Bracken growth, toxin production and transfer from plant to soil: a 2-year monitoring study

Abstract Background Bracken fern ( Pteridium aquilinum ) produces several toxic glycosides, of which ptaquiloside (PTA) is the most well documented. PTA released from bracken to soil and leaches surface water groundwater. This study presents first comprehensive monitoring biomass, content in release by precipitation concentrations solution at 50 cm depth. Laboratory experiments were carried out estimate degradation kinetics different horizons moisture contents. Results The concentration was highest earliest development stages plant, i.e., May, declining through growing season until negligible contents senescence. maximum seasonal canopy peaked early summer, with values up 1600 mg m −2 . show that on average 0.2% present washed per mm incident rain, resulting 13.1 being off during single rain events. Once soil, dissipates rapidly showing a half-lives ranging 3.3 73 h observed rates tenfold decrease depths increasing top 25 Concentrations positively correlated canopy, pore 4,820 ng L −1 pulse event taking place July 2019. Conclusions production found be proportional biomass growth, while mass function volume intensity precipitation, as stage. Leaching takes form pulses linked events, exceeding levels are known pose risk human health.