Relations between soil properties and the 1 M NH4NO3 soluble mobile element fraction

The aim of the present study was to establish whether the 1 M NH 4 NO 3 extraction is a suitable method for determining the background concentrations of mobile element fractions in soils and for describing the relations among mobile element fractions and soil properties. The 1 M NH 4 NO 3 extraction resulted As, Cr and Pb concentrations below the detection limit in 90% of the investigated soils. This shows that the mobile element content determined simply in 1 M NH 4 NO 3 solution is probably inadequate for the determination of the mobile background concentrations of these elements. Therefore, in the risk assessment of soil contamination other soil properties and element fractions – like “total” (cc. HNO 3 +H 2 O 2 soluble) – should also be taken into consideration. The mobile Al concentration increased exponentially below pH 4. No correlation was found among 1 M NH 4 NO 3 soluble mobile As, Cr, Cu and Pb element concentrations and any investigated soil property. Mobile Co, Mn, Al, Ni and Zn concentration...