Composition and variability of soil solutions as a measure of human impact on protected woodland areas

Abstract

Abstract:A study was made of the sandy and loamy soils of the woodland areas of the Wielkopolski National Park (Poland) affected by acid rain. The basic properties of the soils were determined, revealing their strong acidification, poor buffering power, and the possibility of aluminium release. An analysis was made of the content of soluble, exchangeable, organic, amorphous, and free forms of aluminium. The concentration of exchangeable aluminium exceeded that of the form dissolved in soil water several times to tens of times. In soil solutions Ca/Al ratios in some horizons show very low values that could induce a nutrient deficit. In the sandy profiles the ratio even drops below the critical level of 0.1. In the surface horizon the dominant cation at all the sites is the aluminium ion. An analysis of anions shows a dominance of sulphate and chloride ions. In autumn nitrites were recorded at all depth levels, while in spring only in the surface layers. The highest fluoride concentrations were found to occur in profiles situated the closest to the emission source of fluorine compounds. The markedly higher concentrations of ammonium than nitrate ions can lead to increased acidification and eutrophication of the soil.

Parâmetros Físicos e Químicos de Referência em Solos de Unidades de Conservação Florestal da Bacia do Paraná 3, Brasil (Physical and Chemical Parameters of Reference Soils in Forest Conservation Units of the Paraná Basin 3, Brazil)

“…In the PCA (Figure 6a), the inverse relationship between the pH and the exchangeable acidity (Al +3 ) of the samples is confirmed (Walna, 2007), i.e the samples with lower pH values showed high exchangeable acidity (consistent with Pearson's correlation (r = -0,69), Table 3. The explanation of this consequence is that under conditions of low pH, the dissolution of soil minerals that contain appreciable levels of Al, such as clay minerals and aluminum oxides occurs, this dissolution promotes the appearance of the exchangeable cation Al +3 , as indicated by reaction 1 (Raij, 1981):…”

Fluoride pollution of atmospheric precipitation and its relationship with air circulation and weather patterns (Wielkopolski National Park, Poland)

“…Low pH accompanied by a high content of acid-forming ions has an interactive effect on vegetation and soil. It affects ecological properties of plant species and brings about instability of the ecosystem (Fangmeier et al 2002; Walna 2007). Calculation of the correlation coefficient between acid-forming ions enables estimation of similarity of the time series of contaminants and the search for a common source.…”

“…Toxic effects in the aquatic environment have also been reported (Camargo 2003; Zhang et al 2007). One should also note the behavior of F − in soil (Horner and Bell 1995; Koblar et al 2011; Walna 2007). F − forms many complex ions, e.g., AlF x (3-x) (Frankowski and Ziola-Frankowska 2010), that migrate, and a substantial proportion of these enter groundwater (Saether et al 1995a).…”