Evaluation of Heavy Metals' (Cd, Cu, Ni, Ph, and Zn) Distribution in Sowing Regions of Potato Fields in the Province of Niğde, Turkey

Abstract

The Province of Nigde, located in central Anatolia, supplies approximately 25% of the total potato production in Turkey. In order to investigate selected heavy metals' (cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn)) presence in the region, soil samples from a total of 45 different sampling stations at two different locations (Misli and Altinhisar Plains) were evaluated for their total and extractable heavy metal contents along with their physical and selected chemicalproperties (pH, salt, CaCO3, phosphorus, soil organic matter, and soil texture) since bioaccumulation of the metals in potatoes might be a problem. Total lead and zinc concentrations were found to be almost at the same order of magnitude in both fields, whereas the total nickel concentration is significantly higher and the total cadmium and copper concentrations are lower in the Altinhisar Plain than the concentrations in the Misli Plain. The average total cadmium and copper concentrations in the Misli Plain, which are higher than the mean total cadmium and copper concentrations in the Altinhisar Plain, indicate that most probably heavy metal containing fertilizer and pesticide use over a long period of time in the Misli Plain has caused an increase in cadmium and copper accumulation in the soil.