The use of industrial biosolids in the agriculture may increase nickel levels in the soil. However, bioavailability of nickel may be influenced by several factors and nickel-rich residuals are not often directly related to high absorption of this metal by the plants. This study aimed to evaluate the nickel solubility in the soil, its bioavailability and accumulation by the plants. An experiment was conducted using strawberries as experimental model. Those were planted in earthen pots filled with Inceptisol with four replications. A fully randomized design was developed and six doses of nickel were employed: 0, 9, 18, 36, 72 and 144 mg per kg-1 of soil. Two nickel sources were employed: composted biosolid (organic source) and nickel chloride (mineral source). Both soil and plant nickel levels (the latter including roots, crow, aerial parts and fruits) were evaluated by using the following extractors: nitric acid + hydrochloric acid solution (3:1), calcium nitrate solution (0.5 mol L-1), nitric acid solution (1 mol L-1) and sodium pyrophosphate solution (0.1 mol L-1). The highest and lowest nickel levels were yielded by the use of organic source by the nitric acid + hydrochloric acid solution and calcium nitrate solution, respectively. Both organic and mineral sources increased nickel levels in the strawberries tissues, with small increases verified for the organic source. The highest levels were found in the roots whereas the lowest were obtained in the crow.
heavy metals; sewage sludge; bioaccumulation
