Copper content of vineyard soils at Sremski Karlovci (Vojvodina Province, Serbia) as affected by the use of copper-based fungicides

The present study investigated the copper content of nine vineyard plots soils and four control plots as affected by the application of copper-based fungicides. The study was carried out at the site of Sremski Karlovci in the Serbian province of Vojvodina. The results showed that Cu soil concentrations are increased at the site and that there is a tendency towards soil contamination by this element. Of the 27 total samples studied, only one had Cu concentration above the maximum allowable concentration of 100 mg kg−1. That sample's concentration was 111.7 mg kg−1. All the samples from the 0–15 cm layer had copper levels that were above the critical value of 60 mg kg−1. The mean value of the samples was 79.4 mg kg−1, contrasting with the background concentration of 19.8 mg kg−1. The results obtained for the studied vineyard soils indicate that these soils are potentially at risk and call for reduced application of Cu-based fungicides along with soil monitoring.