Abstract:
Objective Accumulation of chromium (Cr) in vegetables migrated from soil and mitigation effect of soil conditioner applications were investigated.
Methods A field experimentation was conducted on a slightly polluted lot to determine the Cr-uptakes of green mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern and Coss), peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. rugosa Bonaf.), sweet potato (Ficus tikoua Bur), and soybean (Glycine max Merrill) plants grown on it. Vegetable with the greatest Cr-uptake was further tested on the lot for the heavy metal accumulation under the soil treatments of blank (CK), peat (P), and addition of organic fertilizer (M), zeolite (Z), FeSO4 (Fe), M+P at 1∶2 (MP), M+Z at 1∶2 (MZ), M+P+FeSO4 at 3∶6∶1 (MPFe) or M+Z+FeSO4 at 3∶6∶1 (MZFe). The application of FeSO4 was at a rate of 540 kg·hm−2, and the others at 5400 kg·hm−2.
Results None of the initial tested vegetables had a Cr content exceeded the national safety standard. Since the green mustard had the highest uptake rate, it was used in the subsequent experimentation. The various added conditioners raised the soil pH by 0.45-0.93; increased the yield of mustard by 5.66-12.77%, except Z and Fe; and decreased the available Cr in soil by 39.8-53.8%. The treatments of P, M, Z, Fe, MP, MZ, MPFe, and MZFe lowered Cr content in the mustard by 53%, 33%, 44%, 32%, 59%, 40%, 72%, and 82%, respectively.
Conclusion The Cr-uptake of mustard was significantly higher than those of the other crops grown on the same field. Both available Cr in soil and in mustard were significantly reduced by the M, P, Z, and Fe treatments that applied soil conditioner singly or in combination. In combination, MPFe or MZFe performed significantly superior in reducing Cr-accumulation in mustard.