Influence of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) on rhizosphere soil solution chemistry in long-term contaminated soils:A rhizobox study

This study investigated the influence of Indian mustard （Brassicajuncea） root exudation on soil solution properties （pH, dissolved organic carbon （DOC）, metal solubility） in the rhizosphere using a rhizobox. Measurement was conducted following the cultivation of Indian mustard in the rhizobox filled four different types of heavy metal contaminated soils （two alkaline soils and two acidic soils）. The growth of Indian mustard resulted in a significant increase （by 0.6 pH units） in rhizosphere soil solution pH of acidic soils and only a slight increase （〈 0.1 pH units） in alkaline soils. Furthermore, the DOC concentration increased by 17-156 mg/L in the rhizosphere regardless of soil type and the extent of contamination, demonstrating the exudation of DOC from root. Ion chromatographic determination showed a marked increase in the total dissolved organic acids （OAs） in rhizosphere. While root exudates were observed in all soils, the amount of DOC and OAs in soil solution varied considerably amongst different soils, resulting in significant changes to soil solution metals in the rhizosphere. For example, the soil solution Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations increased in the rhizosphere of alkaline soils compared to bulk soil following plant cultivation. In contrast, the soluble concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Zn in acidic soils decreased in rhizosphere soil when compared to bulk soils. Besides the influence of pH and DOC on metal solubility, the increase of heavy metal concentration having high stability constant such as Cu and Pb resulted in a release of Cd and Zn from solid phase to liquid phase.

Chemodynamics of heavy metals in long-term contaminated soils:Metal speciation in soil solution

The concentration and speciation of heavy metals in soil solution isolated from long-term contaminated soils were investigated. The soil solution was extracted at 70% maximum water holding capacity （MWHC） after equilibration for 24 h. The free metal concentrations （Cd^2＋, Cu^2＋, Pb^2＋, and Zn^2＋） in soil solution were determined using the Donnan membrane technique （DMT）. Initially the DMT was validated using artificial solutions where the percentage of free metal ions were significantly correlated with the percentages predicted using MINTEQA2. However, there was a significant difference between the absolute free ion concentrations predicted by MINTEQA2 and the values determined by the DMT. This was due to the significant metal adsorption onto the cation exchange membrane used in the DMT with 20%, 28%, 44%, and 8% mass loss of the initial total concentration of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in solution, respectively. This could result in a significant error in the determination of free metal ions when using DMT if no allowance for membrane cation adsorption was made. Relative to the total soluble metal concentrations the amounts of free Cd^2＋ （3%-52%） and Zn^2＋ （11%-72%） in soil solutions were generally higher than those of Cu^2＋ （0.2%-30%） and Pb^2＋ （0.6%-10%）. Among the key soil solution properties, dissolved heavy metal concentrations were the most significant factor governing free metal ion concentrations. Soil solution pH showed only a weak relationship with free metal ion partitioning coefficients （Kp） and dissolved organic carbon did not show any significant influence on Kp.

Heavy metal chemistry in soils received long-term application of organic wastes

This study was carried out to understand the long-term effect of organic waste treatment on the fate of heavy metals originated from the organic wastes, together with examination of changes in soil properties. For this, the soils received three different organic wastes (municipal sewage sludge, alcohol fermentation processing sludge, pig manure compost) in three different rates (12.5, 25, 50 ton/ha/yr) for 7 years (1994 - 2000) were used. To see the long-term effect, plant growth study and soil examination were conducted twice in 2000 and 2010, respectively. There was no additional treatment of organic wastes for post ten years after ceasing organic waste treatment for seven years. Soil examination conducted in 2010 showed decreases in soil pH, EC, total nitrogen, organic matter, available phosphorus, exchangeable cations and heavy metal contents in all soils received organic wastes compared to the results obtained in 2000. Speciation of heavy metals in soil through sequential extraction showed that organically bound Cu was the dominant species in all treatment and exchangeable Cu was increased in the plots treated with municipal sewage sludge and alcohol fermentation processing sludge. organically bound Ni increased from 25% - 30% to 32% - 45% in 2010 inall treatment while Pb showed increase in carbonate form in all treatments. Zn existed mainly as sulfide and residual forms, showing increases in organically bound form in all treatment during post ten years.

Evaluation of immobilizing agents as soil quality conditioners in addition to their metal(loid) immobilizing effect

In trace metal (TM)-contaminated agricultural soils,management of TM availability is important for safe crop production.In addition,maintenance or improvement of soil quality is vital for sustainable crop cultivation.Decreased TM phytoavailability and increased soil quality can be achieved by the application of various immobilizing agents to soil,which can supply both macronutrients and organic matter.This study investigated the long-term influences of four common immobilizing agents on soil biogeochemical properties and the phytoavailability of TMs in mixed metal-contaminated soil from a cultivated upland near an abandoned mining site.Lime (L),gypsum (G),fly ash (F),and animal manure-based compost (C) were applied to pots containing contaminated soil,either individually or in combination.After incubation for three years under sequential cultivation of two crops and fallow,soil biogeochemical properties were determined,and Brassica rapa plant bioassay was performed.The phytoavailability of all TMs (both cationic metals and anionic metalloids) remained significantly lower in soils treated with immobilizing agents even after three years,when compared with the no-agent control (CK) soil.In addition,the soil quality was significantly improved by treatment with immobilizing agents.For instance,the C and L+C treatments were the most effective in improving soil physical (bulk density,porosity,and water-resistant aggregate stability),chemical (pH,organic matter,total nitrogen,cation exchange capacity,and plant-available phosphorus,magnesium,and potassium),and biological (microbial biomass carbon and dehydrogenase activity) properties.The improvement of soil properties and lowering of TM bioavailability were also consistent with the most significant increase in B.rapa biomass production observed in the C treatment,followed by the L+C,G+F,L,G,F,and L+G treatments,as compared with that in CK.These results indicate that the function of the TM-immobilizing agent as a soil quality conditioner,in addition to its TM immobilizing effect,should be considered when selecting such agents for agricultural or ecological applications.