Evaluation of the Migration Capacity of Zn in the Soil–Plant System

The mobility and migration capacity of Zn in the soil-plant system were studied in a series of pot experiments with barley as a test plant. The parameters of Zn accumulation depending on the metal concentrations in soils and soil solutions were estimated by soil and water culture methods. Experiments with barley in water culture were performed on a nutrient (soil) solution extracted from soddy-podzolic soil (Albic Retisol (Loamic, Ochric)) to which Zn²⁺ was added to reach working concentrations increasing from 0.07 to 430 μM. Different responses of barley plants to changes in the concentration of Zn in the studied soil were identified. Ranges of the corresponding concentrations in the soil and aboveground barley biomass were determined. Parameters of Zn accumulation by test plants were determined depending on the metal content in soddypodzolic soil and the soil solution. A new method was proposed for evaluating the buffer capacity of soils with respect to a heavy metal (Zn) using test plants (BCS(P)_Zn). The method was used to evaluate the buffering capacity of loamy sandy soddy-podzolic soil. The considered methodological approach offers opportunities for using data obtained during the agroecological monitoring of agricultural lands with heavy metals (HMs), including the contents of exchangeable HMs and macroelements (C and Mg) in soils and concentrations of HMs and (Ca + Mg) in plants, in the calculation of the buffering capacity of the surveyed soils for HMs.     

Effect of Amorphous Silicon Dioxide on Cadmium Behavior in the Soil–Rice Plant System

The effect of amorphous silicon dioxide (SiO₂) on cadmium behavior in the soil–plant system was studied in a field experiment on a flooded paddy soil slightly contaminated by cadmium. The application of amorphous SiO₂ results in a 1.3- to 1.8-fold smaller cadmium accumulation in the aboveground organs of rice and a 1.8- to 2.6-fold decrease in the content of its available compounds, which can be explained by metal sorption on the surface of applied silicon dioxide and by the reaction of monosilicic acid, which forms in the SiO₂ solution, with cadmium. The decrease in cadmium availability is most intensive in the first 2 weeks after SiO₂ application. Amorphous silicon causes a 26.6% increase in rice productivity in the first season and 72.9% in the second. The data obtained testify to the fact that the application rates of traditional mineral fertilizers can be decreased without risk to rice productivity if silicon compounds are used. They should become an integral and important part of implementing the 4R-STRATEGY for fertilizer application and plant nutrition optimization.     

Uptake of Microelements by Crops Grown on Heavy Metal–Amended Soil

Abstract

A small‐plot field experiment on microelement pollution (Aluminum (Al), Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn)) was initiated in 1994 at Tass‐puszta Model Farm of Gyöngyös College, Hungary. The experimental plants were winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori et Pool.) in 1995, maize (Zea mays L.) in 1996, and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in 1997. Plant samples were taken each year during the vegetation period at phenophases characterized by intensive nutrient uptake. The Al content of crops was not influenced by Al load of the soil. Arsenic accumulation was not considerable in the grain with the highest As load. Cadmium accumulation was significant both in vegetative and reproductive parts of crops with increasing Cd loads of the soil. The Cd content was about 10–40 times higher in treated sunflower seeds than in the control; as a result the seeds were not suitable for consumption. Cadmium can accumulate in the reproductive tissue, so it is a real risk in the food chain. In the first year, Cr(VI) had a toxic effect on wheat, but it was not mobile in the soil–plant system. Vegetative parts of winter wheat accumulated significant amounts of Hg, but maize and sunflower seeds did not accumulate Hg. Lead, Cu, and Zn showed only moderate enrichment in crops following increasing loads in the soil.     

Evaluation of Soil Tests for Plant‐available Mercury in a Soil–Crop Rotation System

A reliable soil test is needed for estimating mercury (Hg) availability to crop plants. In this study, four extraction procedures including 0.1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl), 1 M ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) (pH 7.0), 0.005 M diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), and 0.1 M calcium chloride (CaCl₂) (pH5.0) were compared for their adequacy in predicting soil Hg availability to crop plants of a rice–cabbage–radish rotation system. The amounts of Hg extracted by each of the four procedures increased with increasing equilibrium time. The optimal time required for extraction of soil Hg was approximately 30 min, though it varied slightly among the four extractants. The amounts of Hg extracted decreased with increasing soil/solution ratio, and a soil/solution ratio of 1:5 appeared to be adequate for soil Hg availability tests. The amounts of Hg extracted increased in the order of NH₄OAc < CaCl₂ < DTPA < HCl in silty loam soil (SLS) soil, and the order was NH₄OAc < CaCl₂ ≈ DTPA < HCl in yellowish red soil (YRS) soil. Significant positive correlations among the four extractants were obtained in SLS soil. In contrast, the correlations were poor in YRS soil, especially for HCl. There were significant correlations between concentrations of Hg in edible tissue of three plants and the amounts of soil Hg extractable to the four extractants for soil–rice system and soil–radish system, but not for soil–Chinese cabbage system. The 0.1M HCl extraction overall provided the best estimation of soil‐available Hg and could be used to predict phytoavailability of Hg in soil–crop systems.     

Modeling the Nutrient Balance of the Soil–Plant System using the 4M Simulation Model

Development of the Hungarian ecological systems model 4M was initiated because the conditions and methods of Hungarian applications are different from the ones that appear in international crop simulation software packages. Because the majority of ecological systems models, just like the CERES model that was used during the development of 4M, do not have phosphorus and potassium modules, 4M initially was incomplete. Based on the work of Hungarian and foreign experts, a nutrient module was developed and was incorporated into the 4M model. The new module was calibrated and validated for phosphorus and potassium using the results of Hungarian aftereffects and long-term experiments. In principle, the nutrient module can be made suitable for simulating the turnover of any kind of nutrient by giving adequate values to the parameters.     

Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Soil–Plant System as Affected by Motor Vehicles in Urban Environment

Eurasian Soil Science - The paper focuses on the interactions among the components of urban natural complex (surface soil layer, rhizosphere, and aboveground phytomass of herbaceous plants)...     

pH Effect on kinetics of Heavy Metal Sorption in Soils

The pH effect on the sorption kinetics of heavy metals in soils was studied using a constant flow leaching method.The soil samples were red soil collected from Yingtan,Jiangxi,and yellow-brown soil from Nanjing,Jiansu,The heavy metals tested were zinc and cadmium.Assuming that the experimental data diffed to the following kinetic rate equation:1/c.dx/dt=kx∞-kx,the rate constant k of sorption could be determined from the slope of the straight line by plotting of 1/c,dx/dt vs.x.The results showed that the pH effect on the rate constants of heavy mental sorption in soils was very significant.The values of k decreased with increasing pH.The sorptions were more sensitive to pH in red soil than in yellow-brown soil.     

Study on Transfer of Ni in Soil—Plant System Using ^63Ni Tracer Method

A study was carried out on the transfer of native and added Ni towards plant both in different soils and at different time by using ^63 Ni tracer technique.The transfer of added Ni in soil was greater than native Ni and declined as time increased.The mobility was greater for soluble plus exchangeable fraction of soil Ni but very smaller for residual and Fe/Mn oxide bound fractions.These indicated that Ni was more mobile and more harmful in soils with a low pH and /or low content of Fe/Mn oxides.     

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.     

Heavy Metal Accumulation in Plants on Mn Mine Tailings

The Xiangtan Manganese （Mn） Mine in the middle of Hunan Province, China, has been mined since 1913 with mine tailings including excavated wastes, wastewater, and smelting wastes. A survey was conducted on the Mn mine tailing soils and eight plants on the Mn mine tailings. The concentrations of soil Mn, Pb, and Cd and the metal-enrichment traits of these eight plants were analyzed simultaneously. Exceptionally high concentrations of these three metals were found in the soils, especially on the tailing dam. Each plant investigated in this study accumulated the three heavy metals, but no hyperaccumulator of these metals was found. However, analysis indicated that Poa pratensis Linn., Gnaphalium affine D. Don, Pteris vittata L., Conyza canadensis （L.） Cronq., and Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. possessed specially good metalenrichment and metal-tolerant traits. P. pratensis, G. affine, and P. vittata were Pb-tolerant plants; and C. canadensis, P. pratensis, and G. affine were Cd-tolerant plants. P acinosa had a great tolerance to Mn, and it was a valuable plant for on-site phytoremediation. Phragmites communis Trin. was found to have high metal tolerance and economic benefit as a raw material for paper and should be considered for soil remediation. G. affine and C. canadensis had excessive accumulation of Mn and could be useful in phytoremediation. However, although P. pratensis was a good accumulator, it was not a suitable plant for soil remediation because its biomass was too little.     

Tea Plantation–Induced Activation of Soil Heavy Metals

Abstract

The accumulation of heavy metals in tea leaves is of concern because of its impact on tea quality. This study characterized long‐term changes of soil properties and heavy‐metal fractions in tea gardens and their effect on the uptake of metals from soils by the plants. Soil and tea leaf samples were collected from five plantations with a history of 2–70 years in Jinghua, Zhejiang Province, southeast China. The six chemical fractions (water‐soluble, exchangeable, carbonate‐bound, organic‐matterbound, oxide‐bound, and residual forms) of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in the soils were characterized. Dissolved organic‐matter accumulation in the soils and effects of low‐molecular‐weight organic acids on solubility of soil heavy metals were also tested. Long‐term tea plantation use resulted in accumulation of dissolved organic matter, decrease of soil pH, and elevation of water‐soluble and exchangeable metal fractions, thereby increasing metal contents in leaves. The influence was more significant when soil pH was less than 4.4. The results indicated that both acidification and accumulation of dissolved organic matter induced by tea plantations were also important causes of increased accumulation of the metals in the tea leaves. This was particularly true for the soils polluted with low concentration of heavy metals, because availability of the metals in these soils was mainly controlled by pH and dissolved organic matter.     

Species of Inorganic Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria in Red Soil and the Mechanism of Solubilization

INTRODUCTION The insoluble phosphates which can not be directly absorbed by plants are the mai forms of inorganic phosphate in soil. These kinds of phosphates can be solubilized by several species of bacteria which are widely spread in soil especially in rhizosphere where70% of the bacteria are capable of solubilizing inorganic phosphate.     

Bioavailability of Heavy Metals in Biosolids‐Amended Soil

Abstract

A single biosolids application was made to 1.5×2.3 m confined plots of a Davidson clay loam (Rhodic Kandiudult) in 1984 at 0, 42, 84, 126, 168, and 210 Mg ha^?1. The highest biosolids application supplied 750 and 600 kg ha^?1 of Cu and Zn, respectively. Corn (Zea mays L.), from 1984 to 2000, and radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. longifolia), from 2001 to 2004, were grown at the site to assess heavy‐metal bioavailability. Extractable (0.005 diethylenetriamine (DTPA) and Mehlich 1) Cu and Zn were determined on 0 to 15‐cm depth samples from each plot. Corn yield increased with biosolids rate each year until 1993 to 1997, when yield decreased with biosolids rate because of phytotoxicity induced by low (<5.0) soil pH. The corn yield reduction was reversed between 1998 and 2000 upon raising the soil pH to approximately 6.0 by limestone addition following the 1997 season. Between 2001 and 2004, radish and lettuce yields were either not affected or slightly increased with biosolids rate, even as soil pH declined to below 5.5. Plant‐tissue metal concentrations increased with biosolids rate and as pH declined but were always within the normal range of these crops. Mehlich 1 and DTPA extractable metals increased linearly with biosolids rate. Extractability of Cu and Zn decreased approximately 50% over the past 20 years despite a decrease in soil organic matter concentration and greater than 95% conservation of the metals.     

Influence of Dissolved Organic Matter on the Solubility of Heavy Metals in Sewage‐Sludge‐Amended Soils

Abstract

Sewage‐sludge‐amended soils generally contain elevated levels of organic matter and heavy metals compared to control soils. Because organic matter is known to complex with heavy metals, the solubility behavior of the organic matter in such soils may exert a significant influence on the solubility of the metals. Little is known about such a process. Using batch experiments in which the solubility of organic matter in a heavily sludge‐amended soil was artificially manipulated, we show that the solubilities of the heavy metals copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) show a strong positive relationship to the solubility of organic matter, particularly at high pH. The results suggest that under field conditions, spatiotemporal variations in the solid–solution partitioning of organic matter may have a bearing on the environmental significance (mobility and bioavailability) of these heavy metals.     

Effect of Interannual Difference in Weather Conditions of the Growing Season on the СO2 Emission from the Soil Surface in the Middle-Taiga Cowberry–Lichen Pine Forest (Komi Republic)

Eurasian Soil Science - Data on the СО2 emission from the surface of iron-illuvial podzol (Albic Podzol) under an 84‑year-old cowberry–lichen pine forest of the middle taiga...     

Heavy Metal Content of Plant Species along Nilüfer Stream in Industrialized Bursa City, Turkey

The Paraíba do Sul river is located in one of the most developed part of Brazil and receives many organic and industrial effluents directly affecting the ichthyofauna. Concentration of four heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Zn and Pb) were determined in two tissues (muscle and gonads) of three abundant fish species from different trophic levels (Oligosarcus hepsetus—carnivore, Geophagus brasiliensis—omnivore and Hypostomus luetkeni—detritivore) between November 2002 and April 2003. The aim was to test the hypothesis that the trophic level and the proximity from impacted areas influence levels of contamination and to assess if these species are indicators of large-scale habitat quality. Levels of heavy metals were detected by Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence with Synchrotron Radiation (SR-TXRF) at the Brazilian National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (LNLS). Generally, gonads showed higher metal concentration than muscles, except for Cr. All examined metals, but Cu, exceeded the maximum permitted concentration (mpc) by the Brazilian legislation for human consumption in at least one tissue. O. hepsetus (carnivore) showed the highest contamination levels, followed by G. brasiliensis (omnivore) and H. luetkeni (detritivore). The middle-upper segment, which encompasses large urban areas, showed the highest levels of metal contamination in most cases. O. hepsetus showed the highest levels of contamination in muscles for Pb in the middle-upper river segment (7.98?±?3.73; mpc?=?2.0 μg g^?1) and for Cr in the upper (5.53?±?0.05; mpc?=?0.10 μg g^?1) and middle-upper (4.20?±?0.85; mpc?=?0.10 μg g^?1) segments, which indicates that human population should avoid to consume these fishes species from these segments of the Paraíba do Sul river.     

Influence of Tillage and Nutrient Sources on Yield Sustainability and Soil Quality under Sorghum–Mung Bean System in Rainfed Semi‐arid Tropics

The crop production in rainfed semi‐arid tropical (SAT) Alfisols is constrained by low soil organic matter, poor soil fertility, soil structural infirmities, and scarce moisture availability. To offset some of these constraints, a long‐term study of tillage [conventional (CT) and reduced (RT)] and conjunctive nutrient‐use treatments was conducted in SAT Alfisol at Hyderabad, India, under sorghum–mung bean system. The order of performance of the treatments in increasing the sorghum yield was 2 Mg gliricidia loppings + 20 kg nitrogen (N) through urea (T4) (93.2%) > 4 Mg compost + 20 kg N through urea (T3) (88.7%) > 40 kg N through urea (T2) (88.5%) > 4 Mg compost + 2 Mg gliricidia loppings (T5) (82.2%). In the case of mung bean, where half as much N was applied as was to the sorghum, the order of performance of the treatments in increasing the grain yields was T3 (63.6%) >T5 (60.3%) >T4 (58.0%) >T2 (49.6%). Tillage significantly influenced the hydraulic conductivity only, whereas the conjunctive nutrient‐use treatments significantly influenced the predominant physical, chemical, and biological soil‐quality parameters. Among the conjunctive nutrient‐use treatments, T5 was found to be superior in influencing the majority of the soil‐quality parameters and increased the organic carbon by 21.6%, available N by 24.5%, dehydrogenase activity by 56.1%, microbial biomass carbon by 38.8%, labile carbon by 20.3%, and microbial biomass nitrogen by 38.8% over the unamended control and proved superior most in improving soil quality.     

Influence of Soil Type and Physical–Chemical Properties on Uranium Sorption and Bioavailability

This work was undertaken to study the influence of soil type and its physical and chemical properties on uranium sorption and bioavailability, in order to reduce the uncertainty associated with this parameter in risk assessment models and safe food production. The tests were conducted on three types of Serbian soils: alluvium, chernozem, and gajnjaca, from which 67 samples were taken. Dominant factors of uranium mobilisation: the specific content of total/available form of uranium and phosphorus, the degree of acidity (pH_KCl), and humus content and their correlation, were analysed. Content of available uranium form, according to the type of soil decreases in the following order: gajnjaca > alluvium > chernozem. It was found the medium correlation between pH values and available content of uranium in chernozem and gajnjaca, statistically significant at the level of significance of 99% and the alluvium at the level of significance of 95%. Correlation coefficients in all cases were negative, indicating that the reduction in pH increases the mobility of uranium and thus its availability for the adoption of the plants. Soil pH was the only dominant factor that significantly controlled the uranium value with no further significant contribution of other soil parameters.     

Problems of the Cryogenic Soils’ Diagnostics in the Recent Russian Soil Classification System

Eurasian Soil Science - The paper is targeted at positioning the cryogenic soils in the recent classification system of Russian soils. An on-line discussion and recent publications demonstrated...     

Soil organic matter in the Moscow State University botanical garden on the Vorob’evy Hills

Humification conditions and humus status parameters in arboretum soils of the Moscow State University botanical garden on the Vorob’evy Hills have been studied. Although microbiological activity is reduced, the warm and mild climate in the city, the eutrophication of soils (due to atmospheric fallouts and dissolution of construction waste inclusions), the retention of plant waste on the soil surface, and the presence of abundant primary destructors (mesofauna) have resulted in the formation of organic matter with specific characteristics. During the 60 years that have elapsed since the arboretum establishment, soils with a high content (up to 10–14%) of humate humus (C_HA/C_FA > 1) characterized by a higher degree of humification than in the control soils under herbaceous vegetation have been developed in the area. Large reserves of organic carbon have been noted not only in the upper 30-cm-thick soil layer, but also in the 1-m-thick layer due to organic matter of buried and technogenic horizons.