IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/plo/pone00/0314105.html

Distribution characteristics and pollution assessment of heavy metals in typical black soil profiles of Haicheng city, Liaoning province, China

Author

Listed:
  • Ziqi Li
  • Cang Gong
  • Xiaojun Ai
  • Xiaohuang Liu
  • Xiaofeng Zhao
  • Jiufen Liu

Abstract

In order to understand the spatial distribution, influencing factors, pollution level and sources of heavy metals in black soil profiles in Northeast China, black soil profile samples were collected from five sampling points in Haicheng City, Liaoning Province, with the deepest profile depth of 50m. The contents of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) in soil at different depths were analyzed, and the distribution characteristics and influencing factors of heavy metals in black soil profiles were analyzed. The pollution level of heavy metals in soil was evaluated based on the geo-accumulation index method and enrichment factor method, and the sources of heavy metals in soil were analyzed based on principal component analysis. The results show that the content ranges of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn in the surface soil of the five profile sampling points are 7.74–16.5μg/g, 0.14–0.38μg/g, 75.4–104μg/g, 20.6–36.1μg/g, 0.031–0.20μg/g, 27.8–45.6μg/g, 28.5–45.6μg/g and 56.8–158μg/g, respectively. The Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb contents in the surface soil of the five profiles all exceeded the soil background values in Liaoning and China. Except for profile HCZK02, the contents of 8 heavy metals generally decrease with increasing depth. As the depth of profile HCZK02 increases, As, Hg and Pb show a decrease-increase-decrease change; Cd and Cr show a decrease change and Ni shows a zigzag change; Cu and Zn show a decreasing-increasing-decreasing-increasing trend. Corg, N, TC and TFe2O3 in the profile soil have a very significant impact on the vertical distribution characteristics of heavy metals. There are certain differences in the pollution degree of heavy metals in the surface soil of different profiles. Except for profile HCB01, where Cd and Hg in the surface soil are at moderate pollution levels, the heavy metals in the surface soil of the other profiles are at non-pollution to mild pollution levels. Principal component analysis results show that As, Cr, Cu and Ni belong to natural sources, Cd and Hg belong to anthropogenic sources from agricultural activities-atmospheric deposition, and Pb and Zn have both sources.

Suggested Citation

  • Ziqi Li & Cang Gong & Xiaojun Ai & Xiaohuang Liu & Xiaofeng Zhao & Jiufen Liu, 2025. "Distribution characteristics and pollution assessment of heavy metals in typical black soil profiles of Haicheng city, Liaoning province, China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 20(1), pages 1-19, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0314105
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0314105
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0314105
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0314105&type=printable
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1371/journal.pone.0314105?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Powlson, D.S. & Gregory, P.J. & Whalley, W.R. & Quinton, J.N. & Hopkins, D.W. & Whitmore, A.P. & Hirsch, P.R. & Goulding, K.W.T., 2011. "Soil management in relation to sustainable agriculture and ecosystem services," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(Supplemen), pages 72-87, January.
    2. Powlson, D.S. & Gregory, P.J. & Whalley, W.R. & Quinton, J.N. & Hopkins, D.W. & Whitmore, A.P. & Hirsch, P.R. & Goulding, K.W.T., 2011. "Soil management in relation to sustainable agriculture and ecosystem services," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(S1), pages 72-87.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Smith, Helen F. & Sullivan, Caroline A., 2014. "Ecosystem services within agricultural landscapes—Farmers' perceptions," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 72-80.
    2. Wuliyasu Bai & Liang Yan & Jingbo Liang & Long Zhang, 2022. "Mapping Knowledge Domain on Economic Growth and Water Sustainability: A Scientometric Analysis," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 36(11), pages 4137-4159, September.
    3. Rodríguez-Ortega, T. & Olaizola, A.M. & Bernués, A., 2018. "A novel management-based system of payments for ecosystem services for targeted agri-environmental policy," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 34(PA), pages 74-84.
    4. Andreas Niedermayr & Lena Schaller & Petr Mariel & Pia Kieninger & Jochen Kantelhardt, 2018. "Heterogeneous Preferences for Public Goods Provided by Agriculture in a Region of Intensive Agricultural Production: The Case of the Marchfeld," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-18, June.
    5. Unknown, 2015. "Towards A Sustainable Soil Fertility Strategy in Ghana," Miscellaneous Publications 212898, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    6. repec:idb:brikps:64718 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. L. Toma & A. P. Barnes & L.-A. Sutherland & S. Thomson & F. Burnett & K. Mathews, 2018. "Impact of information transfer on farmers’ uptake of innovative crop technologies: a structural equation model applied to survey data," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 43(4), pages 864-881, August.
    8. Fang He & Linlin Shi & Jingcheng Tian & Lijuan Mei, 2021. "Effects of long-term fertilisation on soil organic carbon sequestration after a 34-year rice-wheat rotation in Taihu Lake Basin," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 67(1), pages 1-7.
    9. Muyanga, Milu & Jayne, T.S., 2014. "Effects of rising rural population density on smallholder agriculture in Kenya," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 98-113.
    10. Shan He & Hailun Zhu & Amir Reza Shahtahmassebi & Lefeng Qiu & Chaofan Wu & Zhangquan Shen & Ke Wang, 2018. "Spatiotemporal Variability of Soil Nitrogen in Relation to Environmental Factors in a Low Hilly Region of Southeastern China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-19, September.
    11. Getnet, Kindie & Mekuria, Wolde & Langan, Simon & Rivington, Mike & Novo, Paula & Black, Helaina, 2017. "Ecosystem-based interventions and farm household welfare in degraded areas: Comparative evidence from Ethiopia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 53-62.
    12. Brady, Mark & Hedlund, Katarina & Cong, Rong-Gang & Hemerik, Lia & Hotes, Stefan & Machado, Stephen & Mattsson, Lennart & Schulz, Elke & Thomsen, Ingrid K., 2015. "Valuing Supporting Soil Ecosystem Services in Agriculture: a Natural Capital Approach," MPRA Paper 112303, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Mariana Regina Durigan & Maurício Roberto Cherubin & Plínio Barbosa De Camargo & Joice Nunes Ferreira & Erika Berenguer & Toby Alan Gardner & Jos Barlow & Carlos Tadeu dos Santos Dias & Diana Signor &, 2017. "Soil Organic Matter Responses to Anthropogenic Forest Disturbance and Land Use Change in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-16, March.
    14. Lucio M. Peçanha & João J. Ferreira, 2025. "Sustainable strategies and circular economy ecosystems: A literature review and future research agenda," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(1), pages 1440-1459, January.
    15. Hans-Peter Weikard, 2016. "Phosphorus recycling and food security in the long run: a conceptual modelling approach," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 8(2), pages 405-414, April.
    16. Bos, Jules F.F.P. & ten Berge, Hein F.M. & Verhagen, Jan & van Ittersum, Martin K., 2017. "Trade-offs in soil fertility management on arable farms," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 292-302.
    17. Kibrom T. Sibhatu & Martin Paul Jr. Tabe‐Ojong & Hermanto Siregar, 2025. "Nature‐Based Land Management Practices and Yield Dynamics in Oil Palm Production: Insights From Indonesian Smallholder Growers," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 56(5), pages 713-727, September.
    18. Amoabeng-Nimako, Solomon & Ingenbleek, Paul T.M. & Dittoh, Saa & Gouzaye, Amadou & Bindraban, Prem, 2026. "Designing an incentive system to promote the adoption of sustainable soil health management practices among smallholder farmers in northern Ghana," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    19. Farooq Shah & Wei Wu, 2019. "Soil and Crop Management Strategies to Ensure Higher Crop Productivity within Sustainable Environments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-19, March.
    20. Yang Gao & Huiyi Huang & Hongyi Zhao & Houqiang Xia & Miao Sun & Zongyun Li & Pengcheng Li & Cangsong Zheng & Helin Dong & Jingran Liu, 2019. "Phosphorus affects enzymatic activity and chemical properties of cotton soil," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 65(7), pages 361-368.
    21. Lulseged Tamene & Quang Le & Paul Vlek, 2014. "A Landscape Planning and Management Tool for Land and Water Resources Management: An Example Application in Northern Ethiopia," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 28(2), pages 407-424, January.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0314105. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: plosone (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.