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Article

Trace Metal Content and Availability of Essential Metals in Agricultural Soils of Alicante (Spain)

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Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH), Av. de la Universidad s/n. Edificio Alcudia, 03202 Elche, Spain
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Soil Science Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Engineering Sustainability, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Environmental Conservation and Management Open University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 12794, 2252 Latsia, Cyprus
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2018, 10(12), 4534; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124534
Received: 17 October 2018 / Revised: 16 November 2018 / Accepted: 29 November 2018 / Published: 1 December 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Heavy Metals)
This article analysed the presence of trace metals (essential elements and pollutants) and soil properties in rural abandoned soils of a Mediterranean region. The soil properties determined were texture, pH, equivalent calcium carbonate, soil organic matter, availability of micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn), and acid microwave digestion extraction to measure the trace metals considered as main pollutants (Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb). Descriptive statistics and correlations were used to determine the relations among these parameters. pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), and clay were the main properties that controlled the availability of essential metals. pH was the main factor related to these metals in these calcareous soils. However, SOC, which can be incremented by adding organic fertilizers for soil rehabilitation as a sustainable practice, played an important role. Mean values of the metal composition in soils (Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb) obtained in this study were similar to values reported for other areas in the Mediterranean basin. View Full-Text
Keywords: essential metals; Mediterranean agriculture; organic matter; pH; soil quality; trace metals essential metals; Mediterranean agriculture; organic matter; pH; soil quality; trace metals
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MDPI and ACS Style

Navarro-Pedreño, J.; Almendro-Candel, M.B.; Gómez Lucas, I.; Jordán Vidal, M.M.; Bech Borras, J.; Zorpas, A.A. Trace Metal Content and Availability of Essential Metals in Agricultural Soils of Alicante (Spain). Sustainability 2018, 10, 4534. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124534

AMA Style

Navarro-Pedreño J, Almendro-Candel MB, Gómez Lucas I, Jordán Vidal MM, Bech Borras J, Zorpas AA. Trace Metal Content and Availability of Essential Metals in Agricultural Soils of Alicante (Spain). Sustainability. 2018; 10(12):4534. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124534

Chicago/Turabian Style

Navarro-Pedreño, Jose, María B. Almendro-Candel, Ignacio Gómez Lucas, Manuel M. Jordán Vidal, Jaume Bech Borras, and Antonis A. Zorpas 2018. "Trace Metal Content and Availability of Essential Metals in Agricultural Soils of Alicante (Spain)" Sustainability 10, no. 12: 4534. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124534

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