Abstract
Cadmium, Mn, and Zn are mobilised by plants commonly growing in floodplains, most notably willows (Salix) and alder (Alnus). These plants accumulate unwanted elements (Cd) or excessive element concentrations (Mn, Zn) in their foliage, thus introducing them into the food web and enriching them in floodplain surface by litterfall. In floodplain of the Litavka River in Czechia, contaminated by historical mining activities, up to 100 mg kg−1 Cd and up to several thousand mg kg−1 Mn and Zn are present in willow leaves in autumn, probably close maxima for sustainable plant growth. Willows and alders show seasonal growth of their foliar Mn and Zn. The willow leaves showed Cd/Zn larger than contaminated fluvisol of the Litavka River. Senesced willow leaves thus contribute to spread of risk elements from historically contaminated floodplains back to river water even without the bank erosion. Alders and willows alter geochemical cycles of Cd, Mn, and Zn in fluvial systems and increase Cd/Zn and Mn/Fe concentration ratios and Cd and Mn concentrations in fluvially transported particles relative to global geochemical averages as well as relative to floodplain sediments. Willows, in particular Salix fragilis L., S. aurita L, and S. cinerea L are particularly important “plant pumps”. Other common floodplain plants, such as bird cherry (Prunus padus L.) and herbaceous plants (common nettle, Urtica dioica L. and grasses, Poaceae) do not contribute to those phenomena.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank Šárka Matysová, Čeněk Matys, Filip Elznic, and Jakub Elznic, who assisted in fieldworks in the Ploučnice River. Monika Maříková and Petr Vorm (Institute of Inorganic Chemistry in Řež) performed sampling in the Vltava River floodplain and processed samples in laboratory. Research was supported by Czech Science Foundation, project number 20-06728S, and institutional support by Czech Academy of Sciences. TMG co-ordinated works, performed most fieldworks in the Ploučnice River floodplain, and assembled the manuscript, MH performed fieldwork in the Litavka River and assisted in lab sample processing and data presentation, JE assisted in the Ploučnice River sampling, performed GIS work in field, and supervised GIS data presentation, IM and KK performed taxonomic determination, SA performed ICP-MS analyses in laboratory 2, ŠT assisted in laboratory analyses and GIS presentation, JR performed ICP analyses in laboratory 1 and contributed to manuscript writing, TN contributed to field work planning, assisted in field sampling, and contributed to data processing in ICP laboratory 1.
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Research was supported by Czech Science Foundation, project number 20-06728S and institutional support by Czech Academy of Sciences.
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Tomáš Matys Grygar co-ordinated works, performed most fieldworks in the Ploučnice River floodplain, and assembled the manuscript.
Michal Hošek performed fieldwork in the Litavka River and assisted in lab sample processing and data presentation.
Jitka Elznicová assisted in the Ploučnice River sampling, performed GIS work in field, and supervised GIS data presentation.
Iva Machová and Karel Kubát performed taxonomic determination,
Slavomír Adamec performed ICP-MS analyses in laboratory 2.
Štěpánka Tůmová assisted in laboratory analyses and GIS presentation.
Jan Rohovec performed ICP analyses in laboratory 1 and contributed to manuscript writing,
Tomáš Navrátil contributed to field work planning, assisted in field sampling, and contributed to data processing in ICP laboratory 1.
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Grygar, T.M., Hošek, M., Elznicová, J. et al. Mobilisation of Cd, Mn, and Zn in floodplains by action of plants and its consequences for spreading historical contamination and fluvial geochemistry. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 40461–40477 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-25113-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-25113-y