Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Soil Growing for Red Pepper (Capsicum annuum) with using Lime Bordeaux and Lime Sulphur Mixture

Abstract

Lime bordeaux mixture (LBM) and lime sulfur mixture (LSM) are representative environmental friendly organic materials for prevention of insect pests in South Korea. Recently, those have been widely used as an alternative for chemical pesticides in eco-friendly farms. However, South Korea has not established even recommendation of LBM and LSM considering the stability of heavy metals in soil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accumulation of hazardous heavy metals in soil and plant with long-term application of LBM and LSM. Firstly, we investigated the amount of LBM and LSM used per year in several eco-friendly farms to determine a standard application rate of both materials. The pepper plant was grown on the pot in greenhouse for 14 weeks. Both materials were applied at 0, 1, 3, and 9 times of standard application rates (2.56 and 1.28 L ha -1 of LBM and LSM per year, respectively). Dry matter yield of pepper and heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) concentration in soil and pepper plant were measured after 14 weeks. Yield of pepper plant did not significantly chang with up to application rate of 1 times, thereafter it markedly decreased with more than 3 times. With increasing LBM and LSM application, the concentration of Cu and Zn in soil significantly increased. Especially, Zn concentration in pepper significantly increased with increasing application rates of both materials. This might resulted in significant decrease in dry matter yield of pepper. The concentrations of those heavy metals in soil did not exceed safety levels (150 mg kg -1 for Cu and 300 mg kg -1 for Zn) established by the Korean Soil Environmental Conservation Act as well as concentration of heavy metals in pepper plant by Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. However, particular attention should be paid for heavy metal safety and crop productivity when using LBM and LSM in the organic farm.

Comparison of Heavy Metal(loid)s Contamination of Soil between Conventional and Organic Fruit Farms

“…오염지수의 값은 크게 두 부류로 오염지와 비오염지로 나눌 수 있다 (Table 3). (Brock et al, 2006;Genevini et al, 1997;Ko and Kim, 2016;Lee et al, 2017). (Deluisa et al, 1996;Pietrzak et al, 2004;Romic et al, 2004;Rusjan et al, 2007).…”