Elevated concentrations of trace elements in soil do not necessarily reflect metals available to plants

ISSN： 0360-1234

Source： Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B, Vol.48, Iss.3, 2013-02, pp. : 219-225

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Abstract

Bioaccumulation and entry of trace elements from soil into the food chain have made trace-elements major environmental pollutants. The main objective of this investigation was to study the impact of mixing native agricultural soil with municipal sewage sludge (SS) or SS mixed with yard waste (SS+YW) compost on total concentration of trace elements in soil, metals available to plants, and mobility of metals from soil into peppers and melon fruits. Regardless of soil treatment, the average concentrations of Ni, Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Mo in melon fruits were 5.2, 0.7, 3.9, 0.9, 34.3, 96.1, and 3.5μg g⁻¹, respectively. Overall concentrations of Ni, Cd, Pb, and Zn in melon fruits were significantly greater (P < 0.05)="" than="" pepper="" fruits.="" no="" significant="" differences="" were="" found="" in="" cr,="" cu,="" and="" mo="" concentrations="" between="" pepper="" and="" melon="" fruits="" at="" harvest="" time.="" total="" metal="" concentrations="" and="" metal="" ions="" in="" soil="" available="" to="" melon="" and="" pepper="" plants="" were="" also="" determined.="" total="" concentration="" of="" each="" metal="" in="" the="" soil="" was="" significantly="" greater="" than="" concentration="" of="" metal="" ions="" available="" to="" plants.="" elevated="" ni="" and="" mo="" bioaccumulation="" factor="" (baf=""> 1) of melon fruits of plants grown in SS+YW mixed soil is a characteristic that would be less favorable when plants grown on sites having high concentrations of these metals.