Geochemical speciation of heavy metals in semiarid soils of the central Ebro Valley (Spain)

This study describes the chemical speciation of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cr in four selected soil types representative of the more abundant agricultural soils in the central Ebro river valley in Aragón. Gypsisols, Calcisols, Solonchaks and Solonetzs represent around 20% of the total soil surface in the region. A total of 12 selected sites have been sampled and five subsamples were taken in each site to create a composite sample. The four elements have been analysed by the sequential extraction procedure of Tessier et al. Anal. Chem. 51 (1979) 844.] by emission atomic spectrometry of solid state (ICP OES). Very little amounts of Fe and Mn were retrieved from the exchangeable phase, the ready available for biogeochemistry cycles in the ecosystems. Therefore, low quantities of Fe and Mn can be taken up by plants in these alkaline soils. Cr was not detected in the bioavailable forms as well as Zn that was only present in negligible amounts in very few samples. The absence of mobile forms of Cr in all soils eliminates the toxic risk both in the trophic chain and from its migration downwards the soil profile. The largest contents of Fe, Zn and Cr were retrieved from the residual phase where metals are strongly bound to minerals, whereas Mn from the carbonate and oxide phases amounts 80% of its total content. Gypsisols and Calcisols have the lowest metal contents while the highest are found in Solonetzs and Solonchaks.