Characteristics of Natural Pedo-geochemical Background for Ni, Cu and Zn in Volcanic Soils of Jeju

This study was carried out to find out causes of high Ni content and characteristics of potential increase of Cu and Zn contents in the soils of Jeju area. Soil samples were collected from 4 series of Alfisols, 35 series of Andisols, 9 series of Entisols, 16 series of Inceptisols, and 1 series of Ultisols, respectively. Parent material (gravel) samples were also collected from the same sites where soil samples were taken. Both soil and parent material samples were analyzed for Ni, Cu, and Zn. The average Ni content of all the soil samples was , which was exceeded warning standard for Ni against the Soil Conservation Act in Korea, whereas that of Cu and Zn contents were lower than the warning standard for Cu and Zn. The difference of Ni, Cu and Zn content was not consistent depending upon soil color. Ni content in the soil samples from Entisols was particularly high, whereas that from the other soil orders was similar to each other. Cu and Zn contents in the soil samples were similar regardless of the difference in soil order. Ni content in Seongsan Formation(SSF), Cinder cone(C) and acicular Feldspar Olivine Basalt(FOB) was high, while that in Feldspar Basalt(FB) and Trachy Andesite lava(TA) was low. Ni content in the non-agricultural land was higher compared with that in the agricultural land, whereas Cu and Zn contents in the non-agricultural land were significantly lower than that of agricultural land. The topsoil/subsoil ratios for Ni content in most of the soil samples were less than 1, while that for total contents of Cu and Zn in many of the soil samples were larger than 1 indicating potential Cu and Zn accumulation in topsoil by artificial reasons.