Results Objective Assess the effects of metal interactions on trace metal uptake by plant Evaluate the effects of plant uptake process on the distribution of heavy metal deposited in soils Introduction Discussion References For additional information contact sikwon@rda.go.kr Yongming Luo and David Limmer. 1995. Zinc-Copper Interaction Affecting Plant Growth on a Metal-Contaminated Soil. Environmental Pollution 88:79-83. Kabata-Pendias, A. 2001. Trace Elements in Soils and Plants. Third Edition. CRC Press LLC. Copper-Zinc Interaction Affecting Trace Elements Uptake of Chinese Cabbage on a Metal Treated Soil Soon-Ik KWON, Shin-Chan LEE, Gun-Yeob KIM, Byung-Keun HYUN, Seung-Gil HONG, Hyun-Cheol JEONG, and Jeong-Taek LEE National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, RDA, Suwon, KOREA In order to assess the effects of Cu-Zn interactions in compost on plant growth, chinese cabbage was cultivated with Cu and Zn added compost. The yields of chinese cabbage were not affected by applying the Cu-added compost, but were reduced in the case of 1,000 mg Cu kg-1 when in combination with Zn. Little antagonistic or synergistic effects were found between Cu and Zn on the yield of chinese cabbage. The amounts of soluble Cu in soil after cultivation were increased with the amount of Cu added to compost. In the case of 2,000 mg Cu kg-1 addition, the amounts of soluble Cu in soil were increased proportionally with Zn addition. i.e. the high amount of Zn increased plant available Cu. While the amounts of Zn in soil were increased only with Zn addition, regardless of the amounts of Cu added. The amount of soluble Mn increased in soil after cultivation was explained by compost application. Ni contents in both soil applied with chemical fertilizer and compost were higher than control, indicates the amount of Ni increased was mainly resulted from chemical fertilizer application. Total heavy metal contents within the plants were increased with adding Cu and Zn, respectively. The Mn uptake by the plant was reduced remarkably by applying compost than chemical fertilizer only. Usually composts have high contents of copper and zinc. And in many cases, metal contamination in soils is a multi-element problem. The interaction most commonly observed and most thoroughly investigated is Zn and Cd. But interactions of Zn and Cu have rarely been reported. Luo & Rimmer (1995) reported that the growth of barley was controlled principally by the amounts of plant available Zn, which depended on the amounts of both added Zn and added Cu. And they concluded that the effect of the added Cu was to increase the toxicity of the added Zn. Materials and Methods Fig. 2. 0.1N HCl extractable metal contents in the soil treated with various contents of Cu and Zn in pig manure compost after harvest. Fig. 3. Metal contents in Chinese cabbage cultivated in the soil treated with various contents of Cu and Zn in pig manure compost. Fig. 1. Yields of Chinese cabbage cultivated in the soil treated with various contents of Cu and Zn in pig manure compost. 4000 2000 NPK+Compost9 Cu3 Zn3 NPK+Compost8 Cu3 Zn2 755 NPK+Compost7 Cu3 Zn1 1000 NPK+Compost6 Cu2 Zn3 NPK+Compost5 Cu2 Zn2 NPK+Compost4 Cu2 Zn1 353 NPK+Compost3 Cu1 Zn3 NPK+Compost2 Cu1 Zn2 NPK+Compost1 Cu1 Zn1 NPK Cu0 Zn0 Control (mg kg-1) Zn Cu Treatment Combination Table 1. Chemical properties of the soil used Mg Ca K 13.0 2.04 1.25 53.6 108.1 3.19 0.55 0.13 (mg kg-1, 0.1N HCl extractable) Pb Ni Mn Fe Cr Cd 0.21 1.61 0.27 253 0.6 18 0.11 6.4 (cmolc kg-1) (g kg-1) (dS m-1) (1:5) Ex. Cations Av.P2O5 T-N OM EC pH Table 2. Combinations of Cu and Zn for different concentrations of the soil used Sandy Loam Soil Texture CuSO4, ZnSO4 Added reagents 1/2000a pot Experimental size Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris var. Manjumbaechu) Crop Pig manure compost with Cu 353, Zn 755 mg kg-1 Compost Table 3. Eexperimental outline