Gabriella Máthé-Gáspár

Change of Bioaccumulation of Toxic Metals in Vegetables

The bioaccumulation factors (BAF) of heavy metals are one of the most important input variables in human health risk assessment. Change of toxic metal uptake by two common leafy vegetable species, sorrel (Rumex acetosa L.) and chive (Allium schoenoprasum L.), at different cuts (1, 2, and 3) were studied in four different contaminated soils in pot experiments. Shoot biomass production of tested plants decreased significantly only at high pollution levels. It is well known that BAF depends on metals, plant species, soil pollution level, and soil acidity. Our results showed significant variation of the bioaccumulation factors in addition at different growths mainly at low pollution levels. Results also indicated different human health risks occurred by consumption of homegrown vegetable harvested at different times.

Environmental Impact of Soil Pollution with Toxic Elements from the Lead And Zinc Mine at Gyöngyösoroszi (Hungary)

Toxic elements from the lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) mine at Gyöngyösoroszi (Northeast Hungary) cause pollution and potential risk to the ecosystem and human health. The aim of this work was to determine the contamination level at two sites planted with willow (Salix sp. L.) and corn (Zea mays L.) along the Toka valley, to evaluate soil quality by biological and biochemical parameters, and to assess potential risk for human health. Total arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), Pb, Zn, and mercury (Hg) contents in polluted soils reached values up to 384, 28.8, 493, 2827, 4417, and 4.46 mg kg−1, respectively. Values of these elements in the polluted soil for willow were 3.7 to 31 times higher and in corn were 2.3 to 20.9 times higher than in the unpolluted soil. All measured parameters therefore indicated soil pollution. Plant emergence percentage and plant and microbial biomass decreased whereas water‐extractable organic carbon (C), phosphatase activity, and corn root infection by arbuscular mychorrizal AM fungi and toxic metal content of the tested plants increased significantly. The results showed a high soil pollution level and consequently a great potential risk for human health (value of the additive hazard quotient was 11.21) and indicated the necessity for remediation of the site.

Nitrogen and Sulfur Content of Canola Grown on a Calcareous Chernozem Soil

Canola (Brassica napus L.) has a high nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) requirement. In many regions of the world, S deficiency has been recognized as a limiting factor of production. The aim of the present work was to study the effect of N fertilizer on the yield and N and S contents of canola. Canola was grown on a calcareous chernozem soil in Nagyhörcsök, Hungary (2003–2004) at four autumn and five spring N levels (total 0–425 n ha−1). Nitrogen and S contents were measured several times during plant development. Nitrogen and S contents differed by development stage, plant parts, and N treatment. The relationship of N dose, yield, and N or S contents of canola could be best described by a quadratic equation. The N and S ratio of leaves was lower (2.9–8.2) in all cases than the conventional limit value for canola: ⩽10. Results indicated a sufficient S supply for canola under the present ecological conditions and underlined the determinant role of N fertilization.

Effect of nitrogen fertilizer on the nitrogen, sulphur and carbon contents of canola ( Brassica napus L. ) grown on a calcareous chernozem soil

Introduction Canola (Brassica napus L. subsp. napus), an important crop of the temperate region in the world, is characterized by a high N requirement. It is well known from previous studies that the N utilizing efficiency of canola is low (Hocking et al 1997) and that nitrogen fertilizer has a determinant effect on its seed yield (Nemeth and Karaman 1986, Nemeth 1987-1988 and1988, Kadar et al. 2001, Kadar 2002, Nemeth 2006). The yield quality, macroelement content and their ratios correlate with the amount of fertilizer (Lasztity 1991, Mathene 2001, Hill et al. 2003, Tanacs et al. 2005). In many parts of the world S deficiency is considered as a limiting factor of canola production and one of the determinant factors of yield quality, especially in fields characterized by intensive crop production and on soils having low humus and clay contents (Schnug and Haneklaus 1998, Mc Grath and Zhao 1997, Fismes et al. 2000). The total sulphur requirement varies in different crop species, development stages and plant parts (e.g. sulphur content of Brassicaceae or leaves is high). The sulphur content and nitrogen per sulphur ratio jointly show the sufficient sulphur supply of plant. The limit value for canola leaf sulphur content is > 6.5 mg S kg –1 (Schnug and Haneklaus 1998), and the marginal nitrogen per sulphur ratio is around 10 (Saalbach 1972). Other plants have a lower sulphur requirement than canola, e.g. the N per S ratio of winter wheat was 11–16 in the vegetative parts, 17–18 in the grain and 5–9 in the stem at maturity (Lasztity 1991). The N per S ratio was 7–9 in grass hay (Ragalyi and Kadar 2006). The latter experiment showed an increase in nitrogen and sulphur contents of grass during N treatment and the N per S ratio rose from 7.33 (0 kg N ha) to 9.19 (300 kg N ha). The aim of the present work was to get further knowledge on the effect of N-fertilizer on the nitrogen, sulphur and carbon contents of winter canola, as indicators of quantitative and qualitative changes.

Characteristics of Surface Nitrogen and Phosphorus Balances in the Seven Regions of Hungary from 1989 to 2005

As a result of Hungarys membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), surface nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) balances on a country level are calculated and reported to the OECD annually. The Research Institute for Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry (RISSAC) of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences is responsible for the calculations. Surface nutrient NP balances of each of the seven Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) 2 regions of Hungary were calculated for the period of 1989 (the starting year of political and economic transitions in the country) to 2005. For the environmental risk assessment of NP balances, it is also essential to take the soil NP status of the investigated area into consideration. Correlations between NP balances and soil NP status should be investigated on EU, country, or regional levels. The relevant agricultural databases of the Central Statistical Office of Hungary (CSOH) were used to ensure the accurate estimations of coefficients. Significant differences were found among the regions both in the input and output sides of the NP balances and, as a consequence, in the regional NP balances. Utilization of the agricultural area also differs among the regions, as a consequence of their geographical location, terrain features, soil and climate conditions, and different traditions. In general, the annual N balances of the studied period in the Hungarian regions were positive, whereas P balances were negative. Surface gross nutrient NP balances of each of the seven Hungarian regions decreased in the studied period, but characteristic differences between Hungarian regions still remained.

Microbial biomass and acid phosphatase activity of the salix sp rhizosphere soil near a lead and zinc mine

Heavy metal contamination influences soil and plant biological and biochemical properties (Anton et al. 1994; Brookes 1995; Mdthd and Kovc Szili-Kovc Abdorhim et al. 2004; Mt Simon and Bird 2005). Microbial biomass, respiration, and enzyme assays offer potential as indicators of biological functioning of soils. Soil characteristics such organic carbon, clay content and pH, soil moisture and -first for phosphatase activityavailability of phosphorus have a major influences on the extent of the effects of pollution by heavy metals on these biological and biochemical properties (Mathe and Kovacs 1980; Anton et al. 1994). There are increasing evidences of microbial biomass decrease due to metal contamination in soils (Brookes 1995; Szili-Kov&cs et al. 1998). Most soil biological investigations were based on laboratory soil metal enrichment but very few attempts were made to study real pollution situations (Takacs and VOros 2003). This latter is difficult to study because of the spatial

Element content of young canola grown on different nitrogen supply levels

One of the biggest challenges for the safe maize production is the yield stability in a wide range of environments with different soil fertility, weather conditions, prevailing pests and diseases as well as cultural practices. In order to achieve it, new hybrids with higher tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress are continuously being created. In order to compare performance of maize hybrids in environments with different levels and types of stress, and relate it to the stalk lodging incidence, we compared performance of 64 maize hybrids obtained by crossing 16 inbred lines with four inbred testers in three different environments. Two environments at same location (Rugvica) differed in crop rotation, and the third environment at location Botinec was considered as dry because of low water capacity of the soil. Mixed models that included all design elements and genetic background of hybrids were used to analyze the effect of lodging on yield in different environments. The results show that stalk lodging had a significant effect on yield, but significant lodging x environment interaction indicates that this effect was rather environment specific.Sweet pepper Istra F1 hybrid was grown in a greenhouse on K rich soil. For evaluation of K antagonism, two K rates (55 and 85 kg ha-1) were applied in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Total number of fruits, total number of BER affected fruits as well as average fruit mass were recorded for each harvest. Fruit and leaf K and Ca content were determined at three plant growth stages (at the stage of the first, third and fifth fruit cluster). Higher K rate gave higher : average fruit mass (169.45 g), total number of fruits per plant (7.95), number of BER affected fruits per plant (3.82), K in leaves (5.44% DM), K in fruits (6.35% DM), but negatively correlated with Ca concentration in fruits (0.57% DM) and leaves (3.24% DM). This resulted in decreased marketable yield of sweet pepper fruits.