Distribution and availability of fungicide-derived copper in soil aggregates

• Published in: Journal of soils and sediments 2020-02, Vol.20 (2), p.816-823
• Main Authors: Wang, Quan-Ying, Sun, Jing-Yue, Xu, Xing-Jian, Yu, Hong-Wen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggregates; Availability; Bioavailability; Calcium hydroxide; Coefficients; Copper; Copper chloride; Copper oxychloride; Distribution; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental Physics; Fungicides; Heavy metals; Incubation period; Metals; Pesticides; Sec 3 • Remediation and Management of Contaminated or Degraded Lands • Research Article; Slaked lime; Soil; Soil aggregates; Soil investigations; Soil Science & Conservation; Soils
• ISSN: 1439-0108; 1614-7480
• DOI: 10.1007/s11368-019-02441-0

Purpose Soil consists of various sizes of aggregates, and different soil aggregates vary in their abilities to adsorb or transport metals. This study aimed to investigate the distribution behaviors of Cu from different fungicides in soil aggregates after a 15-month incubation. Materials and methods Bordeaux mixture (CuSO 4 /Ca(OH) 2  = 1/1 by weight, BR), copper nitrate (Cu(NO 3 ) 2 ·4H 2 O, CN), and copper oxychloride (3Cu(OH) 2 ·CuCl 2 , CO) were applied to a representative Chinese Mollisol to reach the Cu content 200 mg kg −1 . Five soil aggregate fractions, i.e., > 2000 μm, 2000–1000 μm, 1000–500 μm, 500–250 μm, and  2000-μm soil aggregate. The input Cu was mainly in stable fractions, and the highest proportion was found for the residual fraction. The bioavailability and mobility of Cu from different fungicides in soils varied from each other, and they presented an order of CO > CN > BR. High bioavailability and transferring coefficients were found in the  2000-μm soil aggregates. Conclusions This study indicated that the input Cu from fungicides mainly distributed in the > 2000-μm soil aggregates. Moreover, the CO-derived Cu presented a higher availability than the BR- and CN-derived Cu in the soil.