Accumulation of lead and arsenic by peanut grown on lead and arsenic contaminated soils amended with broiler litter ash or superphosphate

ABSTRACT

Accumulation of lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) in peanut grown on Pb/As-contaminated soils amended with two sources of phosphorus (P) was investigated. An urban soil and an orchard soil with Pb concentrations of 1120 and 272, and As concentrations of 6.9 and 90 mg kg^-1, respectively, were amended with three rates (0, 56, and 112 kg ha^-1) of P supplied as broiler litter ash or superphosphate and planted with peanuts. At harvest, peanut kernel As concentration was 2.9 mg kg^-1 on the orchard soil and 0.003 mg kg^-1 on the urban soil. Kernel As was not significantly affected by P source and was not significantly different between the normal and high P rates. Kernel Pb concentration was below the instrument detection limit in all cases. Land with history of arsenic or lead-arsenate application should be tested for As before used for peanut production.

KEYWORDS:

• heavy metals
• peanut
• phosphorus
• urban

Abbreviations

As	=	arsenic
BLA	=	broiler litter ash
Pb	=	lead
SP	=	super phosphate