Accumulation of essential mineral and toxic trace elements in crops and soils of vegetable cropping systems in central highlands of Sri Lanka

Vegetables grown in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka, including cabbage, carrot, and potato, serve as significant sources of essential mineral elements such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn). However, they also contain trace amounts of toxic elements like arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), though not exceeding permissible limits. The study analyzed 100 soil and vegetable samples at harvest, revealing that cabbage accumulates the highest concentrations of both essential minerals and toxic trace elements, while potato shows the lowest. Per capita consumption of these vegetables contributes substantially to daily intake recommendations for Cu, Zn, and Mn, with Mn coverage ranging from 22% to 87%. The research highlights the need for agronomic strategies to mitigate soil degradation and enhance the sustainability of vegetable cropping systems in this region.

Suriyagoda, L. D. B., Dissanayake, O., Kodithuwakku, V., Maduwanthi, I., Dissanayaka, N., & Chandrajith, R. (2022). Accumulation of essential mineral and toxic trace elements in crops and soils of vegetable cropping systems in central highlands of Sri Lanka. The Journal of Agricultural Science, 160(1-2), 86–97. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0021859622000156