Heavy metals and sulphur accumulation In the Picea abies needles and soil of the forest promotional complex "Lasy Beskidu Śląskiego"

Abstract

The investigation of zinc, cadmium, lead, copper and sulphur contents was carried out in the soil and in the needles of Picea abies L. Karst. in the Forest Promotional Complex "Lasy Beskidu Śląskiego". Samples of soil (from the level 0-10 cm) and annual, biennial and triennial needles of spruce were collected in autumn 2005 and 2006 from top parts of mountains: Rownica, Barania Góra and Czantoria. The highest heavy metals concentrations were determined in triennial needles of Picea abies collected from Czantoria and Barania Góra. The lowest content of sulphur and investigated metals was found in soil samples and heavy metals in plant material from the Rownica. Cadmium content (1.2 μg/g) was higher than normal level (0.2-0.8 μg/g) only triennial needles collected from Czantoria. The lead concentration (118-165 μg/g) in the soil of all investigated areas was exceed, lead level considered as allowable. Relatively low microelement concentrations in the soil and the needles of Picea abies L. Karst. indicated poor plant nutrition.