Summary:

The results of the studies from 1991-2001 on the impact of drip irrigation and microjet irrigation on the content of chosen heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Zn) in edible parts of some vegetables (red beet, zucchini, winter squash, snap bean, carrot) and berry-bearing species (chokeberry, black currant, strawberry) are presented in the paper. Field experiments were carried out in Kruszyn Krajeński near Bydgoszcz on a soil of V-VI valuation class. The clay content was 7 % in the top soil and from 3 to 5 % in the sub-soil. The average organic matter content was 1,19 %. The water re-serve to 1 m depth of soil at field capacity was 88 mm and the available water 68 mm. The examined factor was irrigation. Three variants of irrigation have been examined: I - control (without irrigation), II - drip irrigation, III - micro-sprinkler irrigation at a soil moisture tension of up to - 0,03 MPa. It was found that irrigation significantly decreased the content of heavy metals in the fresh mass of strawberry fruits, but it influenced not significantly on this content in fruits of chokeberry and black currant. The content of examined elements in the fresh mass of zucchini and winter squash fruits was lower under irrigation than that of control. Irrigation un-significantly influenced the Zn content in roots of red beet and carrot as well as in pods of snap bean. But, under conditions of irrigation, the dawnward tendency of Zn content in edible parts of all the three mentioned species occured. Examined species and cultivars were characterized by the different susceptibility to cumulation of heavy metals. From among species tested, red beet cumulated most strongly Zn.