engleski

Trace elements bioavailability in saline terrestrial environment

Processes that control the mobility, transformation and toxicity of metals in soil are of special importance in the soil root developing zone. For this reason, there is a considerable interest in understanding trace elements behaviour in soil, with special emphasis on processes by which plants take them up. Increased root zone salinity due to saline irrigation can affect plant element uptake and trace elements accumulation in tissue. Long-term and extensive use of land for agriculture with frequent application of agri– chemicals is one of the major causes of trace metal, such as copper, nickel, zinc and cadmium, accumulation in soil. Accumulation of Cu in agricultural soil is a common consequence of using copper containing fungicides to control plant diseases. The soil property that most determines the sorption of TEs is organic matter (OM) content and Cu complexation by OM is an effective mechanism of Cu retention in soils, controlling thus its bioavailability. A greenhouse pot experiment was therefore conducted to study the effects of soil copper contamination in a saline environment on faba bean (Vicia faba L.) element uptake. Treatment with NaCl salinity was applied (control, 50 mM NaCl and 100 mM NaCl) on faba bean plants grown in a control and in a soil spiked with Cu (250 and 500 mg/kg). Low and high soil OM content trial variants were investigated. Cu accumulation occurred in faba bean leaf, pod and seed. Cu contamination affected plant element content in leaves (Na, Ca, Mg, Mn), pod (Mn) and seed (Mn, Mo, Zn). Root zone salinity also affected faba bean element content. Furthermore, Cu contamination – salinity and salinity – OM content interaction was significant for pod Cu content. Future research will be focused on the mechanisms of Cu translocation in plant and adaptation aspects of abiotic stress.

copper; salinity; faba bean

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