Micronutrient (Cu, Zn, Mo) Contents and Soil-To-Plant Transfer in Agricultural Lands of the Ararat Region, Armenia

The alteration of soil chemical composition and soil-to-plants micronutrients transfer are crucial for agricultural sustainability and food safety. This study aims to investigate Cu, Zn, and Mo contents in agricultural soils and assess their accumulation in edible parts of plants within the main agricultural areas of the Ararat region, Armenia. The contents of the studied elements were determined using a combination of atomic absorption and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. To investigate the relationship between soil and plant contents of Cu, Zn, and Mo, and to assess the influence of major and minor elements (Fe, Mn, Ca, K, Sr, Rb, Ti, Zr) on their distribution, hierarchical clustering was applied. The contents of studied micronutrients in soils followed the order Zn (55.6-219 mg/kg) > Cu (42.1-189 mg/kg) > Mo (2.5-5 mg/kg) , and in plant samples the same pattern was observed: Zn (0.39-10.1 mg/kg) > Cu (0.015-1.89 mg/kg) > Mo (0.001-0.039 mg/kg) . The results revealed species-dependent differences in micronutrient uptake, with vegetables excluding watermelon and melon (i.e., tomato, eggplant and cucumber) showing higher Cu accumulation. In contrast, watermelon and melon showed higher Mo accumulation. Hierarchical clustering indicated that Cu and Zn were associated with Fe/Mn oxides, whereas Mo was linked to Ca-rich soils. Soil-to-plant transfer factors indicated no excessive bioaccumulation, and dietary exposure assessments confirmed that Cu, Zn, and Mo daily intakes of through fruit and vegetable consumption remained below the EFSA’s upper and adequate intake levels. These findings contribute to a better understanding of soil-plant micronutrient interactions and provide essential data for optimizing agricultural soil fertility management.