ABSTRACT
The background concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTE) in soils is influenced by the parent material composition and soil forming processes. The soil natural concentration of PTE is a first step to establish regulatory levels for the monitoring of these elements in soils suspected of contamination. In the present study, we performed a natural background concentration survey of PTE in soils of the Piauí state, Brazil. The study provides the basis for establishing soil quality reference values (QRVs) for a large area (over 251,000 km2) with different pedological features. A total of 262 geo-referenced soil samples (0.0-0.2 m) were collected in areas relatively undisturbed by human activity. The concentrations of Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, V, and Zn were determined by ICP-OES. Univariate statistical methods and multivariate exploratory techniques were used to understand the relationship between soil characteristics, geological features, and PTE concentrations in soils. The mean background concentrations of PTE in the soils were generally lower than those reported in other countries and/or other Brazilian states, and followed the order: Fe > Ba > V > Cr > Cu > Pb > Zn > Ni > Pb > Co > Mo > Sb > Cd. The main factors governing the concentrations of PTE in soils were the parent material and the soil texture. The different geological features in the study area influenced the spatial distribution of PTE and divided the state into three regions presenting low, high, and intermediate values. Given this geological and pedological complexity, we proposed establishing three sets of QRV rather than a single QRV for the whole state to avoid misinterpretation regarding the investigation of areas suspected of contamination. This background concentration survey contains a wealth of information that provides the basis for the soil guideline values in the state and supports future research on the impact of anthropogenic activities in soil contamination.
Subject(s)
Metals, Heavy , Soil Pollutants , Brazil , Environmental Monitoring , Humans , Metals, Heavy/analysis , Reference Values , Soil , Soil Pollutants/analysisABSTRACT
Carbon and nitrogen from the soil microbial biomass play a significant role in the rotation of C and N, and promote nutrient cycling. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate changes in the soil microbial biomass with growing doses of cover plant straw species. The cover plants cultivated in the cerrado biome region were incorporated an Oxisol Ustox. The straw of each cover plant was incorporated at doses of 0; 10; 20 and 30 Mg ha-1. The soil basal respiration was determined by incubating, after 21 days. The microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen were determined by the method the microwave irradiation. The microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen contents in extracts were determined by the wet combustion method and Kjeldahl-N. The metabolic quotient was calculated as the ratio between soil basal respiration rate and microbial biomass C, and the microbial quotient as the ratio between soil microbial biomass C and total carbon of soil. The soil microbial population measured by the attributes of quality responds to the addition of the of grass and legume straws incorporated to the soil; The treatments that cause the greatest stress to the microbial population, at 21 days, mediated by the metabolic quotient, are guandu-anão at a dose of 10 Mg ha-1; Guandu-anão and Guandu fava-larga at 20 Mg ha-1 and Brachiária at a dose of 30 Mg ha-1; The best result regarding microbial attributes of soil quality evaluated was observed with the incorporation of all doses of the straw of Crotalaria-ocroleuca
O carbono e nitrogênio da biomassa microbiana do solo desempenham um papel significativo na rotação de C e N, promovendo o ciclo de nutrientes. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar mudanças na biomassa microbiana do solo com doses crescentes de palha de cobertura. As plantas de cobertura cultivadas no bioma cerrado foram incorporadas a um Latossolo Amarelo Eutrófico. A palha de cada planta de cobertura foi incorporada em doses de 0; 10; 20 e 30 Mg ha-1. A respiração basal do solo foi determinada por incubação, após 21 dias. O carbono e nitrogênio da biomassa microbiana foram determinados pelo método da irradiação de micro-ondas, os seus teores de carbono e nitrogênio da biomassa microbiana nos extratos foram determinados pelo método de combustão úmida e Kjeldahl-N. O quociente metabólico foi calculado como a razão entre a taxa de respiração basal do solo e a biomassa microbiana, e o quociente microbiano a razão entre a biomassa microbiana do solo e o carbono total do solo. A população microbiana do solo medida pelos atributos de qualidade responde à adição de palhas de gramíneas e leguminosas incorporadas ao solo; Os tratamentos que causam maior estresse à população microbiana, aos 21 dias, mediados pelo quociente metabólico, são o guandu-anão na dose de 10 Mg ha-1; Guandu-anão e Guandu fava-larga a 20 Mg ha-1 e Brachiária na dose de 30 Mg ha-1; O melhor resultado em relação aos atributos microbianos de qualidade do solo avaliados foi observado com a incorporação de palha de Crotalaria-ocroleuca
