Rare Earth Element Transfer from Soil to Navel Orange Pulp (Citrus sinensis Osbeck cv. Newhall) and the Effects on Internal Fruit Quality

The effects of soil rare earth element (REE) on navel orange quality and safety in rare earth ore areas have gained great attention. This study investigated the transfer characteristics of REE from soil to navel orange pulp (Citrus sinensis Osbeck cv. Newhall) and examined the effects of soil REE on internal fruit quality in Xinfeng County, Jiangxi province, China. Path analysis showed that soil REE, pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and Fe oxide (Fe_ox) significantly affected pulp REE concentrations. A Freundlich-type prediction model for pulp REE was established: logREE_pulp] = -1.036 + 0.272 logREE_soil] - 0.056 pH - 0.360 logCEC] + 0.370 logFe_ox] (n = 114, R² = 0.60). From the prediction model, it was inferred that even when soil REE and Fe_ox were as high as 1038 mg kg^-1 and 96.4 g kg^-1, respectively, and pH and CEC were as low as 3.75 and 5.08 cmol kg^-1, respectively, pulp REE concentrations were much lower than the food limit standard. Additionally, soil REE levels were significantly correlated with selected fruit quality indicators, including titratable acidity (r = 0.52, P < 0.01), total soluble solids (r = 0.48, P < 0.01) and vitamin C (r = 0.56, P < 0.01). Generally, under routine methods of water and fertilization management, the cultivation of navel oranges in rare earth ore areas of south China with soil REE ranging from 38.6 to 546 mg kg^-1 had improved in internal fruit quality.