The role of leaf litter as a protective barrier for copper-containing pesticides in orchard soils

Jorge Tomás Schoffer, Mónica Antilén, Alexander Neaman, María Francisca Díaz, Luz María de la Fuente, Cristian Urdiales, Rosanna Ginocchio

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study assessed the capacity of leaf litters to adsorb copper ions applied as a copper-based pesticide. Leaf litters of two fruit tree species with different lignin/N ratios were examined to determine their protective role against the incorporation of Cu into soil. A leaf litter Cu-adsorption capacity assay and a degradation assay were performed using table grape (lignin/N = 2.35) and kiwi (lignin/N = 10.85) leaf litters. Table grape leaf litter had a significantly (p = 0.001) higher Cu-adsorption capacity (15,800 mg kg−1) than kiwi leaf litter (14,283 mg kg−1). Following leaf litter degradation, significant differences (p = 0.011) were observed in the release of Cu from Cu-enriched leaf litter into soil, showing that kiwi litter has a greater protective effect against the incorporation of Cu into soil, regardless of the amount of Cu applied. This protective role is reflected in a significantly higher (p = 0.015) Cu concentration in table grape soil (41.71 ± 2.14 mg kg−1) than in kiwi soil (35.87 ± 0.69 mg kg−1). Therefore, leaf litter with higher lignin/N ratio has greater protective role against copper incorporation into soil.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)60913-60922
Number of pages10
JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research
Volume28
Issue number43
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Degradation
  • Lignin
  • Metals
  • Microbial activity
  • Orchards
  • Pesticides

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The role of leaf litter as a protective barrier for copper-containing pesticides in orchard soils'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this