TY - JOUR
T1 - Copper content in soils and litter from fruit orchards in Central Chile and its relationship with soil microbial activity
AU - Schoffer, J. Tomás
AU - Aponte, Humberto
AU - Neaman, Alexander
AU - de la Fuente, Luz María
AU - Arellano, Eduardo C.
AU - Gil, Pilar M.
AU - Ginocchio, Rosanna
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by the Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES) by ANID by the Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal PUC, Project No. 21160236/2016.
Funding Information:
Supported by the Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES) by ANID PIA/BASAL FB0002 and by the Facultad de Agronom?a e Ingenier?a Forestal PUC, Project No. 21160236/2016.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - 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 of 681 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.
AB - 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 of 681 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.
KW - bioavailability
KW - bioindicator
KW - contamination
KW - metals
KW - MicroResp™
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85127319915&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.17221/281/2021-PSE
DO - 10.17221/281/2021-PSE
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85127319915
VL - 68
SP - 115
EP - 128
JO - Plant, Soil and Environment
JF - Plant, Soil and Environment
SN - 1214-1178
IS - 3
ER -