Trace elements in soils and plants: An overview

Abstract The movement of both essential and non‐essential trace elements through agricultural ecosystems and food chains is a complex phenomenon. Such elements as As, B, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, U, V, and Zn, are generally present in soils in low concentrations but concentrations may be elevated because of natural processes and human activities, such as fossil fuel combustion, mining, smelting, sludge amendment to soil, fertilizer application, and agricultural practices. Although a significant effort has been expended over the past 40 years to evaluate and quantify the transfer of trace elements from soils to plants, more attention needs to be given to mechanisms within the soil and plant systems, which influence their solubility, chemical speciation, mobility, and uptake by and transport in plants. The prediction of movement of trace elements in the agricultural ecosystem must be partially based on understanding the soil and plant processes governing chemical form and the uptake and behavior of trace elements within plants.