Plant Soil Environ., 2022, 68(3):115-128 | DOI: 10.17221/281/2021-PSE

Copper content in soils and litter from fruit orchards in Central Chile and its relationship with soil microbial activityOriginal Paper

J. Tomás Schoffer ORCID...*,1,2, Humberto Aponte3, Alexander Neaman4, Luz María de la Fuente1,2, Eduardo C. Arellano1,2, Pilar M. Gil5, Rosanna Ginocchio1,2
1 Departamento de Ecosistemas y Medio Ambiente, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
2 Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
3 Laboratorio de Ecología Microbiana y Biogeoquímica de Suelos, Instituto de Ciencias Agroalimentarias, Animales y Ambientales (ICA3), Universidad de O?Higgins, Rancagua, Chile
4 Instituto de Ingeniería Agraria y Suelos, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Alimentarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
5 Departamento de Fruticultura y Enología, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontifica Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile

This study assessed both the soil and litter copper (Cu) levels and their relationships with soil microbial activity, in fruit-tree production areas of central Chile where Cu-based pesticides are intensively sprayed. Samples of soil (0-20 cm depth) and litter from a number of selected orchards (kiwi, table grape, plum, and cherry) were collected and analysed for their Cu content and C-induced soil microbial activity. Results showed that the mean total soil Cu level was 225 mg/kg and soluble soil Cu was less than 0.01% of total soil Cu, as expected from pH values of study soils (range of 6.33 to 7.93). However, leaf litter Cu content was 3-7 times higher than in soil (mean of681 mg/kg). Despite the soil and leaf litter Cu concentrations, no effect was observed on the C-induced soil microbial activity. We conclude that leaf litter exerts a protective role, preventing the entry of Cu into the soil and thus soil microbial toxicity.

Keywords: metals; contamination; bioavailability; MicroRespTM; bioindicator

Published: March 15, 2022  Show citation

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Schoffer JT, Aponte H, Neaman A, de la Fuente LM, Arellano EC, Gil PM, Ginocchio R. Copper content in soils and litter from fruit orchards in Central Chile and its relationship with soil microbial activity. Plant Soil Environ. 2022;68(3):115-128. doi: 10.17221/281/2021-PSE.
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