Concentración de cadmio en suelo, hojas y almendras de cacao en dos plantaciones de la provincia de El Oro

Abstract

In this investigation, the content of cadmium "Cd" present in the soil, leaves and cocoa fruits was quantified in two farms of the province of "El Oro" in order to relate the results obtained with the maximum limits pre-established by the regulation 2021/1323 of the European Union, for the cocoa fruit and the book VI of the TULSMA for the concentrations present in the ground. The samples for the study were taken at different points randomly on both farms, to later generate a composite sample of each type (ground, leaves, fruits), thus obtaining 3 different samples for each study location. Subsequently, a pretreatment based on drying and then grinding each sample was carried out, thus making it ready for analysis. The laboratory results showed values of 0.18 ppm for the ground, 1.34 ppm in leaves and 0.55 ppm in fruits for the "San Antonio" farm, also presenting an acid pH of 5.51, evidencing the probability of bioaccumulation of the heavy metal. The "Mi Chinita" farm presented values of 0.7 ppm in soil, 2 ppm in leaves and 1.27 ppm in fruits, in addition to having an acidic pH of 4.8, evidencing a possible bioaccumulation problem as in the former farm.