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Nutrient mobilization and nutrient contents of Zea mays in response to EDTA additions to heavy‐metal‐contaminated agricultural soil
Author(s) -
Neugschwandtner Reinhard W.,
Tlustoš Pavel,
Komárek Michael,
Száková Jiřina
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of plant nutrition and soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 1436-8730
DOI - 10.1002/jpln.200700328
Subject(s) - nutrient , chemistry , ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid , environmental chemistry , leaching (pedology) , environmental remediation , phytoremediation , dissolution , soil water , agronomy , chelation , contamination , inorganic chemistry , heavy metals , environmental science , ecology , soil science , biology , organic chemistry
Enhanced phytoextraction of heavy metals (HMs) using chelating agents and agricultural crops is widely tested as remediation technique for agricultural soils contaminated with less mobile HMs. Nutrients are complexed by chelating agents simultaneously to HMs. In this study, the effect of EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) application on nutrient mobility in the soil and nutrient contents of Zea mays was tested on the laboratory and on the field scale. EDTA effectively increased the mobility of total water‐soluble macronutrients (Ca, K, Mg, P) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn) in the soil solution. Thereby nutrient co‐mobilization did cause competition to target HMs during the phytoextraction process. Mobilization was caused by complexation of nutrient cations by negatively charged EDTA and by dissolution of oxides and hydroxides. Increased concentrations of negatively charged P indicate the dissolution of metal phosphates by EDTA. Higher total water‐soluble nutrient concentrations enhanced bioavailability and plant contents of all determined nutrients especially that of Fe. Mobilization of nutrients may result in leaching and loss of soil fertility.