Copper, zinc, and cadmium accumulation in two prairie soils and crops as influenced by repeated applications of manure

Abstract

AbstractA study was conducted to determine the effect of repeated (5–7 y) annual application of liquid swine or solid cattle manure on the plant availability of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) at two field sites in the W‐central and E‐central agricultural regions of Saskatchewan, Canada. Soil samples, plant‐straw and grain samples from the 2003 growing season were collected and analyzed for total Cu, Zn, and Cd concentrations using nitric acid microwave digestion followed by atomic‐absorption spectroscopy. An ammonium bicarbonate diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (AB‐DTPA) extraction was performed on the soil samples as a measure of the plant‐available fraction. Crop plants that were tested included wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The results of this study indicated that long‐term repeated applications of manure fertilizer sometimes resulted in increased plant availability of Cu, Zn, and Cd, as reflected in increased concentrations of the plant‐available metal observed both in the soil and plant tissue. In the case of Cu and Zn, these increases were related to the rate of application, as the manure is a source of Cu and Zn. Changes in soil conditions from repeated manure application, including a decrease in pH and stimulated plant‐root growth can explain the effect that both manure and urea‐fertilizer application had on increasing the Cd concentration in the plant. Overall, there does not appear to be any concern about soil metal loading and plant accumulation in these soils after 5–7 y of manure application, as soil and plant concentrations were well below the allowable limits.