The potential ecological risk of soil trace metals following over five decades of agronomical practices in a semi-arid environment. Issue 1 (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rezapour, Salar; Kouhinezhad, P.; Samadi, A.
• Is Part Of: Chemistry and ecology. Volume 34:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 70
• Page End: 85
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: Soil -- ecological risk -- trace metal -- total form -- DTPA-extractable fraction; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; 577.2
• DOI: 10.1080/02757540.2017.1404585
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0275-7540

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The concentration and potential ecological risk of Mn, Zn, Cu, and Cd in the surface soils (0–30 cm) belonging to 12 soil profiles and 4 soil types (Vertisols, Chernozems, Calcisols, and Cambisols) from the cultivated soils and the corresponding uncultivated soils were investigated. Long-term cultivation caused a considerable build-up diethylene-triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable Mn (7–55%), and Cd (12–31%) as well as the total form of Zn (3–14%), Cu (8–25%), and Cd (33–78%) in all soil types. Following long-time cropping, total Zn (mean = 73 mg kg −1 ), Cu (mean = 33 mg kg −1 ), and Cd (mean = 3.14 mg kg −1 ) and DTPA Zn (mean = 1.2 mg kg −1 ) and Cu (mean = 2.44 mg kg −1 ) were below their maximum allowable limits. However, the average amount of DTPA Cd in the tilled soils (min = 0.4, max = 0.75, mean = 0.55 mg kg −1 ) was above its maximum permissible limit mainly due to the over application of phosphate fertilisers and the pesticides. Considering the potential ecological risk (RI) assessment of the cultivated soils (min = 44, max = 70, mean = 54), the soil types were categorised as low (RI ≤ 50) to moderate (50 < RI ≤ 100) potential ecological risk.