Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Cultivated Soils from Lombardy (Northern Italy): Spatial Distribution, Origin, and Management Implications

Abstract

This work aims to quantify the contribution of agricultural practices to diffuse pollution in cultivated soils. Two samples (the first from the top layer and the second from a depth of about 100 cm) were retrieved from about 1000 soil profiles and analyzed for their potentially toxic elements (PTEs) content (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Mn). In addition, we collected dedicated soil profiles for three specific types of land use and agronomic practice, namely vine-, cereal- and rice-growing areas. Baseline concentrations and distribution maps were produced. Statistical data treatment, coupled with the results of the dedicated soil profiles, enabled the identification of precise pollution sources and processes. In cultivated soils, PTEs contents prove to be generally well below the Italian regulatory limits, with the exception of Cu in vineyard soils, due to the long-lasting use of Cu-based pesticides. South of Milan and in other urban areas, we attribute the top soil enrichment in Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn to industrial activities and urban settlement. Ni sporadically exceeds regulatory standards, but its association with Mn and its depth distribution point to a natural origin, mostly due to the occurrence of serpentine. The project demonstrates that although agriculture, especially in the form of vineyards and of intensive cultivation, certainly contributes to pollution, such contribution is exceeded by that deriving from industry and road traffic.

Control of Meloidogyne graminicola a Root-Knot Nematode Using Rice Plants as Trap Crops: Preliminary Results

“…Due to their negative impact on the environment and the implementation of new directives and regulations to reduce chemical applications [10], alternative strategies are now needed to reduce RKN populations. Among the phytosanitary measures adopted by the Italian NPPO (reported in the Ministerial Decree of 6 July 2017), rice field flooding seems to be one of the most efficient techniques to control the size of the M. graminicola population, but in some areas of the Lombardy region, this practice is not applicable due to the soil structure characterized by a low water retention capacity [11]. For this reason, some field trials using rice plants as trap crops were conducted to identify new control strategies against this pest.…”

New occurrence of Meloidogyne graminicola (Nematoda: Meloidogyninae) from rice fields in Italy: Variability and phylogenetic relationships

“…Piedmont and Lombardy regions are the main rice‐growing areas (more than 202,000 hectares, 93% of the Italian rice surface). In Piedmont region, most of the rice fields are under controlled field flooding, while in Lombardy region most of the rice fields are upland as the soil structure is characterized by a low water retention capacity (Sacchi et al, 2020 ) and water shortage as a result of local climate change (Zampieri et al, 2019 ). Recently, several species of Meloidogyne associated with rice causing severe damages were described (Kyndt et al, 2014 ; Mattos et al, 2018 ; Soares et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Italy is the main rice‐growing country in Europe, with 217,195 ha of rice (Ente Nazionale Risi, 2018 ). The most important rice‐growing area is the section of the Po River Valley straddling the regions of Lombardy and Piedmont with more than 202,000 hectares representing 93% of the Italian rice surface (Ente Nazionale Risi, 2018 ; Fanelli et al, 2017 ; Sacchi et al, 2020 , 2021 ).…”

Soil Abandonment as a Trigger for Changes in Zn Fractionation in Afforested Former Vineyard Acidic Soils

“…Whilst several studies have determined the distribution of Zn in vineyard soils [5,[16][17][18]30,31], none of these studies included abandoned vineyard soils. The effects that land-use changes can promote in the geochemical behavior of Zn deserve a thorough investigation in the case of abandoned vineyard soils, providing knowledge that could minimize potential negative environmental consequences derived from the cease of agricultural activities.…”