title: Heavy metal concentrations in plants and different harvestable parts: a soil-plant equilibrium model.
abstract: A mathematical interaction model, validated by experimental results, was developed to modeling the metal uptake by plants and induced growth decrease, by knowing metal in soils. The model relates the dynamics of the uptake of metals from soil to plants. Also, two types of relationships are tested: total and available metal content. The model successfully fitted the experimental data and made it possible to predict the threshold values of total mortality with a satisfactory approach. Data are taken from soils treated with Cd and Ni for ryegrass (Lolium perenne, L.) and oats (Avena sativa L.), respectively. Concentrations are measured in the aboveground biomass of plants. In the latter case, the concentration of metals in different parts of the plants (tillering, shooting and earing) is also modeled. At low concentrations, the effects of metals are moderate, and the dynamics appear to be linear. However, increasing concentrations show nonlinear behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento, Gutiérrez 1150, Los Polvorines, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Sebastián D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Guala
authors.forename: Flora A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.forename: Emma F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Covelo
mesh_terms: D018554:Avena / Q000378:metabolism; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism; D008129:Lolium / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009532:Nickel / Q000378:metabolism; D018514:Plant Structures / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D009532:Nickel