Influences of soil properties and leaching on nickel toxicity to barley root elongation

The influence of soil properties on Ni toxicity to barley root elongation was investigated using 17 Chinese soils treated with soluble Ni salts, with and without leaching. The effective concentration of added Ni causing 50% inhibition (EC50) in barley root elongation ranged from 48 to 2519 mg/kg in unleached soils and 46 to >2381 mg/kg in leached soils. Leaching decreased Ni phytotoxicity significantly for approximately 90% of soils, and the effect was most pronounced for soils with pH ≥8.2. Soil pH was the most important factor controlling Ni toxicity in soils, explaining approximately 68% of the variance in unleached and leached EC50 values. Regression models between toxicity thresholds and soil pH, soil organic carbon content, or effective cation exchange capacity were developed. The models showed good agreement with those developed previously for European soils (r2=0.87). These quantitative relationships between Ni toxicity and soil properties are helpful to develop soil-specific guidance on Ni toxicity thresholds for China.