Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Copper in surface layer of Croatian vineyard soils

Author(s):

Elda Vitanović ^1*, Željko Vidaček ², Miro Katalinić ¹, Sonja Kačić ¹, Boško Miloš ¹

Recieved Date: 2009-09-10, Accepted Date: 2009-12-30

Abstract:

The frequent use of copper fungicides for the control of vine diseases results in increased accumulation of total copper in the surface layer of vineyard soils. The objective of this research was to survey copper concentration in surface soils of vineyards in coastal Croatia, which is a part of the Adriatic Coast, Europe. Sampling was undertaken on anthropogenic colluvial soils, flysch, terra rossa and terrace soils on cretaceous limestone. Each sample was physically and chemically analyzed. The survey was also carried out among local wine-growers. A questionnaire was provided to growers to determine total copper loading on an annual basis. Concentrations of total copper in the vineyard soils under research range from 70.50 to 625.79 mg/kg, compared to 21.85 to 290.11 mg/kg total copper found on the nearby control sites. Copper concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) higher in vineyard terrace soils than on other soils sites tested. This was shown to be a result of the treatment of the vines with copper fungicides, with the subsequent introduction of 2.90 kg/ha (Kaštela-Trogir vineyard area) to 4.20 kg/ha (Primošten vineyard area) of copper into vineyard soils each vegetative year. Seventeen out of twenty vineyard soils under research were contaminated with copper, according to the specifications provided within the “Regulations on Protection of Cultivated Land from Contamination by Hazardous Substances”. Considering the average concentrations of the metal under research, quaternary colluvial anthropogenic soils (So 1.03) and those of terra rossa (So 1.94) were contaminated, while those on flysch (So 2.13) and terraced on cretaceous limestones (So 2.88) were polluted with copper. The results of this research provide further data relevant to the inventory of heavy metals in vineyard soils of this part of the Adriatic Coast.

Keywords:

Heavy metals, copper, copper fungicides, anthropogenic soils, polluted soils

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2010
Volume: 8
Issue: 1
Category: Environment
Pages: 268-274

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