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Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin ›› 2023, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (34): 114-122.doi: 10.11924/j.issn.1000-6850.casb2022-0964

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Variability of Soil Heavy Metal Content of Five Stand Types in Beijiang River Basin

YE Caihong1,2(), XU Tiaozi1,2, ZHANG Zhongrui1, ZHU Hangyong1, ZHANG Geng1, HE Qian2, DING Xiaogang1()   

  1. 1 Guangdong Academy of Forestry/ Guangdong Key Laboratory of Silviculture, Protection and Utilization, Guangzhou 510520
    2 College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642
  • Received:2022-11-14 Revised:2023-08-17 Online:2023-12-05 Published:2023-11-30

Abstract:

To examine the characteristics of soil heavy metal content and the pollution condition of different forest types in the Beijiang River Basin and to provide a theoretical framework for the assessment of heavy metal pollution, soil concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and Hg were investigated in the 0-40 cm soil layer of five different forest types (Eucalyptus robusta, Bambusoideae, Cunninghamia lanceolata, Pinus massoniana and Pinus elliotti) in the Beijiang River Basin. The single factor index method, Nemerow comprehensive pollution index method, geo-accumulation index method and potential ecological risk index method were used to evaluate the pollution and possible ecological risk of soil heavy metal contamination in each stand type. The results showed that: (1) Zn and Hg had the highest and lowest concentrations of heavy metals respectively in the soil of all stands. (2) The four heavy metal components of soil (Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn) had a strong link with one another. Additionally, soil pH, TN, TP and OC all had an impact on soil’s heavy metal content, with TP had the biggest impact. (3) Only the geo-accumulation index evaluation results revealed that the Hg element in the soil of the Bambusoideae stands was mildly to moderately contaminated. The soil of the five stands tested for heavy metal pollution was almost clean or safe. The potential ecological risk levels of mercury were moderate, while those of the other heavy metals were minimal. This study found that the soil environmental quality of the woodland in the Beijiang Basin was good, and the evaluation result of soil heavy metal pollution in the majority of areas was clean or no pollution, providing fundamental information and theoretical support for the prevention and control of soil pollution as well as for the regional ecological protection of the woodland in the Beijiang Basin.

Key words: stand type, soil heavy metals, pollution evaluation, ecological risk assessment