CALCULATIONS OF FARM-GATE AND BARN BALANCES FOR CADMIUM AND COPPER IN A FARM FROM COPŞA MICĂ AREA

The balance approach has proven to be useful in soil fertility studies to demonstratethe depletion of nutrients from soils. This approach can also be used in soil pollutionresearch to demonstrate accumulation of heavy metals in agro-ecosystems. The mainobjective of this study was to calculate the farm-gate and barn balances for cadmium andcopper using the data from a farm located in polluted area Copsa Mică. Both cadmium andcopper farm-gate balances are negative; the export of metal in the farm was done mainlythrough the manure. The barn balances were positive, indicating an accumulation ofcadmium and copper in the system. Inputs of cadmium in the system were estimated at163.67 g Cd and losses of cadmium in the system were made mainly through manure(77.22g Cd). Also externalization of copper in the system was achieved by manure(1078 g Cu).