Major,
trace and rare-earth elements dissolved in successive water and acetic-acid
leaching of soil samples were determined along a vertical and a lateral trend
relative to a reference aridisoil covered by palm trees. The total content of
the organic carbon ranges from 0.07 to 2.7% with the highest values in the
topsoil closely below vegetation, confirming its higher organic activity. The
water-removed elements decrease irregularly with depth and with increasing
distance from vegetated area, the highest concentrations being observed at 20
cm depth and 18 m away from vegetation. The nutrients removed by acetic-acid
decrease with depth and until 22 m from vegetation. Maximum leaching was
observed in the surface sample and 32 m away from vegetation. In fact, no
straight trends were obtained in both the vertical and horizontal samplings; it
looks that the elemental contents of each soil layer are only representative
for themselves. The metallic trace elements are more abundant in the topsoil
than in the subsoil, suggesting some anthropogenic supply. Mainly controlled by
solid organic exudates, the REEs are the only ones with general vertical and
horizontal trends: they decrease at depth, together with an increase laterally
away from vegetation. The Ce and Eu positive anomalies increase deeper below
the vegetation and away: an oxidation-reduction change is visible for the
former anomaly, probably due to decreasing organic activity. The latter anomaly
away from vegetation could reflect a larger contribution of soluble minerals to
the leachates.
Lateral and vertical distribution records vegetated aridisoil major trace and rare-earth elements water and acetic-acid leachings organic matter activity anthropogenic supply
Primary Language | English |
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Journal Section | Articles |
Authors | |
Publication Date | October 1, 2019 |
Published in Issue | Year 2019 Volume: 8 Issue: 4 |