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Modeling the plant–soil interaction in presence of heavy metal pollution and acidity variations

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Abstract

On a mathematical interaction model, developed to model metal uptake by plants and the effects on their growth, we introduce a modification which considers also effects on variations of acidity in soil. The model relates the dynamics of the uptake of metals from soil to plants and also variations of uptake according to the acidity level. Two types of relationships are considered: total and available metal content. We suppose simple mathematical assumptions in order to get as simple as possible expressions with the aim of being easily tested in experimental problems. This work introduces modifications to two versions of the model: on the one hand, the expression of the relationship between the metal in soil and the concentration of the metal in plants and, on the other hand, the relationship between the metal in the soil and total amount of the metal in plants. The fine difference of both versions is fundamental at the moment to consider the tolerance and capacity of accumulation of pollutants in the biomass from the soil.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Xunta de Galicia in partnership with the University of Vigo through a Parga Pondal and Ángeles Alvariño contract awarded to E.F. Covelo and F.A. Vega, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Facultade de Bioloxia, Universidade de Vigo, Lagoas, Marcosende, 36310, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain

    Flora A. Vega & Emma F. Covelo

  2. Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento, Gutiérrez, 1150, Los Polvorines, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Sebastián Guala

Authors
  1. Sebastián Guala
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  2. Flora A. Vega
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  3. Emma F. Covelo
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Correspondence to Emma F. Covelo.

Additional information

This study was supported by the Xunta de Galicia in partnership with the University of Vigo through a Parga Pondal and Ángeles Alvariño contract awarded to E.F. Covelo and F.A. Vega, respectively.

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Guala, S., Vega, F.A. & Covelo, E.F. Modeling the plant–soil interaction in presence of heavy metal pollution and acidity variations. Environ Monit Assess 185, 73–80 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-012-2534-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-012-2534-z

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