Studies on Arsenic Pollution in the Apple Orchards Applied Asomate

Heavy metal arsenic is one of the main controlled factors affecting apple quality safety, The arsenic contents of fruit, leaf, branch, root and soil in the apple orchard where Asomate had been applied for 5 years were analyzed respectively in order to investigate the circumstance of arsenic pollution and to provide scientific basis for controlling the pollution in apple production. The results showed that the arsenic contents in soil and all organs of tree increased after Asomate was sprayed on the tree or spread on the bark. The arsenic contents in leaves, bough barks, trunk barks and superficial taproots(0-40 cm in soil layer)increased more compared with which increased in fruits. The arsenic contents and accumulation in soil and different organs varied according to the different Asomate application methods. The arsenic contents in leaves and branches in- creased prominently using the spray method, and arsenic in superficial soil(0-20 cm)also increased obvi- ously. The arsenic contents in the trunk and bough bark increased prominently, and the arsenic contents in fruits were higher compared with that in the control when the spread method was used. Total accumulated arse- nic content was higher using spread method than that spray method for apple tree, and total accumulated arse- nic content above ground was higher than that under ground for whole apple tree. The superficial taproot was main arsenic accumulating organ for apple tree. Arsenic pollution manifests permanently and extensively when asomate was used continuously in apple orchard.