Heavy Metal Determination in Atmospheric Deposition and Other Fluxes in Northern France Agrosystems

Abstract

International audienceThe aim of this study is to assess the annual balance of the fluxes of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn within different cropping systems, in an experimental site located near Versailles, France. Four fluxes through the cultivated horizon were considered to assess the annual heavy metal balance in these systems: 1) atmospheric depositions, 2) fertilisers as inputs, 3) crops and 4) leaching water as outputs. The water mass flow was estimated with a model (CERES) while the other parameters were actually measured through field sampling. Some large uncertainties are related to analytical detection limits, specially for Pb which presents very low concentrations in nitrogen fertilisers, in crops and in soil solution. Cd was also close to the detection limits in atmospheric deposition and in soil water, and Zn could not be analysed in soil solution. Nevertheless, the following trends clearly appeared: firstly, atmospheric deposition is the major input way of Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in the soil, whatever the cropping system, whereas Cd is introduced mainly by fertilisers. Secondly, the uptake of heavy metal by wheat is generally larger than by a pea culture, except for Ni. Finally, the global pattern shows an accumulation of Cd, Ni and Pb in the cultivated horizon while Cu decreased. The annual balances, during the cropping year 2001–2002, represented about 0.33, −0.024, 0.014 and 0.014% of the actual stocks in the cultivated horizon, of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Pb, respectively

Micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) balance under long-term application of fertilizer and manure in a tropical rice-rice system

“…In NP and NPK treatments, except for Fe, balances for Mn, Zn and Cu were negative, suggesting the need for supplementation of these micronutrients for sustainable crop production. In this study, the input of micronutrients from the atmospheric deposition was low as compared to organic manure input; however, previous studies have shown that deposition was an important source for the agroecosystem and accounted for 20-80 % of the total input (Azimi et al 2004;Ali-Khodja et al 2008). The results of our study showed that the balances of micronutrients were negative without fertilizer and manure applications.…”

“…Concentrations of micronutrients in commercial K and N (urea) fertilizers are not well documented, and little attention has been given to their application compared to the applications of superphosphate and organic manures in terms of the availability of micronutrients. More recent researches have indicated a rising trend in atmospheric deposition of nutrients and toxic metals in different parts of the world, including the Indian subcontinent (Patel et al 2001;Azimi et al 2004;Singh and Agrawal 2005). Keller et al (2001) pointed out the relative importance of atmospheric deposition for heavy metal input in arable ecosystems.…”

Field balances and recycling rates of micronutrients with various fertilization treatments in Northeast China

“…The lowest excess of each micronutrient consistently occurred in the NPK treatment. While the input ratios of micronutrients deposition were higher in our study, previous studies have shown that deposition was an important source for the agro-ecosystem and accounted for 20-80% of the total input (Ali-Khodja et al 2008;Azimi et al 2004). Luo et al (2009) concluded that some trace elements were accumulated in agricultural soils with increasing inputs through atmospheric deposition, feed additives, fertilizers, agrochemicals, sewage irrigation and sewage sludge excessive application.…”

Accumulation of heavy metals in dietary vegetables and cultivated soil horizon in organic farming system in relation to atmospheric deposition in a seasonally dry tropical region of India

“…Zn appeared about twofold to tenfold higher than other elements in atmospheric deposition which are ranked in the order Cu> Pb> Ni> Cd (except for Pb during 1999 and2000). Such patterns have also been observed at other urban sites (Azimi et al 2003(Azimi et al , 2004. Since the air mass flow of the region is mainly from west and southwest to the east and northeast (Pandey 2005), the urban-industrial emissions could sizably contribute to atmospheric bulk deposition of the area.…”