**Acknowledgements**

showed that this soils quality standard was too indulgent, and it indicated this approach as the most restrictive when establishing soil quality standards. Conversely, the critical limit calculated for lettuce (**Table 6**) and the results obtained for the accumulation of Cu in the edible part of the plant show that the soil quality standard established by the Spanish legislation was too restrictive, since this content would not be exceeded in any of the soils assayed. Only one critical limit established showed that this soil quality standard was too permissive and

Therefore, the results obtained show that soil quality standards should be established considering the influence of the different soil properties and should be particular for each case and

Lastly, and since the baseline value considered and used in all the assays carried out is similar to those established in other Spanish Mediterranean regions [32, 33] and in other European Mediterranean regions [34, 35], it is important to highlight that the results obtained in this work could be used as guidance for all the European Mediterranean Region in order to propose adequate soil quality standards; and adequate and valuable phytoremediation strategies that

Regarding the effect of Cu on biomass production, the toxicity values established for the different Mediterranean agricultural regions and soils considered cropped with lettuce covered similar ranges. In both cases, the maximum threshold value was obtained for the soil having the highest pH and clay content, independently of the soil type. This indicated that these two soil properties are relevant when analysing Cu mobility and availability in soils. On the other hand, when analysing the toxicity values established for the Spanish Mediterranean soils but considering the two different crops assayed, significant differences were observed between crops, in terms of tolerance and response. These results indicated that tomato is more tolerant than lettuce to Cu-contaminated soils. However, the analysis of the influence of soil properties on the effect of Cu on plant biomass production led to similar results/conclusions in both assays. SOM, clay content and CEC are the most relevant properties

Regarding the analysis of the Cu bioaccumulation results, assays carried out with lettuce showed significant differences between the Mediterranean regions considered. However, comparison of results was difficult due to the important toxic effect observed in the Australian

Significant differences were also observed between crops when comparing the bioaccumulation rates and quantities established for each of them when cultivated in the Spanish Mediterranean Region. The most important result is related to the Cu accumulated in the edible part of the plant. While the concentration of Cu in this part of the plant increased as the concentration in soil also did for lettuce, it was not so for tomato, where the concentration kept

corresponded to the one calculated for the saline soil.

76 Soil Contamination - Current Consequences and Further Solutions

could be applied to Cu-contaminated soils of this region.

scenario.

**5. Conclusions**

agricultural soils.

affecting the dynamic of Cu in soil Cu.

constant for all doses and soils assayed.

The first author would like to thank the Valencian Regional Government (Generalitat Valenciana) for the Doctoral grant (ACIF/2010/041) and the scholarship granted (BEFPI/ 2013/063), which allowed him to carry out his PhD and spend a period of six months in the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Land and Water Division, respectively; and CSIRO Land and Water Division (Canberra, Australia) for enabling to conduct the experiments of this work. Both authors would like to strongly thank Dr. Luis Recatalá for his direction and his unstoppable and uncountable help during his last year of life to achieve the results obtained, some of which have already been published and have been cited here.
