The chemical analysis of vineyards is an essential tool for the early detection of risks, such as excessive fertilization and heavy metal and pesticide contamination in farm management. Soil and plant samples were collected in summer and winter from six different vineyards with varying agricultural practices in the Cape Winelands of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. The samples were pretreated in a microwave using CEM MARS 6™ Microwave Digestion and Extraction System (CEM Corporation, Matthews, NC, USA).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeavy metal toxicity is a major threat to the health of both humans and ecosystems. Toxic levels of heavy metals in food crops, such as grapes, can have devastating effects on plant health and the market value of the produce. Two important factors that may influence the prevalence of heavy metals in grapevines are seasonal change and farming practices.
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