title: Effect of fertilizer application on soil heavy metal concentration.
abstract: A large amount of chemicals is annually applied at the agricultural soils as fertilizers and pesticides. Such applications may result in the increase of heavy metals particularly Cd, Pb, and As. The objective of this study was to investigate the variability of chemical applications on Cd, Pb, and As concentrations of wheat-cultivated soils. Consequently, a study area was designed and was divided into four subareas (A, B, C, and D). The soil sampling was carried out in 40 points of cultivated durum wheat during the 2006-2007 periods. The samples were taken to the laboratory to measure their heavy metal concentration, soil texture, pH, electrical conductivity, cationic exchange capacity, organic matter, and carbonate contents. The result indicated that Cd, Pb, and As concentrations were increased in the cultivated soils due to fertilizer application. Although the statistical analysis indicates that these heavy metals increased significantly (P value<0.05), the lead and arsenic concentrations were increased dramatically compared to Cd concentration. This can be related to overapplication of fertilizers as well as the pesticides that are used to replant plant pests, herbs, and rats.
authors.affiliation: Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Atafar
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mesdaghinia
authors.forename: Jafar
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nouri
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Homaee
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yunesian
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmadimoghaddam
authors.forename: Amir Hossein
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mahvi
mesh_terms: D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000032:analysis*; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead