Location of trace elements in soil profiles: total and extractable contents of individual horizons

Abstract

Total contents of 29 trace and major elements and extractable contents of 20 elements were determined in the horizons of 4 profiles, 2 freely drained and 2 very poorly drained, of Scottish soils on drifts of basic igneous or granitic origin. The probable behaviour of other elements is suggested in the light of the results obtained. It is shown that in the course of pedological weathering, many elements are mobilised and become extractable by relatively weak reagents such as ammonium acetate (when readily exchangeable), dilute acetic acid (when less readily exchangeable or acid-soluble) or EDTA (when chelated or exchangeable). The forms in which different elements occur in the different horizons are assessed. In the surface horizons rich in organic matter many elements, such as Co, Ni, Fe, V, Cu, Cd, Sn and Pb, appear to occur mainly in chelated form; fewer, particularly Mn, are only in exchangeable form with plant uptake being largely responsible. Lower in the profiles the most common forms are acetic acid-soluble or, in gleyed horizons, exchangeable. In these horizons the degree of mobilisation is greater than in the corresponding freely drained horizons, the effect being most apparent for elements in readily weathered minerals.