Determining the Mobility of some Essential Elements in Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) by the Neutron Activation Analysis

Abstract

The main purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the concentrations of six essential metals (Na + , Mg 2+ , K + , Ca 2+ , Fe 2+ and Zn 2+ ) in saffron and a farm soil using the neutron activation analysis (NAA) as a nuclear spectrometry method. The stratified random sampling method was used here. The NAA results showed the well uptake of Mg 2+ , K + , Ca 2+ , Fe 2+ , and Zn 2+ in saffron, which is lower than the toxicity range. Based on the contamination factor and geoaccumulation index, soil contamination levels were determined uncontaminated by Zn, moderately contaminated by Na + and Fe 2+ , and strongly contaminated by Ca 2+ , K + , and Mg 2+ . Results of the contamination degree and pollution load index indicated moderately/strongly soil contamination and a moderate geometric mean of the contamination index. The Na + enrichment factor (EF) showed a minimal man-made impact on sodium enrichment. Saffron cultivation has likely caused more accumulations of Mg 2+ , K + , Ca 2+ , and Fe 2+ , as well as a considerable deficiency of Zn 2+ in the soil, based on EFs. The biological concentration factor showed a significant zinc accumulation by the corm of saffron. There was well translocation from corm to all the aerial tissues for K + . Also, sodium adsorption ratio, exchangeable sodium percentage, pH, and electrical conductivity evaluated the non-salinity level of soil in all saffron farms.