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Abstract

Adisa, S.J., N.V. Nkongolo, A. Ikem, K. Schmidt, R.M. Paro, N.O. Hoilett, S.S. Johnson and F. Eivazi. 2008. Baseline concentrations of trace elements in two agricultural soil depths in Central Missouri. JEMREST 5:166-175.

Potential accumulation of trace elements reaching toxic levels exist for fertilized agricultural soils. We investigated and compared the distribution of five trace elements (Cu, Mn, Mo, Pb and Zn) in 64 surface (0-10cm) and sub-surface (10-20cm) soil samples in a corn (Zea mays) field receiving NPK fertilizer, with four N-fertilizer treatments in central Missouri. Total metal in sample and standard reference material (SRM 1944 - New York/New Jersey Waterway sediment) was determined by acid attack of soil samples and reference material using a combination of three acids (nitric, perchloric, and hydrofluoric) in a Milestone microwave digester and measured with the inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). The average baseline elemental concentrations (mg kg-1) across the treatments were: (a) surface soil: Cu 13.9 - 15.2, Mn 461.8 - 481.2, Mo 1.1 - 1.5, Pb 19.4 - 21.9 and Zn 54.2 - 61.8, and (b) subsurface soil: Cu 13.4 - 14.2, Mn 475.0 - 497.2, Mo 0.9 - 1.1, Pb 17.5 - 22.4 and Zn 52.5 - 55.7. Mean concentrations of Cu, Mn and Pb at both soil depths were within the Missouri average background values, while mean concentrations of Zn exceeded Missouri average background value but was comparable with the conterminous United States. Mean concentrations of Mo were higher than the conterminous United States values at the surface but comparable at the subsurface soil. No significant difference in trace element concentrations across the soil depths was observed. Total carbon correlated strongly with Cu, Mn and Zn across the treatments.