The Monitoring of Selected Heavy Metals Content and Bioavailability in the Soil-Plant System and Its Impact on Sustainability in Agribusiness Food Chains

Melánia Feszterová, Lýdia Porubcová and Anna Tirpáková
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Melánia Feszterová: Faculty of Natural Science, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 1, 94901 Nitra, Slovakia
Lýdia Porubcová: Faculty of Natural Science, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 1, 94901 Nitra, Slovakia
Anna Tirpáková: Faculty of Natural Science, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 1, 94901 Nitra, Slovakia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 13, 1-24

Abstract: This study assisted in identifying and preventing the increase in heavy metals in soil and winter wheat. Its accumulation can affect cultivated crops, quality and crop yields, and consumers’ health. Selected heavy metals were analyzed using the GTAAS method. They were undertaken on selected heavy metals content (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in arable soils at three sites in Slovakia and their accumulation in parts of cultivated winter wheat. Our study showed that the limit value of Cd in soil samples was exceeded in the monitored arable soils from 2017–2019. The average content values of Cu and Zn did not exceed the limit values, even in Pb values (except for the spring period). The analyses also showed that the heavy metals content for plants bioavailable in soil did not exceed the statutory critical values for Cd, Cu, and Zn’s average content values. However, Pb content exceeded permitted critical values. Heavy metals bioaccumulation (Zn, Cu) was within the limit values in wheat. Analyzed Cd content in wheat roots and Pb content were determined in all parts of wheat except grain. The study showed that grain from cultivated winter wheat in monitored arable soils is not a risk for consumers.

Keywords: heavy metal; bioavailability; winter wheat; sustainable agriculture; health; Wilcoxon rank-sum test; Kruskal-Wallis test; Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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