Forms of Copper in the Aspect of Anthropogenic Changes in the Profiles of Horticultural Soils in the Cities of South-Eastern Poland

The aim of the research was to show the changes taking place in soils as a result of the influence of anthropogenic factors in the form of intensive horticulture and pollution within the city. It was made on the basis of the distribution of individual fractions as well as available and total Cu forms in the profiles of garden soils located at houses and in the family allotment gardens in six cities in south-eastern Poland. The research took into account the granulometric composition according to which the cities were divided into two groups. The pollution assessment was based on the concentration indicator, Igeo, and indicators taking into account the forms available for plants: Cav/Ct and BF. There was no copper contamination with regard to legislation act and Igeo. The role of organic matter as an important component in copper in the humus horizons of soils in long-term horticultural cultivation has been considered. The content of all forms of copper was higher in humus horizon which also indicated the anthropogenic changes. Among the two groups of soils, a greater impact of the treatments used in horticulture on those made of sands was found in relation to the silty ones