Potentially toxic trace element pollution in long-term fertilized agricultural soils in China: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Fertilization results in potentially toxic trace element (PTTE) pollution in agricultural soils. However, it is unclear which factors determine the effect sizes of fertilization on PTTEs at the multiple spatial-temporal scale. This work synthesized 379 observations in 78 field sites (3–35 years) across China's main grain producing areas, and showed that long-term organic fertilization significantly enhanced total Cu, Zn and Cd by 25.7%, 18.9% and 66.6%, and soil available Cu, Zn and Cd by 60.5%, 155.3% and 83.6%, respectively; whereas long-term inorganic fertilization increased only available Cu, Zn and Cd by an average of 6.3%. Organic fertilizer (OF) type and application rate dominated the variation of PTTE concentrations, where approximately one-half of Cd pollution (42.6% of total Cd and 47% of available Cd) was observed. Furthermore, OFs containing Cd less than 1 mg kg−1 were recommended to be safely applied to agricultural soils. Soil type was main factor under long-term inorganic fertilization determining available PTTE variation, resulted in higher pollution risk in some soils such as Alfisols and Semi-hydromorphic soils, where we suggested the use of lower amounts of P fertilizers or the application of ones having small amounts of PTTEs. In short, long-term organic fertilization caused serious pollution of PTTEs especially Cd in Chinese croplands, and some strategies with a focus towards reducing the pollution risk must be developed, e.g., promoting straw return, forbidding Cd addition to feeds and feed additives, and improving carbon sequestration efficiency (CSE) of OFs and thus soil organic matter (SOM).