Distribution of nickel fractions in forest Luvisols in the South Podlasie Lowland

Abstract

Sequential extraction methods enable identification of chemical fractions of heavy metals in soil environment as well as evaluation of their availability and potential toxicity to biotic elements of a trophic chain. The study aimed at separating nickel fractions from particular genetic horizons of forest Luvisols by means of three sequential extraction methods (modified Tessier’s, Zeien and Brummer’s as well as Hedley’s with Tiessen and Moir’s modifications methods), and to compare the metal content in four fractions: easily soluble, exchangeable, organic, and residual, along with their distribution within studied soils’ profiles. Nickel concentrations in the examined fractions varied: the largest amounts of the heavy metal (regardless of the analytical procedure applied) were found in residual fraction Fresid (mineral horizons) and organic fraction Forg (forest litter horizons – Ol), while the smallest ones occurred in easily soluble fraction F1 (all genetic horizons). Statistical processing revealed significant dependences between the four nickel fractions as well as between the fractions and selected properties of analyzed soils (except soil pH and total nickel content Ni t ).