Abstract
Heavy metal contamination of agricultural soils represents a critical environmental and agronomic challenge, particularly in regions exposed to intensive land use and transport-related emissions. This study presents a detailed assessment of soil contamination in the Dargov cadastral area (Eastern Slovakia), where elevated concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, As, Cd, and Cr were detected through multi-depth sampling near the I/19 first-class road. Analytical results confirmed exceedances of Slovak regulatory thresholds (Decree No. 59/2013), with persistent contamination observed even in the deepest sampling interval (20–40 cm), indicating vertical migration and long-term accumulation. Concentrations of Pb (85–210 mg·kg−1), Cd (2.1–5.4 mg·kg−1), Zn (120–340 mg·kg−1), and Ni (45–95 mg·kg−1) exceeded Slovak regulatory thresholds. The highest values were consistently detected in the 0–10 cm layer and within 3 m of the I/19 road, with a gradual decline at greater depths and distances. Nevertheless, Cd and Ni remained above permissible limits even in the deepest sampling interval (20–40 cm), confirming vertical migration and long-term persistence of contamination. The spatial distribution of contaminants suggests a dominant influence of road traffic, with implications for crop safety, soil fertility, and rural land management. Based on the findings, the study proposes context-sensitive remediation strategies, including phytoremediation and chemical immobilization, and emphasizes the need for integrated monitoring systems and land-use planning to mitigate risks. The case study contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable soil management in Central European agricultural landscapes affected by diffuse pollution.
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Judged adjacent: soil study without a plant endpoint — claims were not extracted. This is a scope decision by the model, not a statement about the paper’s findings.