Uptake of heavy metals by darnel multifloral (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) at diverse soil reaction and organic matter content

Abstract

Organic matter takes part in all soil processes and influences the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. The paper presents the analysis of heavy metal contents (Zn, Pb, Cd) in soil and biomass of darnel multifloral (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) cultivated at diverse conditions of soil reaction and organic matter content. A brown coal preparation (Rekulter) was applied as the source of organic matter in autumn 1999 to the studied soil, which was contaminated with cadmium, lead and zinc. The limiting influence of Rekulter on the uptake of heavy metals by darnel multifloral (two cuts of the test plant) was the highest in the case when the largest dose was applied to soil with the highest pH (about 6.0). Bioaccumulation indexes (BI) for Cd, Pb, Zn indicate the mobility and bioavailability of Cd, Pb and Zn in soils. The BI for particular heavy metals were generally low, with the lowest in the case when the largest dose of Rekulter was applied to all cuts of the test plant.