Content of Trace Elements in Soil Fertilized with Potassium and Nitrogen

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of increasing potassium fertilization (0, 140, 190, and 240 mg K2O/kg of soil) in the interaction with nitrogen fertilization (130 and 170 mg N/kg of soil) on the trace elements content in the typical, non-contaminated agricultural soil. The trace elements content in the soil depended on nitrogen and potassium fertilization. Potassium fertilization had a more significant effect on trace elements content in the soil fertilized at the same time with a lower nitrogen dose (130 mg N/kg soil). Increasing potassium fertilization increased the content of cadmium by 83% and lead by 32% and reduced the amounts of chromium by 10% and iron by 3% in the soil, particularly in the series with a lower nitrogen dose (130 mg N/kg soil). The effect of potassium fertilization on the content of other trace elements was less unambiguous since, for most of trace elements, lower doses of this fertilizer contributed to growth of trace element, while higher doses lead to a decrease in their accumulation in the soil. Nitrogen fertilization increased the contents of zinc and iron—3%, copper—9%, manganese—12%, chromium—15%, and cobalt—59%, while reducing the contents of cadmium and nickel—24% and lead—45%. Permissible standards for trace elements content in the soil have not been exceeded.

Keywords

• nitrogen and potassium fertilization
• soil
• trace elements