Cultivation practices affect heavy metal migration between soil and Vicia faba (broad bean)

Pot-test experiments were conducted to study the influences of mulching and fertilizing on the migration of heavy metals from soil to Vicia faba (broad bean). Semi-transparent film was used to mulch soil. Swine manure compost was mixed with soil at a rate of 50 mg kg−1 to fertilize the soil. Broad bean was grown for several months until fruits were formed. Soils and bean parts were sampled to analyze and fractionate heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn). Mulching promoted an obvious growth of broad bean. Fertilizing decreased soil pH and increased organic matter content and conductivity. Mulching reduced the exchangeable metal fractions by 5–52%. Fertilizing, in contrast, increased the exchangeable fractions of most of the metals except Fe and Pb by 20–295%. While the two cultivations increased obviously metal concentrations in bean laminas as compared to un-mulched and un-fertilized controls, the levels of most of the metals except Pb decreased in bean fruits. No clear relationships existed in roots and caudices in terms of metal levels. Calculated bioconcentration factors (BCF) and transfer factors (TF) indicate that the cultivations had little influences on the metal enrichments in roots, but promoted their migration from roots to laminas. In particular, mulching greatly promoted the absorption and translocation of Fe, while fertilizing enhanced the bean fruit uptake of Pb. Further studies on the influence of cultivation practices on heavy metal migration in soil–plant systems are recommended to acquire more information for evaluation of crop safety.