Trace Metal Content and Availability of Essential Metals in Agricultural Soils of Alicante (Spain)

Jose Navarro-Pedreño, María Belén Almendro-Candel, Ignacio Gómez Lucas, Manuel M. Jordán Vidal, Jaume Bech Borras and Antonis A. Zorpas
Additional contact information
Jose Navarro-Pedreño: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH), Av. de la Universidad s/n. Edificio Alcudia, 03202 Elche, Spain
María Belén Almendro-Candel: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH), Av. de la Universidad s/n. Edificio Alcudia, 03202 Elche, Spain
Ignacio Gómez Lucas: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH), Av. de la Universidad s/n. Edificio Alcudia, 03202 Elche, Spain
Manuel M. Jordán Vidal: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH), Av. de la Universidad s/n. Edificio Alcudia, 03202 Elche, Spain
Jaume Bech Borras: Soil Science Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Antonis A. Zorpas: Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Engineering Sustainability, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Environmental Conservation and Management Open University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 12794, 2252 Latsia, Cyprus

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 12, 1-11

Abstract: This article analysed the presence of trace metals (essential elements and pollutants) and soil properties in rural abandoned soils of a Mediterranean region. The soil properties determined were texture, pH, equivalent calcium carbonate, soil organic matter, availability of micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn), and acid microwave digestion extraction to measure the trace metals considered as main pollutants (Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb). Descriptive statistics and correlations were used to determine the relations among these parameters. pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), and clay were the main properties that controlled the availability of essential metals. pH was the main factor related to these metals in these calcareous soils. However, SOC, which can be incremented by adding organic fertilizers for soil rehabilitation as a sustainable practice, played an important role. Mean values of the metal composition in soils (Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb) obtained in this study were similar to values reported for other areas in the Mediterranean basin.

Keywords: essential metals; Mediterranean agriculture; organic matter; pH; soil quality; trace metals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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