Urban geochemistry: A study of element distributions in the soils of tallinn (Estonia)

First results are presented from the Urban geochemistry of Tallinn, a project supported by the Scientific and Environmental Affairs Division of NATO. The distribution of chemical elements in 532 samples of the topsoils from the territory of the biggest industrial centre of Estonia (pop. 500,000) is interpreted. Statistical analysis and mapping of major and trace elements at the territory of the Tallinn region and of the city were performed and background values and local anomalies of chemical elements on the territory were determined. The investigation focussed on the determination of zones with anomalously high concentrations of elements and the relationships of soil contamination with different pollution sources. The increase of the element concentrations has natural as well as anthropogenic origins. A detailed comparative analysis of the element distributions and the results of a factor analysis showed that the distribution of the major chemical elements depended mainly on the composition of the underlying sedimentary rocks.The territory of Tallinn is characterised by relatively high and widespread concentrations of Ba, Cr, Ga, Ni, Ti and Zn. Especially intensive local concentrations were determined for As, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, S, V and Zn, which are typical for the local pollution of the soils by industrial sources. The levels of As, Cr, Mn and V are more than three times. Pb and Zn are more than five times higher in the geochemical anomalies than for background levels. For the Tallinn region two major associations of elements connected with industrial pollutions of the soil are typical: the first association includes Ba, Cr, Mn, Ni and partly Fe and the second one includes As, Pb and Zn. For the city of Tallinn an increase of Ag, Ba, Be, La, Pb, Sn and Zn concentration in the soil was detected. Ba, Cr, Mn and Ni occur in high concentrations in the soils around Maardu. Different types of contamination sources can be identified in Tallinn and its suburbs.     

Geochemical and biogeochemical features of areas of haematuria in cattle in the Eastern Carpathian Mountains of Romania

Haematuria-inducing areas in the northern and central parts of the Eastern Carpathian Mountains are characterised by the mesozoic-crystalline, neogene eruptive and transcarpathian flysch zones. The rocks have high concentrations of some metals and radioactive elements, some of them bearing polymetallic sulphides. The soils are strongly or moderately acid and oligomesobasic. They have a deficiency of soluble phosphorus and molybdenum, but up to 4.9 times the background content of metallic elements in non-affected zones. The waters have a pH around 7, a low content of salts (0.09–0.62 g L^–1), but metal levels in excess of 10 times that of the background level. Pasture vegetation has a low nutritional value, and includes up to 12% of poisonous plant species. It is characterised by low total concentrations of P, Mo, N and K, and high total concentrations of metallic trace elements, including high values of Zn and excessive values of Fe, Mn, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cd and Al. Besides clinical symptoms specific to haematuria, sick animals have abnormal blood and urinary compositions and specific morphopathological features. High concentrations of metallic elements were detected in renal calculi. The correlation of the geochemical and biogeochemical features of the haematuria-inducing areas, together with the results of the epizootological, clinical, paraclinical and morphopathological research emphasises that chronic cattle haematuria is a disease with numerous causes, but is primarily a biogeochemical problem in the area studied, making it an ecosystem disease.To whom correspondence should be addressed.     

Environmental impact of heavy metals (Fe, Ni, Cr, Co) in soils waters and plants of triada in euboea from ultrabasic rocks and nickeliferous mineralisation

Soil, water and vegetation samples were collected from the Triada area of Central Euboea and analysed for heavy metals in order to evaluate their environmental impact. The geology of the area studied includes ultrabasic rocks that are overlaid by Upper Cretaceous limestones whereas Fe–Ni mineralisation is intercalated between either the ultrabasic parent rocks or the karstified Jurassic/Triassic carbonates and the transgessive Upper Cretaceous limestones. All the samples were analysed for heavy metals by using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The heavy metal ranges (in g g^–1) for soils samples are: Ni 480–4000, Cr 240–2720, Co 40–208, Fe 24,000–380,000, Mn 46–1680, Pb 16–56, Zn 40–144, Cu 2–82. The values of soil samples of the Triada area are much higher than the values found for Ni, Cr, Co and Fe, in normal soils of the world. The heavy metal ranges (in g L^–1) for water samples are: Ni 19–24, Cr 19–476, Co <5, Fe <100, Mn <100, Mg 5.7–220.5, As 30–69, Cd <2, Pd <10, Zn 5–11, Cu 2–7. The water samples of the Triada area have Cr and Mg concentrations higher than the permittable values. The heavy metal ranges (in g g^–1) for vegetation samples are: Ni 1–135, Cr 0–24, Co 1–21.5, Fe 20–680, Mn 10–206, Cd 0–10, Pb 0–14, Zn 14–70, Cu 0–10.5. The vegetation samples of the Triada area have so high values of Ni, Cr and Co that are considered toxic. The intercorrelated elements Fe, Ni, Cr, Co of the Triada soils, waters and vegetation reflect their association with the ultrabasic rocks and with the Fe–Ni mineralisation.     

Environmental Geochemistry of Soils and Waters of Susaki Area, Korinthos, Greece

Soil and water samples were collected from the Susaki area of Korinthos and analysed for heavy metals in order to evaluate their environmental impact. The geology of the studied area includes ultrabasic rocks and Neogene and Quaternary deposits whereas magnesite veins are found within the ultrabasic rocks. In the north part of the studied area post volcanic emissions of H₂S, CO₂ and H₂O vapor continue to the present day. All the samples were analysed for heavy metals by the ICP method. The element ranges (in g g^–1) for soil samples are: Cu 11–63, Pb 5–256, Zn 21–604, Ni 183–2665, Co 12–124, Mn 456–1434, As 5–104, Sr 44–730, V 21–84, Cr 163–2346, Ba 48–218, Zr 3–41, Y 3–13. The metals Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Cr, Fe, Cu, Mn, As and Sr are enriched in the Susaki soils. The element ranges for water samples are: Cu 65–103ppb, Pb<10ppb, Zn<5ppb, Ni 21–163ppb, Co 2–12ppb, As<30ppb, Cr<20ppb, Ba 36–785ppb, Sb<10ppb, W<10ppb, Bi<30ppb, Mn 0.0–0.9 g g^–1, Fe 0.01–0.22 g g^–1, Na 843–3076 g g^–1, K 98–278 g g^–1, Si 39–65 g g^–1, P 0.1–0.2 g g^–1. There is a natural pollution of soils with elevated concentrations of Ni, Co, Mn, Fe and Cr due to the presence of ultrabasic rocks. Another natural case of As pollution of soils is due to the volcanic activity and the geothermal field in the area. The geochemical data of ground waters and also the ¹⁸, D data showed a mixing in different proportions between sea water and meteoric water.     

Reclamation of abandoned shrimp pond soils in southern Thailand for cultivation of Mauritius grass (Brachiaria mutica)

A study on soil reclamation for cultivation of Mauritius grass was conducted on soils obtained from abandoned shrimp ponds at Ranote District, Songkhla Province, southern Thailand. A glass house experiment on the reclamation of the soils included desalination by leaching soils using various amounts of deionised water, rice husk, plant nutrients and gypsum as well as an omission pot trial experiment. The result showed that Mauritius grass survived in the treatment with 15 L of water, 2% of rice husk with gypsum added or 8% of rice husk without gypsum added. The yield of Mauritius grass increased with increases in the amounts of water for desalination and rice husk. Thus, the highest yield of grass with a height of 148.3 cm, 12.7 tillers/pot and dry weight of 46.43 g/pot was observed in the gypsum added treatment with the highest amount of water and rice husk (25 L of water and 8% by weight of rice husk). Therefore, salinity and unfavourable structure of the abandoned pond soils were major factors governing the survival ability and growth of the grass. The omission pot trial experiment revealed that growth of the grass responded to the application of P, Ca, Mg and S, though existing amounts of such plant nutrient elements in the soils were adequate for plant growth. The anomalous characteristics were probably explained by soil pH, salinity and imbalance of plant nutrient elements.     

Cycling of metals in desert soils: effects of Tamarix nilotica and inundation by lake water

Concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, Na, Cu, Zn, Al, Fe and Mn were measured in soils and in Tamarix nilotica from Wadi Allaqi on the shore of Lake Nasser in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. All of the elements were concentrated in the leaves of Tamarix relative to the stems and roots. Leaf:soil concentration ratios, used as an indicator of metal accumulation in the plant, showed high enrichment factors for Na (67.5), K (63.0) and Mg (35.0); of the trace elements measured, Zn had the highest enrichment factor (7.64). Comparison with other desert species suggested that Tamarix was exceptional only in the accumulation of sodium. Periodic inundation of the soil by Lake Nasser caused dilution and dispersion of the accumulated salts.     

Mapping Soil Lead and Remediation Needs in Contaminated Soils

For the past two decades, the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration has made a systematic investigation of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Hg, Ni and Zn in agricultural soils to identify soil pollution from industrial production. The EPA has cooperated with local governmental agencies to establish a soil quality monitoring system that would upgrade the land recovery ability and prohibit polluted lands from being cultivated or turned over to other uses. Based on an island-wide soil survey, more than 1,000 hectares of arable soils in Taiwan were found to be considerably contaminated by heavy metals. One of the heavy metal contaminated sites, located near a ceramic product manufacturing factory in Nantou County, was identified as lead contaminated. According to the Nantou Environmental Protection Bureau, the lead content in contaminated sites showed a great variation of several mg Pbkg^–1 soil to several thousands mg Pbkg^–1 soil. Therefore, it is appropriate to estimate the lead spatial distribution through geostatistics such as Kriging. The soil lead concentration contour maps obtained by Kriging can help us to identify the pollution patterns and delineate the range of contaminated sites. The purpose of this study is to determine the Pb concentrations at each location by performing detailed soil sampling on those Pb contaminated sites and estimating the lead spatial distributions by Kriging. A total of 70 soils were sampled from different locations at two experiment sites. Lead contents were determined with 0.1M HCl extractable lead content of the soils. The results obtained by investigating the lead contents in each 15cm segment down to a 60cm depth, revealed that lead contents were greater in arable land near the ceramic products manufacturing factory, and lead concentrations decreased with depth. In addition, Pb concentrations in heavily contaminated soils showed heavy concentrations of Pb in specific locations. Results from Pb content spatial distributions indicated that the Kriging model is a useful tool and can provide decision-makers with critical information for delineating hazardous areas in heavy metal contaminated sites.     

Influence of soil-applied coal combustion by-products on growth and elemental composition of annual ryegrass

The total annual production of coal combustion by-products in the USA is expected to exceed 150 million Mg by the year 2000. Agricultural utilisation may offer a partial solution to disposal problems, but the benefits and risks associated with using these materials must be assessed. Four coal combustion by-products, bed ash (BA) and fly ash (FA) from a fluidised-bed combustion furnace and stabilised scrubber sludge (SS) and a high gypsum content by-product (G) from flue gas desulphurisation processes were added to two soils at rates of 0, 20, 40 and 80 g kg-1. The growth and elemental composition of Gulf annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) were evaluated in the treated soils. Adding FA, SS and G to both soils at application rates of up to 80 g kg-1 was not detrimental to the growth of ryegrass and resulted in higher yields than controls in some instances. Adding BA created a high alkalinity, high soluble-salt environment that initially inhibited seedling germination and significantly reduced (p<0.05) yields of dry matter, so it will probably need to be restricted to rates of lime requirement. Ryegrass concentrations of Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cd and Cr were similar in control and treated soils, but levels of B, Se, As and Mo were raised in treatments. Based on low trace-element concentrations in ryegrass shoots and in soil solution, Se from FA application may be the only potential food-chain risk associated with application of the four coal combustion by-products used in this investigation.     

Forage production and quality as influenced by amended quartz sand-tailings following phosphate mining

Quartz-sand tailings is a waste product from the Florida phosphate mining industry. Individual tailings disposal areas may occupy 20 to 60 ha and support no vegetation. A split plot field experiment was conducted on a sand tailings deposit to study the effect of various amendments on yield, quality, and mineral concentrations of Callie bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon var.aridus Harlan et de Wet) and Siratro [Macroptilium atropurpureum (DC) Urb]. The two species were established on nine treatments: one sand-tailings control (SC); three with air-dried phosphatic clay (PC) at 110, 225, and 340 Mg ha^-1; and three with overburden (OB) at 448, 1,120, and 1,800 Mg ha^-1. All PC and OB treatment rates contained air-dried sewage sludge (SS) at 45 Mg ha^-1 and were all roto-tilled to a 20 to 25 cm depth. There were two additional treatments of OB at 1800 Mg ha^-1 without SS, with and without roto-tilling into sand tailings. Callie established slower (P<0.05) on SC and OB, than on treatments containing SS and/or PC. However, after the root system developed, yields were similar on all sand-tailings treatments. Crude protein andin vitro organic matter digestion for Callie and Siratro did not differ between soil treatments, but Siratro was generally superior to Callie in forage quality. Forage concentrations of P, K, Ca. Mg, Mn, and Zn were adequate in both species for good cattle growth on all treatments. However, Cu tended to be low in Siratro for plant and cattle growth. Once root systems were well established, good yields of quality forage with suitable mineral concentrations were produced on regularly fertilized, quartz-sand tailings.Contribution of the University of Florida Agric. Res. and Ed. Ctr., Ona, FL 33865, and Soil Sci. Dept., Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611 as Journal Series No. 5575.     

Assessing geochemical influence of traffic and other vehicle-related activities on heavy metal contamination in urban soils of Kerman city,using a GIS-based approach

Heavy metal pollution caused by traffic activities is increasingly becoming a great threat to urban environmental quality and human health. In this paper, soils of Kerman urban and suburban areas were collected to assess the potential effects of traffic and other vehicle-related pollution by heavy metal accumulation in soils. Eighty-six samples were collected along streets and from residential and rural sectors, as well as vehicle-related workshops from depth of 0–5 and 15–20 cm and analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) for heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Sn and Zn), as well as major elements (Al, Ca, Fe and Mn). Several hot-spot areas were identified in the composite geochemical maps produced based on Geographical Information System (GIS) technology. The majority of the hot-spot areas were identified to be vehicle-related workshops, fuel stations and road junctions. The most polluted hot-spot in the study area was located in soils close to a car battery processing workshop in the southwestern part of Kerman city, with concentrations of Cd (0.32 mg/kg), Cr (169 mg/kg), Cu (250 mg/kg), Pb (5,780 mg/kg), Sn (27.2 mg/kg) and Zn (178 mg/kg) of 1, 8.5, 8.3, 230, 13.5 and 3 times more than the relevant mean concentrations in natural soils, respectively. Traffic pollution has resulted in significant accumulation of heavy metals in soils and sediments, and that level of accumulation varied remarkably among elements. Based on X-ray diffraction analysis, most parts of soils and sediments of the Kerman basement consist of calcite and clay minerals. Abundance of clay minerals and medium to alkaline pH causes low mobility of heavy metals in soils of Kerman.     

耕地土壤中交换态钙镁铁锰铜锌相关关系研究

应用主成份分析、聚类分析和相关性分析对沈阳市郊区1994个耕地土壤样本(0-20cm)的交换态钙、镁、铁、锰、铜、锌含量进行研究，结果表明，影响钙与镁、铁与锰、铜与锌分布的主因子分别在相同的主成份组中，钙与镁、铁与锰、铜与锌之间的相关系数较大，铁、锰、铜、锌之间均为极显著正相关关系，钙与铁、锰、铜、锌均为负相关关系，说明元素的生物地球化学属性对其地理分布有较大的影响。     

Metal contamination of soils and dusts in Seoul metropolitan city,Korea

To investigate the dispersion patterns and the characteristics of heavy metal contamination due to urbanisation and industrialisation, soils and dusts collected from the Seoul area were analysed for Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd. The metal concentrations in most soils and dusts are higher than the world averages. The pollution index (( Metal concentrations in soils/Permissible level for metal)÷(Number of metals)) of soils and dusts is > 1 in most of the Seoul area, a result that concurs with the industrialisation and urbanisation index of the Seoul area. The soils are contaminated with Cu, Zn, Cd and particularly Pb. This suggests that the contamination of the soils in the Seoul area are mainly caused by vehicular emissions. The pollution index of soil is the highest in the Kuro area where Cu and Zn contamination in soils are due to the indigenous brass and bronze factories. From the discriminant analysis, the Seoul area may be partitioned into control, traffic and industrialized areas by the metal concentrations in the order of Zn > Cu > Pb.     

Heavy Metals and Arsenic in Sediments, Mussels and Marine Water from Murano (Venice, Italy)

This paper describes a study of the trace element distribution in sediments, marine water and mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis of the Venetian Lagoon around the Island of Murano, an island with a long tradition of glassmaking. Trace elements analysed include Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, Pb, Ni, Ag and As. Sediments are contaminated with Zn, Cu, Ag, As and Pb, with levels in the <2m fraction that are likely to cause adverse biological effects to marine organisms. The pelite (<63m) is the main carrier of heavy metals at most sites. However, the fine-grained and coarse sand on the southern coast of Murano accounts for a significant proportion of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cr, Ag, Ni and Pb. Most trace element concentrations found in soft tissue of mussels appear to be within recommended Italian and international guidelines for shellfish for human consumption, the only exception being relatively high As levels. The bioaccumulation of Ag and Cr is more pronounced in the shell of these organisms. In the marine water of the lagoon, trace elements are more enriched than in other areas of the Mediterranean, with particular reference to the dissolved labile species of Zn, Mn, As, Cu, Ni and Cr.     

A Preliminary Study on Soil–Gas Radon Geochemistry According to Different Bedrock Geology in Korea

Three study areas of Kwanak campus (Seoul National University), Boeun (Choongbuk) and Gapyung (Kyonggi) were selected and classified according to their bedrock types in order to investigate soil–gas radon concentrations. The mean values of radon concentrations decreased in the order of Gapyung (40BqL^–1) > Kwanak campus (30BqL^–1) > Boeun (22BqL^–1), and decreased in the order of granite gneiss > banded gneiss > granite > black slate–shale > mica schist > shale–limestone > phyllite schist according to bed rock types. Variation in radon emanation with water content in soils and with soil grain size was assessed by the modified Morse (1976) 3min method. Soil–gas radon concentrations increased with increasing water content in the range of less than about 6–16wt.%, but decreased above 6–16wt.%. Radon concentrations also increased with decreasing soil grain size. Radioactivity analysis of radionuclides of ²³⁸U series in some soil samples indicated their possible radioactive disequilibrium between ²²⁶Ra and ²³⁸U due to the differing geochemical behaviour of intermediate radionuclides. Thus, a radioactive isotope geochemical approach should be necessary for soil–gas radon study.     

A contribution to the distribution of some chemical elements inMolinia caerulea andEriophorum vaginatum during reinstatement of the Leegmoor,Emsland, FRG

The concentrations of Ag, Al, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Sr, Ti, V and Zn were determined by AES/ICP inMolinia caerulea andEriophorum vaginatum grown in the Leegmoor, which is in reinstatement. In the soil substrate analytical detection limits were obtained for Ag, Co, Li, Mo and Rb and additionally for Al, Be, Cd, Cr, La, Li, Ni, Pb, Ti and V in plants. Compared with mineral soils, the concentration of elements in peat is low. The elements K and P were enriched byMolinia caerulea andEriophorum vaginatum, and in addition Mn and Zn byEriophorum vaginatum. Altogether the ability of accumulation essential elements seem to be more efficient byEriophorum vaginatumthan byMolinia caerulea, which can be an ecophysiological advantage on peats, whereMolinia caerulea is normally not distributed.     

Long-term effects of application of sewage sludge to soil on composition of herbage with respect to potentially toxic elements

Repeated applications of metal-contaminated sewage sludge can have a drastic effect on soil levels of trace elements and lead to serious toxicity effects in plants. In some cases, land can be rendered sterile.It has been demonstrated that contamination of soils with respect to cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel and zinc is largely irreversible, although there does appear to be a long-term tendency for these metals to become progressively less available to plants over a long period of time. Most national guidelines designed to regulate the disposal of sewage sludge on agricultural land are based on the assumption that relatively rapid fixation of contaminant metals does take place in the soil after sludge application. There is a dearth of information relating to the rates at which potentially toxic-elements commonly present in sewage sludge become immobilised in soils, although it is clear that contaminant boron can be leached down the profile in the short term.Evidence is presented that contamination of top soil can persist for a period of six years after a single application of sludge (150 tonnes dry matter/ha). Over this period, there was little change in available levels of boron, cadmium, copper, lead and zinc in the top soil and the degree of enhancement of these elements in perennial ryegrass grown in the sludge-treated area remained more or less unchanged.     

Investigation of severe water problem in urban areas of a developing country: the case of Dhaka,Bangladesh

The present study evaluated water supply geochemistry in Dhaka City, Bangladesh, to provide detailed trace level (subppb) water quality data that include major ions, low dissolved oxygen (DO) and toxic trace metals for sustainable development. Dhaka Groundwater, which almost uniformly meets the World Health Organization guideline, has become the preferred source. Due to groundwater depletion and an ever-increasing need to meet water demands by city residents, Dhaka water supply and sewerage authority has initiated the treatment of river water, despite the fact that very little is known about the geochemical structure, and trace metal content in the Dhaka water supply. Major ion composition of water samples was determined, and the results used to generate Stiff diagrams. The diagrams served to visually compare water from different sources based on units of mass/volume. Hydrochemical facies analysis showed supply ground and surface waters are comprised predominately of Ca–Na–Mg–HCO₃ and Ca–Na–Mg–HCO₃–Cl types. Spatial distribution of ions, and Na/Cl and Na/SiO₂ molar ratio indicated that silicate weathering is the dominant geochemical process. Chemical data revealed that toxic Cr metal mobilization is associated with chemical hazards from the leather industry. The vulnerability of deep wells to contamination by As is governed by the geometry of induced groundwater flow paths and the geochemical conditions encountered between the shallow and deep regions of the aquifer. Quantifying total arsenic (As) and As from interlocking geochemical cycles (Fe, Mn) may assist in interpreting As dynamics in Dhaka well water. The surface source water was hypoxic to anoxic low DO associated with very high concentrations of biological oxygen demands, and electrical conductivity compared to industrial and non-industrial urban processes and standard activity guidelines. The results of this study should be applied to future research focused on the potential to improve water quality in urban and surrounding areas.     

The role of male vs male interactions in maintaining population dialect structure

Summary Nonmigratory populations of Whitecrowned Sparrows in coastal California exhibit dialects in territorial male songs that are stable in space and time. By field playback experiments, we tested a prediction from the hypothesis that male aggressive interactions prohibit mixing of song dialects. Playback of the home dialect Clear song to territorial males singing the Clear dialect resulted in less response than that given to playback of the neighboring Buzzy dialect. Response to both Buzzy and Clear dialect songs by target Clear males, however, was greater than that given to the Bodega dialect recorded 55 km away (Figs. 2 and 3). We conclude that these results are consistent with the hypothesis that male-male aggressive interactions play an important role in reducing dialect mixing.     

Metal contamination of surface soils of industrial city Sialkot,Pakistan: a multivariate and GIS approach

In this study concentrations of selected metals viz., Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Ni, Pb and Zn in surface soils of Sialkot city known worldwide for tanneries and pharmaceutical industries were measured to assess the status of urban soil pollution and to identify sources of contamination. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HACA) indicated concentrations of Mg and Ca related to parent rock material, Cd, Co, and Pb with traffic related activities, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn either associated with automobiles activities or industrial pollution and Fe, K and Na related with anthropogenic activities or lithogenous materials. Correlation analyses and principal component analysis based on factor analysis confirmed the results of HACA. Spatial distribution maps exhibited relatively higher concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cr and Zn along traffic routes in the city and streams. The results highlighted concentration of Cd, Ni, Cr, Zn, and Pb measured in urban soil exceeded the permissible limit of surface soils and advocated an imperative need for detailed baseline investigations of spatial distribution of heavy metals and other contaminants for the formulation of geochemical database that should be made available to stakeholder involved in monitoring, assessment and conservation of soil contamination for future planning and management of the Sialkot city.     

The Nutrient Status of Some Graminaceous Species in Britain. 2. Deschampsia Flexuosa (L.) Trin

Above-ground biomass of Deschampsia flexuosa from 40 sites throughout Britain was analysed for concentrations of elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and Na), with matching analyses of nutrient levels in the soils, together with pH and LOI. Seasonal variation in the nutrients was also studied in detail at one of the sites. the grass was found on acid sites ranging between pH 3.1 and 4.7. the soil humus content varied widely, and there were significant correlations between that and elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn and Na) in the soil. Concentrations of zinc and manganese in the plant material were the only elements that significantly correlated with extractable levels in the soils. Tissue concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium declined throughout the growing season, whereas the other elements showed a tendency to build up until the end of September. Calcium, magnesium and manganese concentrations then declined as growth ceased. the results are compared with above-ground concentrations of minerals in other plants and the growth strategy of this perennial grass.