Effects of vegetation and fertilizer on metal and Sb plant uptake in a calcareous shooting range soil

Abstract

Shooting range soils frequently contain anomalous concentrations of metals (e.g. Pb, Zn, Mn) and Sb coming from bullets which may be released into the environment. In a pot experiment, we investigated metal and Sb uptake by three plant species ( Plantago lanceolata, Lolium perenne and Triticum aestivum) growing on a calcareous shooting range soil (pH 7.8; 500 mg kg −1 Pb, 21 mg kg −1 Sb) and the uptake changes when an acidic fertilizer solution was applied to the soil. Metal and Sb solubility in the soil was determined by extraction with 0.1 M NaNO 3. In addition, we measured pH, electrical conductivity and dissolved organic carbon in drainage samples. The results showed significant increase over time of pH (from 7.8 to 8.3) and decrease of electrical conductivity and dissolved organic carbon (from 230 to ∼130 mg L −1). Fertilizer application increased NaNO 3-extractable Pb and Sb and root:shoot biomass ratio but not plant metal uptake. In T. aestivum spikes accumulated more Zn, Ni and Cu than shoots and grains. Mn and Zb uptake was correlated in L. perenne shoots. P. lanceolata, a Sb-bioindicator, did not accumulate high amounts of Sb (<1 mg kg −1).