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Phytotoxicity of Heavy Metals in Contaminated Podzolic Soils of Different Fertility Levels

  • DEGRADATION, REHABILITATION, AND CONSERVATION OF SOILS
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Abstract

We have compared the impact of heavy metals (HMs: Cu 660 + Zn 1100 + Pb 650 mg/kg) on agrosoddy-podzolic soils (Albic Retisols (Loamic, Aric, Cutanic, Ochric)) of two arable fields (Chashnikovo, Moscow oblast) with different contents of organic carbon (Corg 3.86 and 1.30%) and different fertility levels using indicators of acute and chronic phytotoxicity. At the same level of polymetallic contamination, the responses of test plants to the presence of high concentrations of HMs and potential remediants (lignohumate and biochar) in soils of the same type with different Corg contents noticeably differ with respect to plant growth parameters and metal accumulation in the phytomass. The HMs contamination of low-fertile soil leads to the complete death of plants in the pot experiment, while plants on highly fertile soil continued to develop until flowering with only slight deviations from the control. Experimental data on the contents of total and water-soluble forms of HMs and nutrients in the studied soils are presented. The relationships between the chemical composition of soils and the results of phytotests have been found using the principal component analysis. It is shown that the threefold difference in the content of Corg between the soils of the same texture and acidity (pH) result in significantly different response of test plants to the same concentration of HMs. The necessity of correcting the standards for the permissible concentration of HMs in soils with due account for the Corg content in addition to pH and texture is discussed.

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Notes

  1. ISO 18763:2016. Soil Quality. Determination of the Toxic Effects of Pollutants on Germination and Early Growth of Higher Plants.

  2. Р 2.1.10.1920-04 Guidelines for Health Risk. Assessment of Exposure to Chemical Substances, Polluting the Environment (Approved by the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Russian Federation on March 5, 2004).

  3. WRB (IUSS Working Group WRB. 2014. World reference base for soil resources 2014. International soil classification system for naming soils and creating legends for soil maps. World Soil Resources Reports No. 106. FAO. Rome.)

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was performed according to the Development program of the Interdisciplinary Scientific and Educational School of M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University “The Future of the Planet and Global Environmental Change.” We are grateful to Galina Vasilieva for the discussion, to Oleg Makarov for consultations, and to Pavel Uchanov for his help in soil sampling.

Funding

This study was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project no. 18-04-01218а.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russia

    V. A. Terekhova, E. V. Prudnikova, M. M. Karpukhin, I. O. Plekhanova & O. S. Yakimenko

  2. Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071, Moscow, Russia

    V. A. Terekhova & A. P. Kiryushina

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  1. V. A. Terekhova
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  2. E. V. Prudnikova
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  3. A. P. Kiryushina
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  4. M. M. Karpukhin
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  5. I. O. Plekhanova
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  6. O. S. Yakimenko
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Correspondence to V. A. Terekhova.

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Translated by I. Bel’chenko

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Terekhova, V.A., Prudnikova, E.V., Kiryushina, A.P. et al. Phytotoxicity of Heavy Metals in Contaminated Podzolic Soils of Different Fertility Levels. Eurasian Soil Sc. 54, 964–974 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229321060132

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