Summary
This controlled study examined how soil pH (range 4.7–8.5) influences the uptake of manganese, copper and zinc by three medicinal herb species (basil, dandelion and lemon balm), and the relationship between heavy metal accumulation and photosynthetic efficiency. Seed germination and plant growth showed strong pH-dependence across all species, with photosynthetic efficiency positively correlated with copper and manganese uptake, whilst zinc showed more variable behaviour. The findings suggest that standardised soil pH management is critical for controlling both medicinal quality and contaminant accumulation in herbs intended for pharmaceutical use.
Regional applicability
The study was conducted in Poland and employed controlled laboratory conditions rather than field trials, limiting direct transferability to United Kingdom field conditions. However, the underlying mechanisms governing soil pH effects on heavy metal bioavailability and plant physiology are globally applicable, and the findings are relevant to UK herb producers and medicinal plant cultivation guidelines, particularly regarding soil amendment strategies to manage heavy metal risk.
Key measures
Soil pH, organic matter content, bioavailable and total forms of Mn, Cu and Zn in soil; plant tissue concentrations of Mn, Cu and Zn; bioaccumulation factors; translocation factors; transfer coefficients; photosynthetic efficiency; seed germination rates
Outcomes reported
The study measured concentrations of manganese, copper and zinc in basil, dandelion and lemon balm plants grown across a soil pH range of 4.7–8.5, and assessed their mobility through bioaccumulation factors, translocation factors and transfer coefficients. Photosynthetic efficiency and seed germination were also evaluated in relation to soil pH and heavy metal uptake.
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