Assessing soil contamination and temporal trends of heavy metal contents in greenhouses on semiarid land

Gil, Carlos; Boluda, Rafael; Rodriguez Martin, Jose Antonio; Guzman, Miguel; del Moral, Fernando; Ramos-Miras, Joaquin

Abstract

Information about the behavior and temporal evolution of heavy metals in agricultural soils is limited, particularly about greenhouse soils on semiarid lands, indeed it nonexistent. Western Almeria (Southern Spain) is a semiarid land where some 30,000ha are occupied by greenhouses with high productivity. As these greenhouses are fundamental to the socioeconomic development of this area, they should be maintained and well conserved. However, there are indications that long-term intensive agriculture with considerable agrochemicals use can deteriorate soil quality, which in turn, would reduce productivity and food quality. This study was conducted to investigate soil contamination and the temporal trends of heavy metal concentrations in greenhouse soils of western Almeria. Contamination level, availability, and sources of metals were evaluated by the extractable fraction percentage, by indices zinc equivalent, geoaccumulation, enrichment factor and pollution load, and by a correlation analysis between soil properties and metal contents. The results showed that the total contents of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Pb, and the available concentration of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn, were significantly higher than background levels. Temporal patterns indicated that these elements accumulate in greenhouse soils. After more than 20years of intensive agriculture, the available concentration of elements, and contamination, had clearly increased.

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Título según WOS: ID WOS:000447651700009 Not found in local WOS DB
Título de la Revista: LAND DEGRADATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Volumen: 29
Número: 10
Editorial: Wiley
Fecha de publicación: 2018
Página de inicio: 3344
Página final: 3354
DOI:

10.1002/ldr.3094

Notas: ISI