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Heavy Metal Concentrations in Orchard Soils with Different Cultivation Durations and Their Potential Ecological Risks in Shaanxi Province, Northwest China

Author

Listed:
  • Hongmei Dong

    (School of Management, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China)

  • Jingbo Zhao

    (School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
    State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an 710061, China
    Key Laboratory of Aerosol Chemistry and Physics, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an 710061, China)

  • Mengping Xie

    (State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an 710061, China
    College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

Abstract

The heavy metal pollution of soils, resulting from long-term fertilizing activity, is becoming serious in many countries, endangering ecological safety and human health. This study employed inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to investigate concentrations of eight heavy metal elements (Cd, Hg, As, Pb, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn) in five apple orchard soil profiles after different cultivation durations, one modern intercropping farmland soil profile, and one natural soil profile from Baishui County, in Shaanxi Province, Northwest China. The potential risk associated with the presence of heavy metals in the soils was assessed by the single-factor pollution index ( P i ), Nemerow comprehensive index (NCI), and potential ecological risk index (RI). Results showed that the average concentrations of Cr, Ni, As, Pb, and Hg in the farmland soil were higher than those in the apple orchard soils. The average concentrations of Ni, Cu, As, and Hg in the apple orchard soils reached the highest after 25 years of cultivation. The results imply that concentrations of heavy metals will increase with increasing cultivation time. The farmland soil had the highest NCIs, while the NCIs of the apple orchard soils also increased with cultivation time. Compared with the quality standards of pollution-free orchards and green food production areas, all P i s and NCIs were less than 1 and 0.7, respectively, indicating that the soils were in healthy condition. The RI results also suggest that the soils have a low ecological risk (RI < 150). Although the potential ecological risk is currently low, predicting and reducing heavy metal input should be considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Hongmei Dong & Jingbo Zhao & Mengping Xie, 2021. "Heavy Metal Concentrations in Orchard Soils with Different Cultivation Durations and Their Potential Ecological Risks in Shaanxi Province, Northwest China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-11, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:9:p:4741-:d:541980
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dingxuan Yan & Zhongke Bai & Xiaoyang Liu, 2020. "Heavy-Metal Pollution Characteristics and Influencing Factors in Agricultural Soils: Evidence from Shuozhou City, Shanxi Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-13, March.
    2. Xiaolu Yan & Miao Liu & Jingqiu Zhong & Jinting Guo & Wen Wu, 2018. "How Human Activities Affect Heavy Metal Contamination of Soil and Sediment in a Long-Term Reclaimed Area of the Liaohe River Delta, North China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-19, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jiajun Zhang & Junsheng Peng & Xingyi Chen & Xinyi Shi & Ziwei Feng & Yichen Meng & Wende Chen & Yingping Liu, 2024. "Comparative Study on Different Interpolation Methods and Source Analysis of Soil Toxic Element Pollution in Cangxi County, Guangyuan City, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-23, April.

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