ACTA AGRONOMICA VOLUME 43. (A MTA AGRÁRTUDOMÁNYI KÖZLEMÉNYEI, 1994-1995)

1994-1995 / 1-2. szám - SOIL SCIENCE AND AGROCHEMISTRY - I. KÁDÁR: Effect of heavy metal loadon soil and crop

Acta Agronomica Hungarica, Vol. 43 (1-2), pp. 3-22 (1994-95) Soil science and agrochemisfry EFFECT OF HEAVY METAL LOAD ON SOIL AND CROP I. KÁDÁR HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR SOIL SCIENCE AND AGROCHEMISTRY, BUDAPEST, • HUNGARY (Received: 16 December 1992; accepted: 4 May, 1993) The purpose of this work is to evaluate the movement of some important contaminants in soil-plant system. The general research program based on experimental studies and in perspective has the following goals (food chain concept) for investigation: Behaviour of heavy metals in the soil (fixation, availability, leaching, volatilization, transformation, etc.) Effect of these elements on soil life (soil biological activity, recording of macro- and micro­organisms in soil, etc.) Absorption of these elements by plant roots and their transport within the plants (their accumulation in the shoots, leaves, stems/stalks and grains) - Effect of these elements on the quantity and quality of the yield, the resistance against plant diseases and weediness Effect of these elements on the animals. The plant material derived from the field experiment is fed up by animals in feeding experiments led by the Institute for Animal Feeding of the University of Veterinary Science. On the basis of the first year results seems, the movement of Al, As, Cu, Cr, Ni, Hg and Pb is rather limited in the food chain, their accumulation can mainly be detected in the roots. On the other hand, Ba, Cd, Mo, Sr, Se and Zn considerably accumulated in the vegetative plant parts. Whereas the generative organ (grain) is genetically protected, accumulation occurs only in essential elements Mo, Se and Zn. Keywords: heavy metals, soil-plant, maize, soil contamination, food chain Introduction The natural circulation of elements on Earth is limited and life has adapted itself to this condition. The more mobile (partly harmful) fractions have disappeared from the soil; the concentrations of undesired elements in the soil solution and in natural waters are low. The situation may drastically change when the available harmful element content of the soil is increased by some orders of magnitude through sewage sludges of high metal content, etc.. added to the soil. The composition and quality of the soil may be transformed, involving qualitative changes in the crop grown in it, and in the grazing or forage-eating animals. Contamination of the soils by harmful elements is one of the forms of chemical load on the environment, which is of basic sanitary, economic and ecological importance. Man. like all terrestrial animals, depends on the soil for a basic source of food. The human metabolism is based on an enzyme system making use of the essential elements (Fe. Mn, Zn. Cu, etc.) while eliminating the harmful ones (As, Be, Cd, Hg. etc.). The 0238-0161/94-95/$ 5.00 О \995 Akadémia, Kiadó. Budapest

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