Spatial variation of soil quality and pollution assessment of heavy metals in cultivated soils of Henan Province, China

Abstract

Eight chemical and physical characteristics and seven biological properties of the soils from five cultivated areas in the Henan Province were quantified. Concentrations of Cu, Cr, Zn and Mn were determined using the flame atomic absorption spectrometry. In addition available phosphorus, chloride, soluble salt and pH were measured. The activities of enzymes were determined by a literature method. The results showed that the concentrations of Mn, Zn and Cr had close relationships with that of available phosphorus, and their concentrations increased with the prolonged application of organic and mineral fertilisers and pesticides-fungicides. The activities of cellulase have a relationship to the concentrations of Zn and Mn at 0.95 levels respectively, Zn and Mn stimulate many enzyme activities. The relationship between protease and available phosphorus was nearly distinctive at 0.95 levels, relating with the use of nitrogen fertiliser in the farmlands. Local organic manures and urea fertilisers did not change the soil characteristics to a great extent. However, the soils showed moderate and moderate-to-strong contamination by Mn and Zn in the study areas. Wastewater and groundwater irrigation, pesticidesfungicides, and fertiliser may be responsible for the elevated concentrations of Zn and Mn in the soil samples.

Geographical origin traceability of foxtail millet based on the combination of multi-element and chemical composition analysis

“…Among these three locations, K content is lower in Hebei soil, [34] and the levels of Zn and Mn are higher in Henan soil. [35] Higher P levels were found in Shandong soil. [36] The corresponding contents of these elements were detected in foxtail millet samples from the corresponding locations.…”

Source analysis of heavy metal pollution in agricultural soil irrigated with sewage in Wuqing, Tianjin

“…Factor 3 was dominated by P, Cu, and Zn levels (45.40%, 73.64%, and 58.85%, respectively). Studies have shown that large quantities of Cu and Zn can be introduced to agricultural soil upon the application of phosphate fertilizer 52,53 . Additionally, the utilization of livestock manures and pesticides has also contributed to Cu and Zn levels in agricultural soil 54 .…”

Source apportionment of potentially toxic elements in soils using APCS/MLR, PMF and geostatistics in a typical industrial and mining city in Eastern China

“…The hotspots of APCS2, PMF-F2, Cu and Zn coincided with the spatial distribution of agricultural land types including grain crop land, orchard land and vegetable land. Agricultural chemical fertilizers are an important source of Cu and Zn enrichment, and phosphorus fertilizer is present in the highest amount in all inorganic fertilizers [ 49 – 52 ]. Cu and Zn are often used as additives in livestock diets to control scours [ 53 ].The amount of fertilizer applied to vegetable land is 5–10 times higher than that applied to other cultivated land [ 54 ].…”