Authors
Title
Abstract
Manganese (Mn) is a metallic micronutrient showing oxidative properties and, concurrently, a heavy metal. This element causes the contents of Fe, Zn, and Cu in the fruits to decrease. The objective of the research was to assess the effect of increasing the manganese level in a nutrient solution on the content of metallic elements: Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, and Pb in selected varieties of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Nutrient solutions were used that contained the following amount of manganese (expressed in mg·dm-3): 0.06, 0.3, 0.6, 1.2, 2.4, 4.8, 9.6, and 19.2. At the lowest manganese concentration level (0.06 mg·dm-3), the amount thereof was insufficient to meet the demand of plants, whereas the highest concentration level (19.2 mg·dm-3) was an excessive/toxic amount. The plants were grown in mineral wool and fertigated with a nutrient solution composed of the following chemical substances (their amount expressed in mg·dm-3): N NH4 – 2.2; N-NO3 – 230; P – 50; K – 430; Ca – 145; Mg – 65; Cl – 35; S-SO4 – 120; Fe – 2.48; Zn – 0.50; Cu – 0.07; pH – 5.50; and EC – 3.00 mS·cm-1. Based on the authors’ own studies, heavy metal concentration levels in tomato fruits were arrayed in a series, with the optimal manganese concentration level in the nutrient solutions ranging from 0.3 to 0.6 mg·dm-3 ; the series created was as follows [mg·kg-1 d.m.]: Ba (4.34 ÷ 6.18) > Ni (4.746 ÷ 5.198) > Co (1.014 ÷ 1.064) > Pb (0.854 ÷ 0.887) > Cd (0.379 ÷ 0.395) > Cr (0.12) > Al (0.066 ÷ 0.081). It was proved that the tomato fruits, grown in mineral wool, were a valuable source of nickel, cobalt, and chromium provided, however, the contents of nutrients in the nutrient solution were optimal; additionally, the content of cadmium and lead in those tomato fruits constituted no health risk.
Keywords
manganese, tomato fruits, tomato, heavy metals, trace elements