Effects of heavy metal contamination on macronutrient availability and acidification parameters in forest soil in the vicinity of the Harjavalta CuNi smelter, SW Finland

Abstract

Four experiments were established (1992) in Scots pine stands at distances of 0.5, 2, 4 and 8 km along a line running to the SE of the CuNi smelter at Harjavalta, SW Finland, in order to investigate the effects of Cu and Ni emissions on macronutrient availability and estimates of cation exchange capacity (CEC) and base saturation (BS). The accumulation of Cu and Ni (total, exchangeable) in forest soil close to the smelter has resulted in a deficit of base cations (exchangeable Ca, Mg, K and BS) in the organic layer caused by inhibition of mineralisation and the displacement of base cations from cation exchange sites by Cu and Ni cations. No signs of soil acidification were found in the topmost layers of the soil measured as a change in pH, exchangeable acidity and Al. The determination of CEC by the summation method in heavy-metal polluted forest soils is not recommended unless heavy metal cations are also included in the calculations.