Muhamet ZOGAJ^1,2, Musaj PAÇARIZI³ & Rolf-Alexander DÜRING^1
1Justus Liebig University, Institute of Soil Science and Soil Conservation, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany. E-mail: muhamet.zogaj@uni-pr.edu, Muhamet.Zogaj@umwelt.uni-giessen.de
²University of Prishtina, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, St. "Bill Clinton" n.n. 10 000 Prishtinë, Kosovo.
³University of Prishtina, Faculty of Mathematic and Natyral Science, department of Chemistry, St. "Mother Tereza" n.n. 10 000, Prishtinë, Kosovo.

SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF HEAVY METALS AND ASSESSMENT OF THEIR BIOAVAILABILITY IN AGRICULTURAL SOILS OF KOSOVO

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From topsoil, 127 samples were collected in agricultural areas of Kosovo, which were analyzed for heavy metals (HM), by extraction with aqua-regia (pseudototal concentration), NH₄OAc-EDTA (potential bioavailable) and NH₄NO₃ (mobile fraction). 62 % of the soil samples showed elevated Ni concentrations, whereas increased values for Pb, Cd, Zn and Cr were in 9 %, 6 %, 5 %, and 2 % of the sample set, respectively. Cu was below threshold values in all analyzed samples. In order to assess the bioavailability of heavy metals, relevant soil parameters were determined. Regarding mobile fractions of HM, only Ni was significantly influenced by its total concentrations. For most of HM in mobile fractions, soil pH significantly impacted the extracted metal amounts. On some field sites crop production may be under risk due to elevated metal concentrations in not only the pseudototal but also in the potentially bioavailable and mobile fractions.