Copper content in soils and litter from fruit orchards in Central Chile and its relationship with soil microbial activity

Autor: J. Tomás Schoffer, Humberto Aponte, Alexander Neaman, Luz María de la Fuente, Eduardo C. Arellano, Pilar M. Gil, Rosanna Ginocchio
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2022
Předmět:
Zdroj: Plant, Soil and Environment, Vol 68, Iss 3, Pp 115-128 (2022)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1214-1178
1805-9368
55020364
DOI: 10.17221/281/2021-PSE
Popis: This study assessed both the soil and litter copper (Cu) levels and their relationships with soil microbial activity, in fruit-tree production areas of central Chile where Cu-based pesticides are intensively sprayed. Samples of soil (0-20 cm depth) and litter from a number of selected orchards (kiwi, table grape, plum, and cherry) were collected and analysed for their Cu content and C-induced soil microbial activity. Results showed that the mean total soil Cu level was 225 mg/kg and soluble soil Cu was less than 0.01% of total soil Cu, as expected from pH values of study soils (range of 6.33 to 7.93). However, leaf litter Cu content was 3-7 times higher than in soil (mean of681 mg/kg). Despite the soil and leaf litter Cu concentrations, no effect was observed on the C-induced soil microbial activity. We conclude that leaf litter exerts a protective role, preventing the entry of Cu into the soil and thus soil microbial toxicity.
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