The content of Pb, Zn and Cd in hydroameliorated soil and drainage water and their uptake by plants

Abstract

The goal of the investigations was to assess the average contents of heavy metals (Pb, Zn and Cd) in the surface soil layer (0–30 cm), in drainage water and their uptake by growing plants, in the experimental amelioration field for four different variants of drainpipe spacing (15, 20, 25 and 30 m) during the three-year period. Maize and winter wheat were grown in all variants throughout the trial period. In all variants of drainpipe spacing, heavy metals in soil, drainage water and plant material were within the limits. The highest average level of Pb was 13.5 mg/kg, Zn 88 mg/kg and Cd 0.7 mg/kg in soil. Drainage water concentration of heavy metals was below 50 µg/dm<sup>3</sup> for Pb, below 2 µg/dm<sup>3</sup> for Cd, while the highest average value of Zn amounted to 20 µg/dm<sup>3</sup>. In grain of the crops grown, the concentration of Pb was below 0.4 mg.kg–1 and that of Cd below 0.1 mg/kg.