Investigation of micro-elements important for environmental protection in long-term field experiments

Szabó, Lajos – Fodor, László

Cultivated plants and their parts differ in respect of their accumulating capacity and toxic element content. Yield multiplied by the concentration of elements in it equals the amounts taken up. This way, data can be obtained for counting the balance of micro-elements/contaminating elements on a given area, estimating the burden weighing on food chain, and electing plants to be cultivated & compiling their sowing order.

Greater quantities of elements especially dangerous in respect of environmental protection (Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb) assimilate in the stems. As and Hg do not get into grain, wherefore soils contaminated by Hg and As can be utilised by means of cropping cereals (wheat, grain maize). However, it is not recommended to utilise maize cultivated on contaminated areas as silage because toxic elements accumulate mainly in leaved stems. The ploughing of stem residues in the soil enables dangerous micro-elements to be eliminated from agronomic circulation.

Owing to the small amount of elements assimilated in the entire above-ground yield winter wheat, maize, and sunflower cannot be successfully used in phyto-remedial soil cleaning techniques.

Full article