ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the accumulation of heavy metals from organic fertilizer in soil and plant. MethodThree plots were chosen in Shanghai suburb to measure the heavy metal accumulation by monitoring their concentrations in soil and plant after organic fertilizer was applied. We also analyzed the correlations of the heavy metals in soil and plants. Single-factor pollution index and Nemerow’s synthetical pollution index were adopted to evaluate the heavy metal contamination in soils. Moreover, how many years before the heavy metal accumulation will exceed the environmental capability if 45 t/hm 2 organic fertilizer is applied every year was also estimated in the present study. ResultThe rules of heavy metals’ accumulation in soil changed with the various soil characters and pH. The average concentrations of Pb, Cd and As in the tested plants exceeded the limits. The average concentration of Cu in the tested soil shared positive correlation with that in the tested plants. The average concentration of Pb in the tested soil was negatively correlated with that in the tested plant while the other heavy metals didn’t show the rule like that. Organic fertilizer application caused no obvious pollution to the soils. Cu would exceed the standard environmental capacity within 15 years if 45 t/hm 2 organic fertilizer is applied every year, while for Hg, it will be 2 000 years. ConclusionWhen the excessive organic fertilizer is put into the land, the heavy metals from organic fertilizer would accumulate in soil and plant. With continued excessive fertilization, the heavy metals especially Cu would exceed the stan- dard environmental capacity. More attention should be paid to the inputting amount of the organic fertilizer.
