Macronutrients and trace metals in soil and food crops of Isfahan Province, Iran

Abstract

The distribution of 10 macronutrients and trace metals in the arable soils of Isfahan Province, their phytoavailability, and associated health risks were investigated; 134 plant and 114 soil samples (from 114 crop fields) were collected and analyzed at harvesting time. Calculation of the soil pollution index (SPI) revealed that arable soil polluted by metals was more severe in the north and southwest of the study area. The results of cluster analysis indicated that Pb, Zn, and Cu share a similar origin from industries and traffic. The concentrations of macronutrients and trace metals in the sampled crops were found in the order of K > Ca > S > Mg > P and Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Pb, respectively, whereas calculation of the bioconcentration factor (BCF) indicated that the accumulation of the investigated elements in crops was generally in the order of S ≈ K > P > Mg > Ca and Zn > Cu > Mn > Pb > Fe, respectively. Thus, various parameters including crop species and the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil also affected the bioavailability of the elements besides the total element contents in soil. Daily intake (DI) values of elements were lower than the recommended daily intake (RDI) levels in rice grains except for Fe and Mn, but for wheat grains, all elements displayed DI values higher than the RDI. Moreover, based on the hazard index (HI) values, inhabitants are experiencing a significant potential health risk solely due to the consumption of wheat and rice grains (particularly wheat grains). Mn health quotient (HQ) also indicated a high risk of Mn absorption for crop consumer inhabitants.

Potentially Toxic Element Content in Arid Agricultural Soils in South Iran

“…It was interesting also to advise that our soils have higher levels of P, probably by the widespread use of sulfate and phosphate fertilizers as indicated by Keshavarzi al. for Iranian soils [44] that can reinforce the origin of Cr and Ni in our soils.…”

“…The PTE levels obtained in this studied were compared with data reported by other studies carried out for agricultural soils in Iran (Table 2). When compared with the results of previous studies in Iran e.g., [13,40,41,[43][44][45][46][47], average values are similar or lower to indicate by them, probably due to some of these studies were carried out near to industrial areas e.g., [40,41]. Results showed significant enrichment of Cr and Ni in studied agricultural lands, although with similar values as indicated by Doabi et al [13] for agricultural areas in Kermanshah province, Western Iran.…”

Responses of Wheat Yield, Macro- and Micro-Nutrients, and Heavy Metals in Soil and Wheat following the Application of Manure Compost on the North China Plain

“…By contrast, the results of a long-term field experiment showed that as the SOM contents increased, there were decreases in the mobility of Cu, Fe, and Mn in the soil solution, whereas that of Zn increased [ 6 ]. The mechanisms responsible for these effects were not investigated [ 19 ], but the variability may be due to the strong buffering capacity of the soil, or the micronutrient levels may depend on soil characteristics, including the pH, texture, organic matter, redox conditions [ 35 ], and the type and quantity of oxyhydroxides present, as well as the crop species considered [ 36 ].…”

“…The average concentrations of the micronutrients or heavy metals were averaged over the two experimental years under the same treatment. The daily intake (DI i ) of elements was calculated by: DI i = C i ×Q, where C i is the concentration of element i in the crop (mg kg −1 ) and Q is the daily consumption of the crop in the experimental area (kg day −1 ) [ 35 ]. The per capita consumption of wheat grain by Chinese inhabitants is 0.2 kg day −1 [ 49 ].…”

Spatial distribution of potentially toxic element and the potential ecological risk of wolfberry-soil system in genuine producing area of Ningxia，China

“…From the perspective of land types, cultivated land, which is intimately associate with human activity, has received significant attention. However, most investigation has focused on common crops, such as wheat and corn [9][10] , and their relationship with PTEs in cultivated soil [11] , and it has been found that the potentially toxic element (PTE) pollution of certain crops is positively correlated with that of the soil, either directly or by promoting contaminant uptake [12] . Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) is a plant belonging to the Lycium genus of the Solanaceae family.…”