Carpathian Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences

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ARTICLE IN Volume 9, 2014 - Number 1

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



Muhamet ZOGAJ1,2, Musaj PAÇARIZI3 & Rolf-Alexander DÜRING1
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.

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Abstract

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.
Keywords:
  • pseudototal
  • concentrations
  • assessment
  • of
  • bioavailable
  • fraction
  • mobile
  • fraction

How to cite

Muhamet ZOGAJ, Musaj PAÇARIZI & Rolf-Alexander DÜRING (2014). SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF HEAVY METALS AND ASSESSMENT OF THEIR BIOAVAILABILITY IN AGRICULTURAL SOILS OF KOSOVO

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