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Spatial variability of trace elements in allotment gardens of four European cities: assessments at city, garden, and plot scale

  • SUITMA 8: Soils and Sediments in Urban and Mining Areas
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

Urban allotment gardens (UAGs) are expanding worldwide, especially in large cities. Environmental pressures (direct and diffuse pollution, gardener practice, geogenic contamination) often result in the accumulation of potentially harmful trace elements in garden soils. The objectives of this study were to assess the spatial variability of trace element distribution in UAGs from city, garden, and plot scale in four European cities; to provide a baseline understanding and identify abnormal values under environmental pressures; and to evaluate the potential of portable X-ray fluorescence screening as a useful tool in soil management.

Materials and methods

The four cities (Ayr and Greenock (Scotland), Lisbon (Portugal), Nantes (France)) provided a wide range of environmental pressures on soils. The locations of the 14 allotment gardens were identified in consultation with the local municipality in each city to reflect various land uses or according to previous evaluation of soil quality. Soil sampling was carried out in 66 plots in total, from which 3 datasets were produced: (i) basic soil properties and trace element concentrations from a composite sample of topsoil for each plot (trace elements quantified by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry/mass spectrometry (ICP-OES/MS) or using in-lab portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF); (ii) in situ PXRF measurement on composite samples (263 plots in Nantes); and (iii) composite samples from 32 small areas within 4 plots in one garden of Nantes.

Results and discussion

The results were analyzed to assess the spatial variability of soil properties. At city and garden scale, the variability observed for basic soil properties and major elements is dominated by local geology/parent material (pH, CaCO3, Fe) and gardening practice (OM, CaCO3), which vary between each country. The range of trace element concentrations is similar between each city except for Greenock. Extreme values are observed for Cu, Pb, and Zn reflecting human disruption. In most situations, the trace element contamination was explained through the historical and environmental situations of the site. The PXRF screening method proved useful in providing detailed mapping for hot spot detection or delineation, providing support for soil management at plot and garden scale.

Conclusions

As anticipated, basic soil properties appear to be controlled by the parent material. At plot and garden scale, the trace element variability shows the influence of land use history and background and strong inputs from external factors (e.g., by industrial activity or traffic emission). The PXRF screening method appears to be an efficient solution for soil management as it can be used to discriminate zones which may require restriction on cultivation.

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Acknowledgments

The studies carried out in the three countries were supported by the COST Action TU1201 “Urban Allotment Gardens”, the municipalities of Lisbon (Portugal) and Nantes (France), and the French National Research Agency (JASSUR project ANR-12-VBDU-0011). The authors wish to thank Alain Rakoto and Laurent Lebouc (technical staff of the LSE and IFSTTAR, respectively) and Dr. Jérôme Cortet.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water and Environment Laboratory, French Institute of Science and Technology for Transport, Development and Networks, CS4, Route de Bouaye, 44344, Bouguenais Cedex, France

    Béatrice Bechet & Liliane Jean-Soro

  2. Institut de Recherche en Sciences et Techniques de la Ville FR CNRS 2488, Ecole Centrale de Nantes, BP 92101, 1 rue de la Noë, 44321, Nantes, France

    Béatrice Bechet, Liliane Jean-Soro, Cécile Le Guern & Thierry Lebeau

  3. UMR Ecosys (Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Ecotoxicologie des Agroécosystèmes), AgroParisTech, Campus AgroParisTech Grignon Bâtiment EGER, 78850, Thiverval Grignon, France

    Sophie Joimel

  4. Laboratoire Sols et Environnement UMR 1120, Université de Lorraine INRA, TSA 40602, 2 Avenue de la forêt de Haye, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex, 54518, France

    Sophie Joimel & Christophe Schwartz

  5. School of Science and Sport, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley Campus, Paisley, PA1 2BE, UK

    Andrew Hursthouse & Alaba Agboola

  6. National Laboratory for Civil Engineering, Av. do Brasil, 101 1700-066, Lisbon, Portugal

    Teresa E. Leitão

  7. Cooperating with National Laboratory for Civil Engineering under COST 1201, Av. do Brasil, 101 1700-066, Lisbon, Portugal

    Hugo Costa

  8. Instituto Superior de Agronomia, LEAF, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal

    Maria do Rosário Cameira

  9. Regional Geological Survey Pays de la Loire, Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières, 1 rue des Saumonières, 44000, Nantes, France

    Cécile Le Guern

  10. UMR LPG-Nantes 6112 CNRS, Université de Nantes, BP 92208, 2 rue de la Houssinière, 44322, Nantes Cedex 3, France

    Thierry Lebeau

Authors
  1. Béatrice Bechet
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  2. Sophie Joimel
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  3. Liliane Jean-Soro
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  4. Andrew Hursthouse
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  5. Alaba Agboola
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  6. Teresa E. Leitão
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  7. Hugo Costa
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  8. Maria do Rosário Cameira
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  9. Cécile Le Guern
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  10. Christophe Schwartz
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  11. Thierry Lebeau
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Correspondence to Béatrice Bechet.

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Responsible editor: Jean Louis Morel

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Bechet, B., Joimel, S., Jean-Soro, L. et al. Spatial variability of trace elements in allotment gardens of four European cities: assessments at city, garden, and plot scale. J Soils Sediments 18, 391–406 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1515-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1515-1

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