Publicado

2026-06-22

Background levels and reference values for metals and metalloids in agricultural soils in an inter-Andean valley in Colombia

Niveles de fondo y valores de referencia de metales y metaloides en suelos agrícolas de un valle interandino en Colombia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15446/acag.v74n2.123617

Palabras clave:

anomalous values, floodplain soil, piedmont, soil quality, random sampling, soil order (en)
calidad del suelo, muestreo aleatorio, orden de suelos, suelo de llanura aluvial, valor anómalo, Piedemonte (es)

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Background levels and reference values for metals and metalloids (Cd, Ni, Pb, Cr, Co, As, and Hg) were determined for agricultural soils in the flat and piedmont areas of an inter-Andean valley of the Cauca River, Colombia. Simple random sampling (SRS) was conducted at 489 sites, including Mollisols, Vertisols, and Inceptisols. PERMANOVA analyses were performed to evaluate the significance of metal and metalloid concentrations in relation to watershed and soil order. Statistical methods were used to determine background levels of metals and metalloids. Reference values for metals and metalloids in agricultural soils were proposed using the 75th percentile of the dataset after removing anomalous values. Background levels and reference values for As and Hg were below the detection limit (0.10 mg kg-1). Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Co showed a heterogeneous distribution, with moderate to high variability and low concentrations. The background levels found for Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Co were 0.13 mg kg-1, 46.57 mg kg-1, 28.57 mg kg-1, 2.52 mg kg-1, and 14.00 mg kg-¹, respectively. These values are considered low. The proposed reference values for metals and metalloids were 0.23 mg kg-¹ for Cd, 85.00 mg kg-¹ for Cr, 45.00 mg kg-¹ for Ni, 5.08 mg kg-¹ for Pb, and 21.00 mg kg-¹ for Co, thus being less conservative than those reported in other studies conducted in Latin America. This underscores the need to propose local reference values for metals and metalloids, which can serve as tools for safeguarding and maintaining soil quality.

Se determinaron los niveles de fondo y valores de referencia para metales y metaloides (Cd, Ni, Pb, Cr, Co, As y Hg) en suelos agrícolas de las zonas plana y de piedemonte de un valle interandino del río Cauca, Colombia. Se realizó un muestreo aleatorio simple (MAS) en un total de 489 sitios, que incluyeron Molisoles, Vertisoles e Inceptisoles. Se utilizaron análisis PERMANOVA para evaluar diferencias significativas en las concentraciones de metales y metaloides en relación con las cuencas hidrográficas y el orden del suelo. Se emplearon métodos estadísticos para determinar los niveles de fondo de metales y metaloides. Los valores de referencia de metales y metaloides en suelos agrícolas se propusieron utilizando el percentil 75 del conjunto de datos, después de eliminar los valores anómalos. Los niveles de fondo y los valores de referencia para As y Hg estuvieron por debajo del límite de detección (0.10 mg kg-1). Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb y Co exhibieron una distribución heterogénea, con variabilidad moderada a alta y concentraciones bajas. Los niveles de fondo encontrados para Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb y Co fueron 0.13 mg kg-1, 46.57 mg kg-1, 28.57 mg kg-1, 2.52 mg kg-1 y 14.00 mg kg-1, respectivamente. Estos valores se consideran bajos. Los valores de referencia propuestos fueron 023 mg kg-1 para Cd, 85.00 mg kg-1 para Cr, 45.00 mg kg-1 para Ni, 5.08 mg kg-1 para Pb y 21.00 mg kg-1 para Co, siendo menos conservadores que los reportados en otros estudios realizados en Latinoamérica. Esto evidencia la necesidad de proponer valores de referencia locales para metales y metaloides, que puedan utilizarse como instrumentos para la protección y preservación de la calidad del suelo.

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Cómo citar

APA

Marín Pimentel, G. E., Rueda Saa, G. & Menjivar Flóres, J. C. (2026). Background levels and reference values for metals and metalloids in agricultural soils in an inter-Andean valley in Colombia. Acta Agronómica, 74(2), 161–170. https://doi.org/10.15446/acag.v74n2.123617

ACM

[1]
Marín Pimentel, G.E., Rueda Saa, G. y Menjivar Flóres, J.C. 2026. Background levels and reference values for metals and metalloids in agricultural soils in an inter-Andean valley in Colombia. Acta Agronómica. 74, 2 (jun. 2026), 161–170. DOI:https://doi.org/10.15446/acag.v74n2.123617.

ACS

(1)
Marín Pimentel, G. E.; Rueda Saa, G.; Menjivar Flóres, J. C. Background levels and reference values for metals and metalloids in agricultural soils in an inter-Andean valley in Colombia. Acta Agron. 2026, 74, 161-170.

ABNT

MARÍN PIMENTEL, G. E.; RUEDA SAA, G.; MENJIVAR FLÓRES, J. C. Background levels and reference values for metals and metalloids in agricultural soils in an inter-Andean valley in Colombia. Acta Agronómica, [S. l.], v. 74, n. 2, p. 161–170, 2026. DOI: 10.15446/acag.v74n2.123617. Disponível em: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/acta_agronomica/article/view/123617. Acesso em: 20 jul. 2026.

Chicago

Marín Pimentel, Gilberto Eduardo, Germán Rueda Saa, y Juan Carlos Menjivar Flóres. 2026. «Background levels and reference values for metals and metalloids in agricultural soils in an inter-Andean valley in Colombia». Acta Agronómica 74 (2):161-70. https://doi.org/10.15446/acag.v74n2.123617.

Harvard

Marín Pimentel, G. E., Rueda Saa, G. y Menjivar Flóres, J. C. (2026) «Background levels and reference values for metals and metalloids in agricultural soils in an inter-Andean valley in Colombia», Acta Agronómica, 74(2), pp. 161–170. doi: 10.15446/acag.v74n2.123617.

IEEE

[1]
G. E. Marín Pimentel, G. Rueda Saa, y J. C. Menjivar Flóres, «Background levels and reference values for metals and metalloids in agricultural soils in an inter-Andean valley in Colombia», Acta Agron., vol. 74, n.º 2, pp. 161–170, jun. 2026.

MLA

Marín Pimentel, G. E., G. Rueda Saa, y J. C. Menjivar Flóres. «Background levels and reference values for metals and metalloids in agricultural soils in an inter-Andean valley in Colombia». Acta Agronómica, vol. 74, n.º 2, junio de 2026, pp. 161-70, doi:10.15446/acag.v74n2.123617.

Turabian

Marín Pimentel, Gilberto Eduardo, Germán Rueda Saa, y Juan Carlos Menjivar Flóres. «Background levels and reference values for metals and metalloids in agricultural soils in an inter-Andean valley in Colombia». Acta Agronómica 74, no. 2 (junio 9, 2026): 161–170. Accedido julio 20, 2026. https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/acta_agronomica/article/view/123617.

Vancouver

1.
Marín Pimentel GE, Rueda Saa G, Menjivar Flóres JC. Background levels and reference values for metals and metalloids in agricultural soils in an inter-Andean valley in Colombia. Acta Agron. [Internet]. 9 de junio de 2026 [citado 20 de julio de 2026];74(2):161-70. Disponible en: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/acta_agronomica/article/view/123617

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