Assessment of Copper and Zinc in Soils and Fruit with the Age of an Apple Orchard

Chemical fractions of copper and zinc in soils were evaluated and, the transfer coefficient of copper and zinc from soil to apples depending on age of apple orchard were determined. The fractions of copper and zinc in surface soil were in decreasing order: residual > organic-bound > Fe-Mn oxides > carbonates and exchangeable > water-soluble fractions. With increasing age of apple orchard, the residual fraction showed the highest residual fractions of copper and zinc, whereas those of water soluble and exchangeable fractions were relatively low. Tc values of copper and zinc did not show significant difference with the age of apple orchard (p > 0.05). As our results show that the concentrations of Zn and Cu in soil increase with age of apple orchard, continuous monitoring and pollution control of hazardous material are needed to prevent the excessive build-up of heavy metals in the food chain.