STUDIES ON BEET SOIL .1. PLANT NUTRIENTS AND RESIDUES OF PESTICIDES IN SELECTED SOIL SAMPLES

In 50 samples of beet soil from places with dry unloading of sugar bee ts, from setting basins and silting places in different beet cultivati ng areas (north, west, south of Germany) the chemical characteristics of soils, contents of plant nutrients, heavy metals and residues of pe sticides are determined. The contents of plant nutrients in the tare s oils are very high; this concerns especially the macro elements P, K, Ca and Mg. In all samples heavy metals are found only in low concentra tions. Following the thresholds for heavy metals in agricultural soils , mentioned in literature, there exists no danger for pollution of soi l and water. In 4 samples residues of pesticides (lindane, ethofumesat e) are found. All concentrations are near the analytical limit. A dang er of pollution for soil and water doesn't exist when tare soil is tre ated with due.