Soil chemical evaluation and power plant ash impact on chemical properties of Salix alba L. (Fam. Salicaceae): The impact of bioaccumulation

Abstract

Plants grown under contaminated conditions exhibit differences in metal absorption, accumulation, and transportation, and these differences are seen in different plant parts. Metal content in the soil and bark samples collected next to the Sitnica river, which passes through the industrial area of thermal power plants in Kosovo, was measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The total metal concentration in willow bark collected from the polluted area of Obilic, Kosovo, ranged 5260–22,280 mg/kg for calcium (Ca), 840–1680 mg/kg for magnesium (Mg), 66.79–910.75 mg/kg for iron (Fe), 5.09–28.66 mg/kg for copper (Cu), 56.39–140.94 mg/kg for zinc (Zn), 19.68–392.75 mg/kg for manganese (Mn), 6.49–10.09 mg/kg for nickel (Ni), 0.10–4.49 mg/kg for cadmium (Cd), 0.85–1.89 mg/kg for chromium (Cr), and 67.79–94.77 mg/kg for aluminum (Al). Data analysis indicated that correlation between trace elements in the soil and willow bark samples varied with the highest observed in Ni(s)/Zn(p) and Fe(s)/Ca(p) followed by Fe(s)/Mg(p), Al(s)/Ca(p), Cr(s)/Mg(p), Cr(s)/Cu(p), Ni(s)/Ni(p), Cu(s)/Ca(p), and Cu(s)/Zn(p). Correlations among trace elements within willow bark samples varied. The correlation between Cr and Al concentration was the highest, followed by that between Ni and Al. A significantly strong correlation was observed between Al and Fe, Ni and Cr, Cr and Fe, Ni and Fe, and Ca and Mg. The highest transfer factor was established in Zn, followed by Cu > Ni > Cr > Al > Fe.