GEOCHEMICAL DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED TRACE ELEMENTS IN VINEYARD SOILS FROM THE HUSI AREA, ROMANIA

The aim of the present study is to highlight the amounts of eight trace elements (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and As) determined in soils from one of the oldest and most famous wine-growing areas of Romania. Analyses were performed using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (ED-XRF). For each element the ranges of results are: 0.06 - 0.26 mg.kg(-1) for Cd, 8.7 - 15.9 mg.kg(-1) for Co, 91.0 - 299 mg.kg(-1) for Cr, 26.8 - 282 mg.kg(-1) for Cu, 22.0 - 51.9 mg.kg(-1) for Ni, 14.1 - 26.7 mg.kg(-1) for Pb, 43.1 - 103 mg.kg(-1) for Zn, 5.7 - 16.9 mg.kg(-1) for As. The pH was determined in aqueous solution and data obtained describe a soil reaction from moderately acid (5.1) to moderately alkaline (8.4). To evidence the distribution and outliers presence, boxplot diagrams were used. The results have shown that the Cr, Cu, Ni and As contents exceed the normal reference values according to the Romanian legislative acts for the vineyard soils studied. The environmental background calculated for these four elements exceeds the normal value for soil regulated by the law in force, as well.