Non-Nutrient Heavy Metals in Tomato Plants Cultivated in Soil Amended With Biosolid and Sugar-Cane Bagasse Compost1

Abstract

In this study, non-nutrient heavy metal concentrations (Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb) were measured in composts during the composting process, in compost/Red-yellow Latosol mixtures, and in tomato plants. Composts were produced using sugar-cane bagasse, biosolids and cattle manure in the proportions 75-0-25, 75-12.5-12.5, 75-25-0, 50-50-0 or 0-100-0 (composts with 0, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100% biosolids). The composts were applied to the soil, in 6 treatments and a control (mineral fertilization). Control and the 0% biosolids treatments received inorganic nitrogen and all the treatments received the same amount of N, P and K. Tomato plants were cultivated in 24-L pots, in a green house in Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil. The experiment had a split plot design, in randomized blocks. Cadmium, Cr, Ni and Pb concentrations were determined during the composting process (7, 27, 57, 97 and 127 days after compost mounting), in soil (0 and 164 days after mixing) and plants. The samples were subjected to digestion with HNO 3 , H 2 O 2 and HCl and the metals were determined by AAS. Negative correlations were observed between Cd, Cr and Pb in the compost and Cd, Cr and Pb plant uptake, as well as Ni in the compost and Ni concentration in the plants. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb increased during composting. Only Cd levels increased when compost was applied to the soil. The roots accumulated Cr, Ni and Pb, the stems and leaves, Cd and Ni and the fruits did not accumulate any of the metals studied. The composts with biosolids did not increase Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb uptake by plants.

Bioaccumulation and Distribution of Lead, Zinc, and Cadmium in Crops of Solanaceae Family

“…The content of Pb varied from 0.60 mg/kg in peppers up to 1.60 mg/kg in tomatoes, Zn varied from 3.5 mg/kg in peppers to 71.7 mg/kg in aubergines, and Cd varied from 0.07 mg/kg in peppers up to 0.19 mg/kg in aubergines. These results are in accordance with the results of Kloke (1979) and Cintra et al (2004), according to whom a considerable part of the heavy metals are accumulated in the stems of tomatoes.…”

“…Considerable differences in the distribution of the metals in the separate parts of the plants were ascertained. In all three elements, the greatest concentration was accumulated in the roots, and the quantity was reduced with the distance from the source of pollution, in conformity with results of other authors (Wahbi, Wided, and Ghorbel Cintra et al 2004). This was explained by the fact that on penetration in the plasma, inactivation and precipitation of considerable quantities of heavy metals take place, probably as a result of the formation of compounds with organic substances that decrease their mobility.…”

“…The content of heavy metals in the fruits is considerably less than in the roots, stems, and leaves. The results we have obtained agree with the results obtained by Secer et al (2002), Badawy and El-Motaium (2003), Singh et al (2004), and Cintra et al (2004), according to whom the contents of Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, iron (Fe), and chromium (Cr) were lowest in the fruits of tomatoes and pepper.…”

Increasing the Knowledge on the Management of Cu‐Contaminated Agricultural Soils by Cropping Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.)

“…Especially interesting were the results obtained for soil Sollana where this CF kept relatively constant. These results extend those obtained by other authors (Cintra et al ., ; Angelova et al ., ), because low translocation rates of Cu to tomato ( S . lycopersicum L.) fruits were obtained not only at low to medium levels of Cu contamination in soils but also at high to very high levels of Cu contamination in soils because, for most of the soils, low Cu concentrations were determined in fruits yielded at these concentrations (Table ).…”

Metals and metalloids in fruits of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) and their cultivation soils in the Basque Country: Concentrations and accumulation trends

“…used. For example, while Pattnaik and Reddy (2011) found significant correlations between metal (Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn) in soil and different parts of tomato plants (stem, roots and leaves) grown on lateritic soil amended with municipal solid waste, Cintra, Revoredo, Melo, and Braz (2004) observed negative correlation between Ni in soil (amended with compost) and in tomato plant (stem + leaves + fruit), and a negligible accumulation of Cr, Cd, Pb and Ni in fruits.…”