Copper, iron and zinc in surface layer of Primošten vineyard soils

Long-term use of copper fungicides causes increased accumulation of total copper in the surface layer of vineyard soils. Many of authors has researched the anthropogenic influx of copper in such soils, which can result in environmental risks. The research revealed that vineyard soils contain 288.52 mg/kg of copper, 102.20 mg/kg of zinc, and 28.86 g/kg of iron on average. Considering the average concentrations of the metals under research, all soils under research are highly contaminated with zinc (So=0.50), and polluted with copper (So=4.76), according to Bašić (1994). Each of the vineyard soils under research is contaminated with copper, according to the “By-laws on Protection of Cultivated Land from Contamination by Hazardous Substances” (National Gazette No. 15/1992). There is a significant difference in concentrations of total copper between the vineyard and forest soils based on the variant analyses results (F_exp = 5.60*). The research results indicate that copper and zinc are fully correlated. 94.09% of the total copper variation occurred due to a modified concentration of total zinc in the soil, while the remaining 5.91% was caused by some other factors. According to the same results, copper and iron are very weakly negatively correlated. 1.7% of the total copper variation occurred due to a modified concentration of total iron in the soil, while the remaining 98.3% was caused by some other factors. The results are a contribution to the inventory of heavy metals in vineyards.