Transfer of Risk elements in soil–bilberry system

AbstractKuklova M., Kukla J.: Transfer of risk elements in soil-bilberry system. Ekologia (Bratislava), Vol. 32, No. 2, p. 211-219, 2013.Transfer of Al, Cr and Ni in the soil-plant (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) system was examined in four forest ecosystems in the localities Muraň (skeli-humic podzols) and Hliniky (dystric cambisols) in the protected zone of the NP Slovensky raj. In case of Al, the transfer coefficients were low, exceeding 1 only in the litter horizon on the damaged plot in the locality Muraň. The Al content in soils was the highest at a depth of 60-70 cm (10 249 mg kg-1) on the undamaged plot in Hliniky. The amounts of Al accumulated in bilberries were higher than the background value in plants, and they made 11-22% of the maximum Al contents detected in Ooh horizons of the studied soils. Cr on the damaged plot in the locality Muraň displayed higher transfer coefficients (range 1.09-11.3) in comparison with the other plots (0.03-0.59). Considering the value representing the maximum Cr amount detected in Ooh horizon in the corresponding locality as 100%, the content of Cr in bilberries growing on the damaged plot in Muraň was 109%, in contrast to 2% on the damaged plot in Hliniky. The concentrations of Ni in soils exceeded limit values in the surface humus horizons on all studied plots. Ni displayed higher transfer coefficients, exceeding 1 only on the damaged plot in the locality Muraň. Bilberries had accumulated 6-28% Ni in the locality Muraň, and 2-6% in the locality Hliniky of the maximum amounts detected in Ooh horizons of soils. The differences in mean values of transfer coefficients for Al, Ni and Cr were statistically significant (p < 0.05).