The aim of this study was to determine the accumulation of copper, zinc, manganese and iron by selected species of permanent grassland legumes and herbs. The study was conducted in 1998-2000 (June to the first ten days of July) in the Olsztyn Lakeland. A total of 444 plant samples were analyzed, including 123 collected in organic soils. The following legume and herb species were studied: Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Lotus corniculatus, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus uliginosus, Vicia cracca, Taraxacum officinale, Achillea millefolium, Plantago lanceolata, Alchemilla vulgaris, Heracleum sibiricum and Cirsium oleraceum. The analyzed organic soils were characterized by moderate abundance of copper, zinc and manganese and low abundance of iron, whereas mineral soils contained medium levels of zinc, manganese and iron, and had a low copper content. The average copper content of plants ranged from 5.3 to 10.6 mg kg-1 DM. The highest copper levels were noted in Taraxacum officinale, and the lowest in Lotus corniculatus grown on organic soils. The average zinc content of plants ranged from 31.0 to 71.0  mg kg-1 DM. Vicia cracca grown on organic soils had the highest zinc content, while the lowest zinc concentrations were observed in Trifolium repens. The average manganese content of plants ranged from 45.0 to 233.0 mg kg-1 DM. Alchemilla vulgaris grown on mineral soils accumulated the highest levels of manganese, and Trifolium repens had the lowest manganese content. The iron content of plants varied widely, from 116.0 to 223.0 mg kg-1 DM.

19.1.2014