Content of chosen heavy metals in garden and arable soils

The studies were conducted to determine the impact of the anthropogenic factors in the form of horticultural cultivation and urban environment on soils of allotment and household gardens and the role of humus substance in binding heavy metals and the distribution of elements in a soil profile. The research covered the area of south-eastern Poland, where 3 cities were selected for sandy soils and 3 for silty soils. The high enrichment factor of humus horizons for Cd, Cr and Ni was observed in sandy soils but it was lower in the silty soils. Significant negative correlation coefficients between fractional composition of humus and content of Cd, Cr and Ni were only observed in sandy soils. There were no significant relations in terms of the content of mercury.