METALS IN AGRICULTURAL SOILS OF ONTARIO. II.

Abstract

Farm fields reported not to have received sludge were sampled at 228 locations across the agricultural belt of Ontario. In addition, 30 locations were selected where at least one sludge application had been made. At all sites soil was sampled to a depth of 15 cm and analyzed for silver, beryllium, molybdenum, selenium and antimony. Normal farm practises did not affect the levels of these metals in the soils studied. Mean background levels of these elements in the soils were in order of increasing magnitude: antimony, 0.24 μg/g; beryllium, 0.35 μg/g; selenium, 0.37 μg/g; silver 0.44 μg/g and molybdenum, 1.65 μg/g.