Copper and Zinc Accumulation in Vineyard soils Treated with Cu and Zn Containing Phytopharmaceuticals

Long term use of copper and zinc containing phytopharmaceuticals in vineyard areas causes increased accumulation of total Cu and Zn in the surface layer of soil. Copper and zinc accumulation and distribution in vineyard soils is discussed as a step towards understanding Cu and Zn existence in soils and their availability to plants. Several single extractions were performed to the determination of total Cu and Zn content after aqua regia digestion. The use of Cu containing phytopharmaceuticals has increased the total Cu concentration in analyzed vineyard soils to 97 mg/kg compared to background levels of approximately 30 mg/kg. The amounts of plant available Cu and Zn extracted by the EDTA ranged as follows, when expressed relative to the total Cu or Zn content in the soils: 13.6 % ? 40.4 % for Cu and 3.5 % ? 11.6 % for Zn. The study shows that copper stays active in soils longer than ten years, and may result in leaching and can transfer to deeper soil layers and consequently to ground or the surface waters.