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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #146899
Title: ORCHARD SOILS EFFECT ON LEAD AND ARSENIC UPTAKE BY VEGETABLE CROPS

Author
item Codling, Eton
item Chaney, Rufus

Submitted to: Remediation of Degraded Soils Workshop
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2003
Publication Date: 4/1/2003
Citation: Codling, E.E., Chaney, R.L. 2003. Orchard soils effect on lead and arsenic uptake by vegetable crops. Remediation of Degraded Soils Workshop.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Lead arsenate was used in orchards in the United States from the 1930s-1960s to control Codling moth (Cydia pomenella). As a result, these soils are contaminated with lead (Pb) and arsenic (As). Today many of these soils are being used for vegetable crop production and housing developments. A survey of orchards from six States (Maryland (MD), Michigan (MI), New York (NY), Virginia (VA), West Virginia (WV), and Washington (WA)) was conducted and five orchards (MD, MI, NY, WA-A and WA-B) were identified with Pb and As concentrations ranging from 380 to 1126 and 45 to 172 mg kg-1 respectively. A soil with no history of lead arsenate application was also collected from Hayden Farm (HF) in Maryland as a control. A pot experiment was conducted to determine the dry matter yield and Pb and As uptake using three varieties of carrots and one variety of lettuce. The lead arsenate soils from Washington significantly reduced dry matter yield of both crops. The yield reduction may have resulted from herbicides that were applied to the orchards six months earlier. Plant tissues are currently being processed for Pb and As determination.