Abstract
The intense management practices in greenhouse production may lead to heavy metal (HM) accumulations in soils. To determine the accumulation characteristics of HM and to evaluate possible HM sources in greenhouse soils, thirty typical greenhouse soil samples were collected in Shouguang District, Shandong Province, China. The results indicate that the Cd, Cu, and Zn concentrations are, respectively, 164.8%, 78.6%, and 123.9% higher than their background values. In the study area, Cd exhibits certain characteristics, such as wide variations in the proportion of its exchangeable form and the highest mobility factor and geo-accumulation index, which are indicative of its high bioavailability and environmental risk. In addition, there is a significant positive correlation between pairs of Cd, P, soil organic carbon, and cultivation age. Combined with principal component analysis, the results indicate the clear effects that agricultural activities have on Cd, Cu, and Zn accumulation. However, Cr, Ni, and Pb have a significant correlation with soil Fe and Al (hydr)-oxides, which indicates that these metals mainly originate from parent materials. This research indicated that long-term intensive fertilization (especially the application of chemical fertilizers and livestock manure) leads to Cd, Cu, and Zn accumulation in greenhouse soils in Shouguang. And the time required to reach the maximum permeable limit in agricultural soils for Cd, Cu, and Zn is 23, 51, and 42 years, respectively, based on their current increasing rates.
Highlights
For the last two decades in China, greenhouse vegetable cultivation has increased from1.395 million hm2 to over 4.1 million hm2 [1,2]
P concentrations increased with the cultivation age and 16.1% of the sampling sites exceeded the standard Cd limit defined in HJ333-2006
The overall environmental quality of the greenhouse soils in Shouguang is safe for production of non-polluted vegetables, based on the criteria defined in HJ333-2006
Summary
For the last two decades in China, greenhouse vegetable cultivation has increased from1.395 million hm to over 4.1 million hm2 [1,2]. For the last two decades in China, greenhouse vegetable cultivation has increased from. Greenhouse cultivation has contributed significantly to vegetable production. This intensive agricultural practice is the cause of several environmental problems due to its high multiple cropping index and productivity. Agricultural activies (e.g., through excessive use of fertilizers, manures, agrochemicals, and irrigation) are possibly the main contributor to heavy metal (HM) accumulation in greenhouse soils [3,4], which affects human health via food production [5,6]. Intensive management practices (e.g., more fertilizers and agrochemicals application, high multiple cropping index) in the greenhouse industry in this region have lasted for more than three decades, which has affected HM spatial. Variables were not considered to identify source categories until their factor loadings (absolute magnitude) were >1.0
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
