An evaluation of heavy metals contamination in soils from Ganzhou navel orange orchards by geoaccumulation indexes and statistical analysis

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution in orchard soils is of increasing concern owing to the potential health risk via the food chain. The evaluations of the degree of heavy metal contamination and the potential sources in soils from navel orange orchards in the Ganzhou district were investigated in the present study with the geoaccumulation index and hierarchical cluster analysis. The soil samples were collected from 280 navel orange orchards located in the 18 counties of the Ganzhou district. The concentrations of heavy metals in the samples were determined using atomic fluorescence spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry with sample preparation by microwave digestion system. The results of the geoaccumulation index showed that the Ganzhou navel orange orchards were practically uncontaminated with Hg, As, Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, and Cu, while uncontaminated to moderately contaminated with Ni. The results of cluster analysis indicated that four distinct clusters emerged for 18 sampling counties, and the considerable differences between clusters were derived from the different kinds of polluted substances. Results of the assessment of geoaccumulation index of heavy metals in soils will be helpful for the formulation of strategic sustainable agriculture in Ganzhou navel orchards and improvement of the navel orange yield and quality.

Keywords:

• heavy metals
• geoaccumulation index
• hierarchical cluster analysis
• orchard soil

Acknowledgements

The project was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (No.50968002). The authors would like to thank Ganzhou Fruit Bureau of Plant Protection for assisting with the orchard soil sampling.