THE EFFECT OF CHROMIUM CONTENT IN SOIL ON THE CONCENTRATION OF SOME MINERAL ELEMENTS IN PLANTS.

The study has been conducted to determine the influence of contamination of soil with trivalent and hexavalent chromium on macroelement content in the main and successive plants. In order to neutralise the effect of the contamination of soil with chromium, compost, zeolite and calcium oxide were applied. The effect of soil contamination with chromium depended on the dose of chromium and the type of the neutralising agent applied. Greater changes were observed in the case of the main crop (spring barley) than in a successive one (maize). Increasing contamination of soil with chromium (VI) in a series without neutralising agents increased the content of phosphorus, sodium, calcium, potassium and magnesium in spring barley and sodium and magnesium content in maize. Of all the macroelements, the greatest changes were found in the concentration of sodium in the above-ground parts of maize. Increasing doses of chromium (III) reduced the concentration of phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and calcium, but the differences were smaller than in the case of hexavalent chromium. The applied substances changed the macroelement concentration in the soils contaminated with chromium, with the greatest changes found in that of calcium and sodium. They increased calcium concentration and reduced sodium concentration in plants. Of the applied substances, calcium was determined to have the greatest effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]