Zinc movement through columns of soil am

The vertical movement of contaminants through soils is a problem of great environmental impact on human society. The growing use of urban and industrial residues contaminated with heavy metals in agriculture has been drawing attention to this issue, particularly to the mobility of these elements. Therefore, the objective of this work was to analyze the movement of Zn in soil columns and to verify the effect of water-soluble plant extracts on such movement. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse. Brachiaria grass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf) and maize (Zea mays L.) extracts were prepared and poured in PVC columns containing a very clayey typical dystrophic Red Latosol, previously amended with naturally Zn-rich limestone residue. Irrigation was done for seven days using distilled water or plant extract. The results indicated no movement of Zn occurred, and the action of plant extracts did not significantly alter these responses. This suggests that the limestone residue studied likely contains Zn in less available forms, indicating that a single application of this limestone would not pose significant environmental risks, and the likelihood of groundwater contamination is minimal.