Impact of the use of essential trace elements (zinc, copper) on the chemical composition of perennial medicinal plants in southern Western Siberia

Abstract

The studies were conduct in 2012-2018 on meadow chernozem soil in the conditions of the south of Western Siberia. The purpose of the study was to study the effect of zinc and copper fertilizers on the chemical composition of perennial medicinal plants in the zonal soil-climatic conditions of Western Siberia. The objects of study were Achillea millefolium L., Tanacetum vulgare L. and Echinacea purpurea L. Zinc and copper fertilizers were applied in MAC fractions: 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.0 on the grounds N135P45K45 (A. millefolium, T. vulgare) and N125 (E. purpurea). The use of zinc and copper fertilizers in the main application for the studied medicinal crops contributed to an increase in the accumulation of mobile forms of zinc and copper in the medicinal raw materials. On average, over the years of research in experiments with A. millefolium, T. vulgare, E. purpurea, each kg of Zn fertilizers increased the Zn content in plants by 0.30 and 0.38, Cu - by 0.07, 0.05 and 0.03 mg / kg; while 1 kg of fertilizer added by Cu increased the Cu content by 0.47, 0.07 and 0.23, Zn by 1.40, 2.32 and 1.26 mg / kg, respectively. A synergistic relationship has been establish between the elements of Zn↔Cu and Cu↔Zn.

Environmental Impacts of Using Municipal Biosolids on Soil, Plant and Groundwater Qualities

“…Similarly, the average presence of sodium was recorded at higher levels in the control treatment of soil only with 16.49 mg/L, while the lowest level was found in treatment with 5 kg/m 2 biosolid with 1.18 mg/L, and the 7 kg/m 2 treatment had 1.71 mg/L. The results can be interpreted by highlighting that the lack of obstruction of the leachability of minerals in the control treatment (such as by organic matters) leads to a higher level of leached sodium, unlike the situation with the soils fertilized with a rich organic fertilizer such as biosolids, which act as a barrier against excessive mineral leaching, including sodium [49].…”

“…The differences in leaf number between the various treatments were significant at a p-value of 0.001, where the highest number of leaves was shown for treatment with 5 kg/m 2 biosolids with 417 leaves. The control treatment recorded the lowest number of leaves (49), and treatment with 7 kg/m 2 biosolids gave 379 leaves.…”

“…Furthermore, the average presence of iron in soil leachates revealed a logical sequence by indicating the highest level of iron in the control treatment with 0.13 mg/L, while the treatments with 3, 5 and 7 kg/m 2 biosolids, respectively, illustrated 0.02, 0.03 and 0.04 mg/L of iron. It was noticeable that the presence of a high amount of organic matter in biosolid treatments acted as a barrier that minimized iron leachability in water, unlike the control treatment with soil only where the leached level of existing iron was slightly higher, as discussed by many studies [49].…”

“…Hence, the formula of class A biosolids can be translated into gaining the desired results. Additionally, the high content of organic matters in such recycled products has an imminent advantage by catching and binding many of these pollutants, especially heavy metals [49]. This works as a safety layer that minimizes the level of pollutants from being leached into groundwater.…”