Availability of Trace Elements for Chinese Cabbage Amended with Lime in a Periurban Market Garden in Yunnan Province, China

Abstract

Pot experiments were conducted in the laboratory with lime applications to decrease trace elements in Chinese cabbage produced on soils contaminated by trace elements in the intensive periurban area in Chenggong County, Yunnan Province, China. Soil was an acidic loam developed from lacustrine-alluvial deposits. Results showed the following: (1) soil pH increased from 5.3 to 6.5, and acetic-acid-extractable trace-element contents and ratio of acetic-acid-extractable trace-element contents in treatments relative to those in the control (RRCT) decreased with increased rate of lime application. (2) Chinese cabbage more easily absorbed acetic-acid-extractable trace elements. Enrichment coefficients related to trace-element availability (AEC) of lead (Pb; mean: 3.3) and zinc (Zn; mean: 5.8) were stable, and the AEC of cadmium (Cd) was 1.8–2.0 with increased lime application rate. (3) Trace-element contents in Chinese cabbage decreased, and biomass of Chinese cabbage increased, with lime application rate. Trace-element contents in soil solution and acetic-acid-extractable trace-element contents can predict trace-element contents in Chinese cabbage, especially for soil solution. Lime quality and trace-element accumulation in Chinese cabbage should be taken into account when amendment is added to in situ soil contaminated with trace elements.