Essential metal and metalloid elements in the Philippi Horticultural area, and their uptake into selected vegetable crops

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Se, Sn and V status in the soils of the PHA, as well as the vegetables produced on these soils. We also determined the agronomic sources of these elements to the soils in the PHA. Farmyard manures applied as fertilizer amendments to the soils in the PHA were found to be the major agronomic sources of the metal and metalloid elements. These elements were however, retained in significantly higher concentrations in the soils compared to the concentrations found in the edible portions of the vegetable crops collected. This, in turn, resulted in these vegetables being poor sources of several of the essential mineral nutrients. It is therefore suggested that: (1) a wider variety of crops are assessed for their mineral nutrient status, (2) to find ways to increase the availability of these mineral nutrients and (3), that the possibilities of micronutrient and trace element deficiencies be assessed in the communities surrounding the PHA.

KEYWORDS:

• heavy metals
• hidden hunger
• nutrient deficiencies
• selenium
• trace elements

Disclosure statement

The manuscript entitled: Essential metal and metalloid elements in the Philippi Horticultural area, and their uptake into selected vegetable crops authored by Marÿke Malan, Francuois Müller, Lincoln Raitt, Lilburne Cyster and Luc Brendonck contains original research and has not been submitted or published earlier in any journal and is not being considered for publication elsewhere. All authors have seen and approved the manuscript and have contributed significantly to the preparation of the paper. The research conducted in this study meets all applicable standards with regard to the ethics of experimentation and research integrity. No competing interests are at stake, and there is no conflict of interest with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the farmers of the Philippi horticultural area for their support and co-operation as well as the VLIR-UOS programme “Dynamics of building a better society” for providing funding to conduct the research. The opinions expressed and conclusions arrived at, are however, those of the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to thank the farmers of the Philippi horticultural area for their support and co-operation as well as the VLIR-UOS programme “Dynamics of building a better society” for providing funding to conduct the research. The opinions expressed and conclusions arrived at, are however, those of the authors.