Arsenic Toxicity Studies in Soil and in Culture Solution

Abstract

The problem of arsenic accumulation in soils is one of comparatively recent importance. As agriculture became more intensive, it became necessary to use poisons to combat attacks of certain insects, fungi, and more recently, weeds. Because arsenic is very poisonous to plant enemies and because it is comparatively cheap, it was only natural that it should have found general use. The arsenic so used has for the most part accumulated in the upper soil layers, and sooner or later becomes a menace to crop production. This paper is concerned with this problem particularly with reference to Hawaiian soils.