Elemental chemical composition of soils and plants in Western Taimyr

Abstract

The contents of chemical elements in soils and plants collected from the tundra ecosystems of Western Taimyr (Russia) have been studied to determine the natural factors affecting the concentrations of chemical elements in plants and soils. Naturally high contents of Be, Cu, Mn, Nb, Ni, Pb, Sr, V, and Zn have been found in the soils, most likely due to polymetallic ore deposits in the region. The increased accumulation of Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Cd by plants has also been observed, which could be attributed to low soil pH and excessive soil moistening.

Regulation of macro, micro, and toxic element uptake by Salix × smithiana using liming of heavily contaminated soils

“…Concentrations of Cu and Fe in leaves in most of the cases in all of the contaminated control soils were in the range or slightly higher than their common foliar concentrations in willows grown in acidic non-contaminated soils (3.5-9.2 mg Cu/kg; 50-1524 mg Fe/kg) (Syso et al 2014) with the exception of the LC treatment after the first growing year with 38 mg Fe/kg in leaves. The visible deficiency of Fe for willows (also confirmed by the deficiency level <40 mg Fe/kg) (Levy et al 1999) was probably caused by the phytotoxicity of Zn (phytotoxicity level >100-500 mg Zn/kg) (Kabata-Pendias 2011).…”

“…Concentrations of Al and Cr in leaves in both contaminated control soils were lower than their common foliar concentrations in willows grown in acidic non-contaminated soils: <100-200 mg Al/kg valid for general plant species (Watanabe and Osaki 2002), 153 mg Al/kg valid for Salix 'Brekkavier' (Vike 2005), and 1.1-6.4 mg Cr/kg (Syso et al 2014). The concentration of Pb in leaves was higher in slightly acidic contaminated control soil and was lower in alkaline contaminated control soil than its common foliar concentration in willows grown in acidic non-contaminated soils (1.0-1.1 mg Pb/kg) (López-Lefebre et al 2001).…”

“…Concentrations of Cd and Zn in leaves in both contaminated control soils were considerably higher (27.7-76.8 mg Cd/ kg; 732-3488 mg Zn/kg) than their common foliar concentrations in willows grown in acidic non-contaminated soils (0.5 mg Cd/kg, 175-256 mg Zn/kg) (Syso et al 2014). Concentrations of Al and Cr in leaves in both contaminated control soils were lower than their common foliar concentrations in willows grown in acidic non-contaminated soils: <100-200 mg Al/kg valid for general plant species (Watanabe and Osaki 2002), 153 mg Al/kg valid for Salix 'Brekkavier' (Vike 2005), and 1.1-6.4 mg Cr/kg (Syso et al 2014).…”

“…Similar results were recorded by other authors (Vysloužilová et al 2003b;Tlustoš et al 2007). Concentrations of Mn and Ni in leaves in both contaminated control soils were lower than their common foliar concentrations in willows grown in acidic noncontaminated soils (168-779 mg Mn/kg, 5.3-13 mg Ni/kg) (Syso et al 2014). The deficiency of Fe in leaves is a serious problem for the cultivation of willows in slightly acidic heavily contaminated soils and can be somewhat solved by foliar Fe application during vegetation.…”

The elemental composition of Hypericum perforatum plants sampled in environmentally different habitats by the example of West Siberia

“…It should be noted that the clarkes of Cd and Yb are very low: such low va lues are not reported in the literature. Probably, it is more consistent to compare our data with regional levels, al though the mean background values in meadow habitats of West Siberian foreststeppe have been calculated only for 11 CEs (ppm in absolutely dry matter): Fe (108), Mn (33), Zn (24), B (13), Cu (5.6), Mo (2.0), Ni (0.8), Cr (0.6), Pb (0.6), Co (0.2), and Cd (0.2) (Syso et al, 2014). Only the con cen tration of Co in our samples is close to the contents in mea dow herbs.…”