Abstract
The present study aimed to evaluate the accumulation and distribution of Cu and Zn fractions in the profile of an Inceptisol by application of fungicides with a previous history of apple cultivation in southern Brazil. Stratified soil samples (0.0 ? 0.025 m, 0.025 ?0.050 m, 0.05 ? 0.10 m, 0.10 ? 0.15 m, 0.15 ? 0.20 m and 0.20 ? 0.40 m depth) were collected in two apple orchards (8 years old and 18 years old), and in a native pasture area adjacent to the orchards. The soil was subjected to analysis of physical and chemical properties and to chemical fractionation of Cu and Zn. The fractions of soluble, exchangeable, organic, residual and total Cu and Zn accumulated in the topsoil (0.0 ? 0.025 m) of the orchards, being higher in the orchard cultivated for 18 years. Most Cu, especially in the topsoil of the 18 years old orchard, accumulated in the less stable organic fraction, which can potentiate toxicity to plants and transfer Cu e Zn to ground water. In deeper layers, Cu was also distributed in the residual and mineral fractions, which are more stable. Most Zn in the soil of the apple orchards was distributed in the mineral and residual fractions, which have low mobility and low potential toxicity to plants. Key words: Malus domestica, trace elements, toxicity, environmental contamination.
Highlights
In the state of Santa Catarina, in southern Brazil, an area of approximately 18.000 ha is cultivated with apple crops (Malus domestica)
The present study aimed to evaluate the accumulation and distribution of Cu and Zn fractions in the profile of an Inceptisoil on two plantations previously cultivated with apple trees in southern Brazil
In the native pasture (NP) soil, the highest levels of CuSol, CuR, CuSum and CuT were observed in the layer of 0.0 – 0.025 m and decreased at deeper levels (Table 2)
Summary
In the state of Santa Catarina, in southern Brazil, an area of approximately 18.000 ha is cultivated with apple crops (Malus domestica). It is the largest apple-producing area in Brazil, and Santa Catarina is the second largest producer, after Rio Grande do Sul state. Apple trees are grown in regions with frequent rainfall, which stimulates the incidence of foliar fungal diseases and may reduce fruit yield and harm fruit quality. Foliar fungicides, e.g., the copperbased Bordeaux mixture (Ca(OH)2 + CuSO4) and zincbased mixtures, such as those with the active ingredient Mancozeb (C4H6MnN2S4 × Zn), are applied throughout the year. Fungicides containing Cu and Zn are applied after leaf senescence and during plant dormancy to promote dormancy breaking and branches disinfection
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