Abstract
An extensive study of the spatial distribution characteristics of potentially harmful elements (PHEs) in tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) garden soils and ecological risk assessment at An'xi County, the birthplace of oolong tea in China, was implemented. A total of 78 soil samples were examined to determine the concentration of five PHEs (As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb), soil organic matter and pH by using geostatistical approaches combined with geographical information system analysis. All PHEs presented in the study area were slightly higher than their background values for provincial and national standards except Cr. Moreover, ecological risk assessment of PHEs in the tea garden soils at An'xi County was performed by means of the Håkanson method. The average ecological potential risk index (Er) of the five PHEs followed a descending order of Cd > Hg > Pb > As > Cr, and suggested a moderate ecological risk in the study area.
Highlights
IntroductionTea plant growth effectively prevents soil erosion and provides extensive land cover and a pollution-free atmosphere, playing a key role in the maintenance of the terrestrial ecology
We investigated the spatial distribution characteristics of potentially harmful elements (PHEs) and evaluated their ecological risks at An’xi County, southeast China, where tea plantations are located in areas of higher altitude
We presented the spatial distribution of PHEs in tea garden soils, as well as a rational ecological risk assessment for An’xi County, southeast China
Summary
Tea plant growth effectively prevents soil erosion and provides extensive land cover and a pollution-free atmosphere, playing a key role in the maintenance of the terrestrial ecology. Moderate application of synthetic fertilizers to tea garden soils has become common for local agricultural activities in order to supply macro- and micro-nutrients required for tea growth and to increase tea productivity [4,5,6]. It must not be overlooked that some trace elements, being introduced from the long-term use of fertilizers, are toxic at higher concentrations upon entering the food chain from contaminated soils, despite their foundations for metabolic activities in living organisms [7,8,9]. With the rapid development of human civilization, garden soil pollution has been potentially serious in some key tea-producing countries including China [10 –13]
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