BACKGROUNDMolybdenum is an essential and beneficial element for humans and crops and has an anti-cancer effect. The content of molybdenum and the pH of the soils are different in different regions, the content of molybdenum in crops varies greatly. At the same time, different crops have a different absorption ability of molybdenum. Studying the rules of molybdenum enrichment in different crops provides a basis for the development of healthy geology, the development of molybdenum-rich agricultural products, the development of functional agriculture, and the adjustment of planting structure.

OBJECTIVESTo investigate Mo content in different crops and their controlling factors.

METHODSThis study used the detailed survey area of selenium resources in Luoyang City and other agricultural planting areas as the research object. By collecting 22 kinds of crops and their root soils, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to determine the molybdenum content in soils and crops, and the characteristics and influencing factors of the content of molybdenum in different crops were studied.

RESULTSThe content of molybdenum in the soil of Luoyang City was relatively high, which was the characteristic area of molybdenum-rich soil in China. Mung bean, cowpea, black bean, yellow bean, red bean and peanuts were the main molybdenum enrichment crops, with average >9mg/kg molybdenum content and enrichment factor >500%, which belonged to the molybdenum hyperaccumulator. Sesame, long bean, millet, wheat, corns and rapeseed had high molybdenum content, which ranged from 0.446mg/kg to 2.437mg/kg, and the enrichment coefficient ranged from 40% to 300%, which were molybdenum rich crops. The content of molybdenum in chili, garlic, sweet potatoes and okra ranged from 0.1mg/kg to 0.3mg/kg, and the enrichment factor ranged from 10% to 30%, which were high-molybdenum crops. The content of molybdenum in apple, pear, grape, pomegranate, cherry and Stachys floridana Schuttl.ex Benth was less than 0.05mg/kg, and the enrichment factor was less than 5%, which was a low-molybdenum crop. The content of molybdenum in most crops was positively correlated with that in root soils, while the content of molybdenum in apple, grape, pomegranate, and cherry was negatively correlated within the molybdenum content in the root soils.

CONCLUSIONSStudies have shown that molybdenum in soils is more easily absorbed by crops under an alkaline environment. Compared with other areas in China, the crop in the area is richer in molybdenum, so it is a favorable area for the development of a molybdenum-rich agricultural industry. According to the molybdenum content of different crops, mung bean, cowpea, black bean, yellow bean, red bean and peanuts were selected as the characteristic Mo-rich agricultural products in the study area; sesame, long bean, millet, wheat, corns and rapeseed were Mo-rich agricultural products; pepper, garlic, sweet potato and okra were high Mo agricultural products. The results provide a scientific basis for the development and adjustment of the molybdenum-rich agricultural product planting structure in the study area.