewage effluent. This study was undertaken utilizing secondarily treated sewage effluent amended to contain less than 1 mg l^?1 each of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. The effluent was applied weekly for a period of 1 yr on large undisturbed monoliths of four diverse soils enclosed in lysimeters and sprigged to common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.). Soil samples were collected periodically and extracted with DTPA to measure plant available metals. Vegetation was harvested, weighed, subsampled and analyzed for total metal content. Total plant uptake of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Ni during the year was less than 1% of that applied. Vegetative uptake of Zn was as high as 2%. Metal uptake was greatest in the soil with the lowest initial pH. Heavy metal concentrations in plant tissue exhibited a cyclic trend. A similar increasing cyclic trend was evident in the DTPA extractable metals in the surface 0 to 12.5 cm of the treated soils. Decreases in plant and DTPA extractable metals occurred when the soils dried, allowing O₂ to enter. Vegetative concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Ni exceeded normal ranges of 0.2 to 0.8, 4 to 15, and 1.0 mg kg^?1, respectively, for vegetation while Pb and Zn were near normal. Only Cd concentration of vegetation posed a threat to grazing animals.