The influence of street conditions on sea buckthorn fruit quality and content of micro- and macronutrients in berries and in soil

Sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.) is grown in urbanized areas owing to its low habitat requirements, resistance to harsh urban conditions and spectacular appearance, especially in autumn and winter when the shrubs produce an abundance of orange berries. The climatic conditions of Szczecin are favourable for the cultivation of sea buckthorn, which can be encountered in various green areas and along streets of this city. Our aim was to identify the influence of street conditions on the content of macro- and micronutrients, also heavy metals, in soil and in berries and on the size and firmness of sea buckthorn fruits. The soils were characterized by similar low salinity (EC 0.31-0.41 mS cm-1).The content of various elements in the soil and berries varied depending on a test site. The soil along a street had a lower nutrient content (P 74.8-98.1; K 99.6-162.7; Mg 38.4-55.1 mg kg-1) than the orchard soil (P 123.3; K 284.7; Mg 72.7 mg kg-1). The heavy metal content in the tested soils (Cd 0.083-0.296; Pb 17.2-31.3 mg kg-1) was found to be much below the limits set in the relevant standards. The content of the tested elements in fruits was most often correlated with their soil content. Berries collected from shrubs which grew on a green strip separating roadway lanes contained much more lead (0.267- -0.383 mg kg-1 DM), but significantly less cadmium (0.032-0.035 mg kg-1 DM) than berries collected in the orchard (Pb 0.231; Cd 0.040 mg kg-1 DM). Regardless of the location where the shrubs grew, the cadmium and lead content fell within the limit range set by the relevant standards. Berries picked from non-varietal shrubs growing along the road were smaller (mass of 100 berries 39-45 g) than berries picked from the cv. Hergo shrubs cultivated in the orchard (mass of 100 berries - 57 g). The highest firmness and resistance to puncture were displayed by the smallest berries harvested along the road at research station 1 and cv. Hergo berries. The soils located along the busy street were not contaminated with heavy metals. Besides, in each case the content of heavy metals in sea buckthorn fruits was much lower than allowed by the standards.