HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Veneman, P. L. M. Articles by Baker, J. H. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Veneman, P. L. M. Articles by Baker, J. H. Agricola Articles by Veneman, P. L. M. Articles by Baker, J. H.

Spatial Distribution of Pesticide Residues in a Former Apple Orchard¹

ABSTRACT

During the period 1900–1950, considerable amounts of Pb arsenate pesticides were used in apple orchards. Many of these orchards are not in fruit production any longer and are used for home gardening, pasture, or forage and vegetable cropping. This paper examines the spatial distribution of inorganic pesticide residues in an abandoned orchard in central Massachusetts.

Maximum Pb and As concentration in surface soils sampled in a grid-like pattern, were 870 µg g^–1 and 120 µg g^–1, respectively. Areas high in contaminants were either former tree sites or low spots where spray residues collected. A transect through the approximate location of a former tree site showed Pb and As concentrations under the dripline of 1400 µg g^–1 and 330 µg g^–1, respectively, and lower values of 170 µg g^–1 and 50 µg g^–1 outside the periphery of the crown. Lead, arsenic, and zinc concentrations decreased with increasing depth, with maximum concentrations in the upper 5 cm. No evidence of significant leaching of Pb, As, Zn, or Cu was observed below the 20-cm depth. The rather insoluble Pb orthoarsenate appeared to be the predominant species for the Pb and As residues.

Key Words: lead • arsenic • copper • zinc • soil sampling

¹ Contribution of the Massachusetts Agric. Exp. Stn. (Paper no. 2496). Dep. of Plant and Soil Sci., Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003. This project was supported by Hatch projects 408 and 456.

² Assistant Professor of Soil Science, Undergraduate Student, and Professor of Soil Chemistry, respectively.

Received for publication March 29, 1982.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. R. Robinson Jr., P. Larkins, C. J. Boughton, B. W. Reed, and P. L. Sibrell Assessment of Contamination from Arsenical Pesticide Use on Orchards in the Great Valley region, Virginia and West Virginia, USA J. Environ. Qual., April 5, 2007; 36(3): 654 - 663. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. E. Renshaw, B. C. Bostick, X. Feng, C. K. Wong, E. S. Winston, R. Karimi, C. L. Folt, and C. Y. Chen Impact of land disturbance on the fate of arsenical pesticides. J. Environ. Qual., January 1, 2006; 35(1): 61 - 67. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]