Application of single and sequential extraction procedures to polluted and unpolluted soils

• Published in: Science of the total environment 1996-01, Vol.178 (1), p.37-44
• Main Author: McGrath, D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Analysis methods; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Chelating agent; EDTA extraction; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geographic delineation; Pollution; Sequential extraction scheme; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil and water pollution; Soil science
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/0048-9697(95)04795-6

Details are given of extractants and extraction conditions, employed in soil testing. Three investigations are described. These include the following: (a) extractability, using chelating agents, of trace metals, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn from unpolluted Irish agricultural soils, (b) extractability using chelating agents and a sequential extraction scheme for Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn in geochemically polluted soils together with a pot experiment to study uptake of Cd by herbage and (c) geographic delineation of an extensive area in the Irish mid-west for elevated soil Cd using EDTA extraction. Amount of trace metal extracted by chelating agents was significantly ( P ≤ 0.001) related to total metal in soil for Cd, Cu and Ni only: amount of Zn extracted, but not total zinc, was significantly ( P ≤ 0.001) correlated to soil organic carbon. A number of soils in an area known to contain elevated soil Se have been shown to also contain elevated (up to 110 μg g −1) Cd. This area is part of a much more extensive area with widespread mild geochemical pollution. Extractability and plant uptake characteristics of Cd in the more polluted soils were broadly as expected.