Potential to Ensure Safe Production of Water Spinach in Heavy Metals-Contaminated Soil by Substituting Chemical Fertilizer with Organic Fertilizer
Hao Qi,
Zhong Zhuang,
Jiang Liu,
Siyu Huang,
Qiqi Wang,
Qi Wang,
Huafen Li,
Yanan Wan
Affiliations
Hao Qi
Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Zhong Zhuang
Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Jiang Liu
Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Siyu Huang
Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Qiqi Wang
Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Qi Wang
Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Huafen Li
Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Yanan Wan
Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Organic fertilizers are widely used to improve soil quality. However, their potential for ensuring the safe production of vegetables in soils with varying levels of heavy metals pollution remains inadequately explored. Here, we conducted a pot experiment to investigate the effects of substituting chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizer on the HMs accumulation in water spinach by simulating soils with different levels of HMs pollution. The results showed that the organic fertilizer significantly increased the soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and organic matter (OM). Furthermore, it led to a reduction in the soil DTPA–Cd and DTPA–Pb levels by 3.3–20.6% and 22.4–47.3%, respectively, whereas the DTPA–As levels increased by 0.07–7.7 times. The organic fertilizer effectively reduced the Cd and Pb content in water spinach below the safety limits when the added Cd content in the soil was less than 2 mg/kg and the Pb content was equal to or less than 90 mg/kg. However, its efficacy in reducing As accumulation in water spinach was limited, emphasizing the need for caution when using organic fertilizers in As-contaminated soils. Our results provide valuable insights for the scientific and precise utilization of organic fertilizers, thereby contributing to the safe production of vegetables.
