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Co phytoavailability for tomato in amended calcareous soils
A Perez-Espinosa1, R Moral, J Moreno-Caselles
1Dpt. Agroquimica y Medio Ambiente, Universidad Miguel Hernández, EPS-Orihuela, E-03312 Orihuela-Alicante, Spain.
Bioresource Technology
|December 14, 2004
Summary
Sewage sludge application increased cobalt (Co) uptake in tomato plants, with higher concentrations found in roots than edible fruits. Organic amendments enhanced Co phytoavailability over time.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Soil Science
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Cobalt (Co) phytoavailability in agricultural soils is influenced by amendments.
- Sewage sludge is a common soil amendment with potential impacts on metal uptake.
- Understanding Co dynamics is crucial for food safety and plant health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess cobalt phytoavailability in tomato plants grown on sewage sludge-amended soil.
- To investigate the effect of different sewage sludge rates and Co concentrations on plant uptake.
- To determine the correlation between soil Co fractions and plant accumulation.
Main Methods:
- Field plot study with a tomato cultivar on Calcic Petrocalcid soil.
- Treatments included varying sewage sludge rates (0, 60, 120 t ha⁻¹) and CoCl₂ addition (0-200 mg kg⁻¹).
- Analysis of soil Co fractions (water, ammonium acetate, DTPA-extractable) and plant tissue Co concentrations over time.
Main Results:
- Soil Co was predominantly in non-available forms.
- Co accumulation in tomato plants followed the gradient: root > leaf > stem + branches > fruit.
- Fruit Co concentrations ranged from 4 to 25 mg kg⁻¹.
- Organic amendment significantly enhanced plant Co extraction, especially over time.
- Plant extraction efficiency decreased with increasing soil Co levels.
- Fruit Co showed the strongest correlation with all soil Co extraction pools.
Conclusions:
- Sewage sludge amendment increases Co phytoavailability and uptake in tomato plants.
- Co accumulation is highest in roots and lowest in fruits.
- Soil Co fractions, particularly DTPA-extractable, are indicators of plant-available Co.
- The study highlights the importance of managing sewage sludge application to control potential Co transfer into food crops.
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