Current Situation of Agricultural Soil Pollution in Jiangsu Province: A Meta-Analysis

Rui Zhang, Tao Chen, Lijie Pu (), Lu Qie, Sihua Huang and Dejing Chen
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Rui Zhang: School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Tao Chen: College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Lijie Pu: School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Lu Qie: School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Sihua Huang: School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Dejing Chen: School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 2, 1-21

Abstract: In recent years, heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils in Jiangsu Province has attracted more and more attention. However, most studies have been characterized by their small scale, few samples, and short-term monitoring. The overall status and temporal accumulation characteristics of heavy metals have not been fully reflected. Therefore, this paper attempted to provide a comprehensive analysis of the current status of heavy metals and provide accurate information for soil pollution management in Jiangsu Province. This paper collected available data in the literature (1993–2021) on heavy metal-polluted agricultural soils in Jiangsu Province. Based on these available data, the weighted mean values of each heavy metal were obtained by meta-analysis. Then, the ecological risks in soils were evaluated and spatiotemporal variations in the accumulation of heavy metals were explored. In addition, suggestions for pollution prevention and control were made by predicting future heavy metal concentrations. The results showed that Cd and Hg were the major polluting elements in Jiangsu Province. The spatial enrichment of heavy metals followed the pattern of southern > northern > central. Heavy metal concentrations in Nanjing, Suzhou, and Xuzhou should be paid special attention. The ecological risk level of heavy metals in agricultural soils in Jiangsu Province was high, predominantly contributed by Hg and Cd. The accumulation of most heavy metals gradually decreased after 2010, while the opposite happened with Cd. Jiangsu Province should continue to take active pollution control measures in order to maintain the decreasing trend of heavy metal concentrations in farmland soils. This study could provide a scientific and theoretical basis for the development of pollution control and soil remediation measures.

Keywords: heavy metal pollution; meta-analysis; spatiotemporal accumulation trend; pollution control measures (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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