Effects of riparian land use changes on soil attributes and concentrations of potentially toxic elements.

Giulliana Karine G Cunha,Airon José Da Silva,Karina Patrícia V Da Cunha,Clístenes Williams A Do Nascimento,Bruno G De Faria

doi:10.1590/0001-3765202120210455

Abstract

Riparian zones are intrinsically sensitive habitats to anthropogenic disturbances. Knowledge about how riparian soil attributes respond to anthropogenic changes remains limited. This information would allow the prediction of degradation and contamination soil scenarios that threaten water quality for supply. Here, we studied the impact on soil quality and concentration that potentially toxic elements caused through changes in land use in riparian soils in northeastern Brazil. A total of thirty riparian soil composite samples were collected from areas with different land use and evaluated for physical and chemical attributes, in addition to potentially toxic elements (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn). The results showed that replacing the natural vegetation in the riparian zone led to degradation gradient: pasture < agricultural < urban < industrial use. Soil attributes were sensitive in distinguishing the degree of degradation of each land use. Concentrations of the potentially toxic elements Cd and Zn are above the background soil concentrations and may pose a risk to the environment and human health. Our data can be helpful to understand better the complex relationship between land use and environmental impacts in riparian zones in northeastern Brazil and similar settings worldwide.

Highlights

Land use changes exacerbate the risk of soil acting as a diffuse source of nutrients and contaminants, such as phosphorus and potentially toxic elements (PTEs), to water bodies
The replacement of the natural vegetation to the anthropic occupation of the riparian zone led to the deterioration in soil quality
We found that urban and industrial land uses in urban watersheds had a more significant potential than grazing to compromise water quality

Summary

Introduction

Land use changes exacerbate the risk of soil acting as a diffuse source of nutrients and contaminants, such as phosphorus and potentially toxic elements (PTEs), to water bodies. The response of soil attributes to different anthropic uses remains a subject of research. In such context, studies are warranted for watershed managers identify forecast tools that efficiently help to manage environmental impacts on watersheds under several climates. Industrial activities and urbanization in watersheds can generate even more significant impacts by adding phosphorus, sediments, and PTEs to aquatic ecosystems in various world regions (Mahler et al 2006, Ma et al 2016, Huang et al 2018, Namngam et al 2021).

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