Assessment of background levels of total macro- and microelements in plants and paddy soils in the Venetian territory (NE Italy)

Determination of macro- and microelements in rice has attracted great attention over the centuries, since rice is one of the most consumed food in the world. High concentrations of toxic elements in paddy soils would enhance the uptake of these elements by rice resulting in human health hazard. Macro- and micronutrient concentrations in soils and plants from the rice district in the Venetian territory (NE Italy) have been determined by ICP-MS spectrometry, with the following aims: - to determine background levels of elements; - to assess deficiency/toxicity levels in soils and plants; - to calculate the Translocation Factor (TF) from soil to plants. Four rice plots with different rotation systems were sampled from seedling time to harvesting; sampling of soils and plants was carried out 4 times during growing season. The soils present high levels of Fe and Mg, while other elements (B, Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn) are below the Italian guidelines. P, S and Mg deficiency in plants were observed in all rotations, while Fe concentration was above the phytotoxicity threshold. Slight contamination was also observed for Ni. Translocation of Cu, Ni, Zn, P from soil to root was found to be >1 while Mg, Ca and Mn had the lowest translocation factor. Micronutrients (B, Cu, Fe, Ni) are easily translocated to leaves and grains (TF ≤1). Therefore, rice is assumed as an accumulator plant of Cu, Mn, Ni and Zn, whereas it is as an indicator plant for Fe. It could be useful in contaminated-sites restoration by phytostabilization. Hazard for resident population is limited