Impact of Physicochemical Characteristics of Colluvial and Alluvial Soils on Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn Content (East Poland)

Wojciech Zgłobicki,Małgorzata Telecka,Aneta Pasierbińska

doi:10.17951/pjss.2015.48.2.213

Wojciech Zgłobicki, Małgorzata Telecka + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.17951/pjss.2015.48.2.213

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Abstract

The physical and chemical parameters of soils play an important role in the binding and migration of trace elements in the environment. The study attempts to assess the correlation between the basic characteristics of colluvial and alluvial soils and the concentration of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. This will make it possible to indicate the key factors determining the binding of metals in soils. The studied soils were located in an agricultural region in Eastern Poland and subjected to generally low anthropogenic pollution. Sixteen profiles (160 samples) were analysed for total heavy metals content and selected soil properties: grain size distribution, soil organic matter (SOM) content, pH, Fe and Mn content. We used three statistical methods: principal component analysis, cluster analyses and Pearson`s correlations coefficient. Relations for colluvial and alluvial soils were different. SOM content was characteristic for the highest positive correlations with the heavy metals. The most distinct correlations with this parameter occur in the case of lead. No correlations with pH were found, the correlations with the particular fraction content were weak. Strong but diversified correlations occurred in the case of Fe and Mn. In general stronger correlations with soil characteristics were found for samples with the low heavy metals content; anthropogenic impact causing the disruption of natural correlations.

Highlights

The content of heavy metals and other elements in soils is determined by the impact of numerous factors of natural and anthropogenic nature
The alluvial soils have a higher soil organic matter (SOM) content, a neutral pH, higher Fe, and lower Mn content, while the mean clay fraction content is similar in both types of soils (Table 2)
The SOM content decreases along with increasing depth; this process is distinct in alluvial soils

Summary

Introduction

The content of heavy metals and other elements in soils is determined by the impact of numerous factors of natural and anthropogenic nature. The most important of those factors are: the type of parent rock, soil organic matter (SOM) content, pH, mechanical composition, content of other elements, location of the profile (geomorphological determinants), local hydrologic conditions, intensity and nature of anthropogenic supply [2, 7, 14, 20]. Numerous studies have dealt with the question of the correlation between heavy metals concentrations and selected sediment parameters, such as grain size distribution, pH, and organic matter content [e.g. 4, 9, 11, 15, 25 and many others]. The main objective of the study has been to assess the impact of the basic physicochemical parameters: SOM content, grain size distribution, pH and Fe, Mn content of two soil types on the total Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations. Studied soils are located within the area of low heavy metals pollution, that is why relations between soil characteristics and heavy metals content should be more clear

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