Prediction models for bioavailability of Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni and Pb in soils of Republic of Serbia

Abstract

The bioavailability of trace elements (TEs) is one of the major factors for successful plant production and environmental protection. The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which TEs are bioavailable and which of the basic soil parameters affect bioavailability. The survey included agricultural soil samples taken from 240 locations on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, where the soil analytics were carried out. On the basis of the analyzed data the prediction models were derived based on the Freundlich model, showing the dependence between trace elements (TEs) extracted using the DTPA buffer solution in relation to the trace elements extracted using an aqua regia, the organic matter content (SOM), the clay fractions content, and soil pH. On one part of the samples, the prediction models were separated on the basis of a suspension for determining the pH in H2O and 1M KCl. The model was applied for the following TEs: Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Cu. The content of the pseudo total forms of TEs statistically significantly influenced the bioavailability of TEs in all prediction models for all studied elements. The pH value statistically significantly affected the bioavailability of Ni, Mn, Pb, and Cu also in all prediction models. The impact of SOM and clay varied depending on the model and TEs. Multiple linear regression showed that the prediction models for TE Cu (R2 = 0.763–0.848) were the most reliable and that the bioavailability of Cu was significantly influenced by all the studied soil parameters except clay. Reliable results were also shown by the prediction models for TE Pb, but the values of the determination coefficient and investigated parameters that influenced the bioavailability varied depending on the model. The derived models for TE Mn, Zn, and Ni were less reliable (R2 is approximately 50% or less), and the effect of the tested parameters on bioavailability varied depending on the model and TEs.