Gradient analysis reveals a copper paradox on floodplain soils under long-term pollution by mining waste

Arable alluvial soils are a globally important resource under increasing pressure from both industrial pollution and intensified agricultural land use. Quality of agricultural soils is ultimately defined by crop yields; it is however seldom feasible to study the consequences of complex soil pollution on crops under field conditions. This work analyses the long term effects of two gradients: spatial (relative distance from the water channel) and land use intensity (cropping frequency) on soil properties and model crop (barley) response. On an exceptional model locality in Eastern Serbia, degraded by fluvial deposition of sulphidic copper tailings during 50 years, multivariate analysis shows that land use accelerates the substitution of high plant available Cu by nutrient deficiency (primarily P and microelements) and excessive exchangeable Al. Though agronomic soil quality might not differ along the land use gradient, the environmental consequences do drastically change. The observed apparent “paradoxes” (e.g. soil Cu decreases towards the pollution source; higher yields might coincide with higher soil and leaf Cu concentrations; and leaching of Cu does not restore soils agronomic quality) can be explained by a) the Cu retention patterns along the transects, b) importance of higher SOM and nutrient availability for modifications of Cu toxicity, and c) the existence of plant adaptation mechanisms which can considerably counteract the adverse soil conditions. Land use-induced nutrient deficiency can counteract the positive effects of decreased Cu levels. In a long run, accelerated Cu mobilisation is likely to increase vulnerability of these soils to further environmental hazards. This study demonstrates the clear and consistent patterns in soil properties and plant response along the gradients and points out the probable long-term environmental trends in a “would be” scenario for agricultural use of similar polluted soils.

► Floodplain soils: 50 years of pollution by sulphidic Cu tailings.
► Multivariate analysis of soil and plant growth parameters along two gradients.
► Land use intensity: drastic succession of major soil constraints.
► The same soil productivity, very different environmental consequences.
► Plant adaptations: yield and leaf minerals do not reflect the induced soil changes.