Carpathian Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences

For this study, the total contents of some trace-elements (As, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) from the soils of two apple orchards located in the fruit-growing areas of Fălticeni (Suceava County) and Sârca (Iaşi County), NE Romania were analysed. The average contents for the two orchard parcels, Fălticeni and Sârca are 18.90 – 23.71 mg/kg Co, 80.92 – 72.91 mg/kg Cr, 58.32 – 40.44 mg/kg Cu, 3.02 – 3.59 % Fe, 903.88 – 887.15 mg/kg Mn, 39.43 – 50.18 mg/kg Ni, 21.24 – 23.28 mg/kg Pb, 73.71 – 84.76 mg/kg Zn and 11.06 – 12.06 mg/kg As. Linear correlations exist between Fe and Mn and the other analysed trace elements. The correlations between Fe, Mn, Co, Ni and As for the soils of the two orchards are similar. Beside this, for the soils in the Fălticeni orchard, positive correlations with Pb and Zn have been identified. As a result of calculating the geochemical background for the 9 elements values exceeding normal threshold given by Romanian Environmental Legislation (OG 756/1997) were recorded for As, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn and Ni. Measurements of pH and %CaCO₃ were made and for the Fălticeni orchard the pH suggests that calcareous amendments have to be applied in order to control the soil reaction.