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Assessment of Trace Element Accumulation by Earthworms in an Orchard Soil Remediation Study Using Soil Amendments

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Abstract

This study assessed potential bioaccumulation of various trace elements in grasses and earthworms as a consequence of soil incorporation of organic amendments for in situ remediation of an orchard field soil contaminated with organochlorine and Pb pesticide residues. In this experiment, four organic amendments of differing total organic carbon content and quality (two types of composted manure, composted biosolids, and biochar) were added to a contaminated orchard field soil, planted with two types of grasses, and tested for their ability to reduce bioaccumulation of organochlorine pesticides and metals in earthworms. The experiment was carried out in 4-L soil microcosms in a controlled environment for 90 days. After 45 days of orchardgrass or perennial ryegrass growth, Lumbricus terrestris L. were introduced to the microcosms and exposed to the experimental soils for 45 days before the experiment was ended. Total trace element concentrations in the added organic amendments were below recommended safe levels and their phytoavailablity and earthworm availability remained low during a 90-day bioremediation study. At the end of the experiment, total tissue concentrations of Cu, Cd, Mn, Pb, and Zn in earthworms and grasses were below recommended safe levels. Total concentrations of Pb in test soil were similar to maximum background levels of Pb recorded in soils in the Eastern USA (100 mg kg−1 d.w.) because of previous application of orchard pesticides. Addition of aged dairy manure compost and presence of grasses was effective in reducing the accumulation of soil-derived Pb in earthworms, thus reducing the risk of soil Pb entry into wildlife food chains.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Ms. Marya Orf Anderson, Dr. Natasha Andrade, and Mr. Christopher Jennings for their assistance during field and laboratory operations. In addition, a special thank you to Ms. Ann Ngyuen and Dr. Carrie Green for their invaluable analytical and technical contribution to this study. Funding for this study was received from the US Environmental Protection Agency, Region III Green Remediation Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland College Park, 1173 Glenn L. Martin Hall, College Park, MD, 20742, USA

    Tiziana Centofanti & Allen P. Davis

  2. United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA

    Rufus L. Chaney, Laura L. McConnell & Dana Jackson

  3. U. S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Bldg. 308, BARC-East, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA

    W. Nelson Beyer

  4. Present address: Szent István University, Villányi út 29-43., Budapest, 1118, Hungary

    Tiziana Centofanti

  5. Present address: Bayer CropScience, 2 T.W. Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA

    Laura L. McConnell

  6. Department of Soil Science and Water Management, Szent István University, Villányi út 29-43, Budapest, 1118, Hungary

    Tiziana Centofanti

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  1. Tiziana Centofanti
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Correspondence to Tiziana Centofanti.

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Centofanti, T., Chaney, R.L., Beyer, W.N. et al. Assessment of Trace Element Accumulation by Earthworms in an Orchard Soil Remediation Study Using Soil Amendments. Water Air Soil Pollut 227, 350 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-016-3055-0

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