Abstract
The monitoring of heavy metal concentrations in areas under intensive agriculture is essential for the agricultural sustainability and food safety. This paper evaluates the total contents of heavy metals in soils and mango trees in orchards of different ages (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 19, and 26 years) in Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil. Soil samples were taken from the layers 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm, and mango leaves were collected in the growth stage. Areas of native vegetation (Caatinga) adjacent to the cultivated areas were used for comparison. The total concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Fe, Zn, Mn, Ni, and Pb) were determined in soils and leaves. In general, mango cultivation led to Cu and Zn accumulation in the soil surface and to a reduction in the contents of Ni, Pb, Mn, and Fe in surface and subsurface. Since contamination by Cu, Zn, and Cr was detected, these areas must be monitored to prevent negative environmental impacts. For instance, the presence of Cr in mango tree leaves indicates the need to investigate the source of the element in these orchards. The management strategies of the different companies led to deficiency or excess of some metals in the evaluated areas. However, the Fe and Mn levels were adequate for the mineral nutrition of mango in all areas.
Highlights
The Brazilian fruit production iSyntax Error: Unknown character collection 'PDFXC30-Identity's nationally and internationally relevant, accounting for around 25 %of the total national agricultural production and of10 % of the international fruit production, respectively (Lacerda & Lacerda, 2004; Medeiros et al, 2005)
The increase in the use of fertilizers and pesticides causes a series of environmental impacts, e.g., contamination by heavy metals, salts, and agrotoxics that leach and flow from th e cultivated areas into water sh eds and groundwater sources (Berti, 2003) and may accumulate in the soil
Fertilizing by agricultural companies provides 40 L/plant of organic matter (OM) annually from animal sources, such as goat or cattle manure or other, commercial products used as organic fertilizers
Summary
The Brazilian fruit production iSyntax Error: Unknown character collection 'PDFXC30-Identity's nationally and internationally relevant, accounting for around 25 %of the total national agricultural production and of10 % of the international fruit production, respectively (Lacerda & Lacerda, 2004; Medeiros et al, 2005). The Brazilian fruit production iSyntax Error: Unknown character collection 'PDFXC30-Identity'. Of the total national agricultural production and of. 10 % of the international fruit production, respectively (Lacerda & Lacerda, 2004; Medeiros et al, 2005). One of the fruits with a high commercial value is mango (Mangifera indica L.) (Albuquerque et al, 1999). In northeastern Brazil, mango is a key element of the regional economy, produced for exportation (Ribeiro et al, 2009), mainly for the European and North. Of the country’s mango exports are produced in this region (Silva, 2008). The high mango production of this region, of around 25 t ha-1 (Silva, 2008), is the result of a mechanized agriculture with intensive application of agricultural inputs. The increase in the use of fertilizers and pesticides causes a series of environmental impacts, e.g., contamination by heavy metals, salts, and agrotoxics that leach and flow from th e cultivated areas into water sh eds and groundwater sources (Berti, 2003) and may accumulate in the soil
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