Ecotoxicology of Copper in Horticultural Soils: A Review

Abstract

Nowadays, the world is facing the problem of environmental pollution because of the increase of man’s needs requires development in life activities, progress industrialization, transportation tools, enhancement of agriculture and exploitation of natural resources. Soil and water resources are extremely exposed to pollution from different aspects. Agrochemicals in particular, have created severe problems, since they release thousands of chemicals to the environment. Several studies on the effect of environmental pollutants on agroecosystem have been carried out. On the other hand, the importance of trace elements as environmental pollutants is well known and well documented in literature. Cu contamination to agricultural soils has been accelerated due to its wide and repeated use in agriculture and horticulture as fertilizers or fungicides to protect vines, citrus trees, and other fruit crops against fungus diseases. Applied Cu from different agrochemical sources to agroenvironment may be adsorbed and are transported to the groundwater table and pollute it besides polluting the soils. The use of Cu-based fungicides in vineyard soils is widely documented worldwide. It has been found that many countries contain concentrations in excess of 100 mg kg−1. Importance of study of transport of Cu arises due to the fact that Cu is absorbed in soils and also reaches the groundwater table, thus polluting both soil and ground water. It is often more important to be able to estimate the mobile fraction, the readily soluble fraction, the exchangeable fraction, or the plant available fraction of Cu content of a soil as a more direct indication of the likelihood of deleterious or toxic effects on soils and groundwater. Therefore, the aim of present work was to highlight the behavior and ecotoxicological effects of copper on horticultural soils.

Giant reed (Arundo donax L.) from ornamental plant to dedicated bioenergy species: review of economic prospects of biomass production and utilization

“…(Mlinarics et al, 2009;Alshaal et al, 2013;2014;Elhawat et al, 2014;, because of its expanded root system and vigorous ground biomass. Therefore, as phytoremediation plants can restore the soil ecosystem (Alshaal et al, 2013; from sewage and from different pollutants (Simon et al, 2012;Elhawat et al, 2013a;. Giant reed can grow on red mud, high pH or EC, heavy metal polluted soils (Alshaal, 2013).…”

“…In experiments of Cavallaro et al (2014), in the first year with previous autumn establishment 12.1 t DM ha -1 , with the early spring establishment 20 t DM ha -1 biomass produced in Source: Christou et al (2003); Angelini et al (2005;; Cosentino et al (2006;2008); Mantineo et al (2009); Ceotto & Di Candilo (2010); Roncucci et al (2012);Nassi o Di Nasso et al (2011a, b, 2013a; Ceotto et al (2015); Dragoni et al (2015Dragoni et al ( , 2016 Northern Italy. The average biomass yield of micropropagated derived giant reed plantation in a warmer climate in the 3-4 years could produce approximately 22 t DM ha -1 (Roncucci et al, 2012;Nassi o Di Nasso et al, 2013a;2013b;Corno et al, 2014), which above 4-6 t DM yields than measured in Debrecen (Hungary).…”

Copper Uptake Efficiency and Its Distribution Within Bioenergy Grass Giant Reed

“…The appropriate Cu concentration in plants ranges between 8 and 20 mg kg -1 (Baker and Senef 1995). Although soil contains low Cu concentrations, especially soluble forms for plants, Cu toxicity can occur as a consequence for increased use of fungicides and agrochemicals in agricultural production (Elhawat et al 2013). Under toxic Cu levels, plants appear stunted and are usually bluish in color, and eventually turn yellow or brown.…”