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Ageing of zinc in highly-weathered iron-rich soils

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Abstract

Background and aims

The reactivity and bioavailability of soluble metal added to soil decreases with time. This process, called ageing, has mainly been investigated in temperate soils. This paper uses isotopic exchangeability to investigate Zn ageing in a range of highly weathered and/or oxide-rich soils.

Methods

Changes in lability of soluble added Zn (450 mg Zn/kg soil) over time was measured in six contrasting soils, with pH adjusted to give ten treatments per soil type ranging from pH 4 to 7.

Results

Decreasing extractability and isotopic exchangeability (lability) over time revealed substantial fixation of added zinc in six highly weathered/variable charge soils. Strong negative relationships between pH and solubility, and pH and lability were observed. In soils with pH > 6.5 a significant proportion of the added metal becomes non-isotopically exchangeable within 15 s of addition. Correlations between Mn solubility and Zn lability throughout the incubation demonstrated the role of redox conditions (and pH) in regulating Zn lability.

Conclusions

Results showed zinc fixation was strongly related to pH and ageing time, and relatively unaffected by soil type and mineralogy. Very rapid reductions in radiolability immediately (<15 s) after spiking suggest that precipitation plays a role in fixation of added soluble zinc at near neutral pH, however spectroscopic studies are needed to confirm this. Radiolability of added zinc was also affected by changing redox conditions during incubation.

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Acknowledgements

E. Donner would like to thank the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission in the UK for PhD funding, and CSIRO Land and Water (Urrbrae, SA) for hosting the visit during which this work was undertaken. She is also grateful to Ass. Prof. E. Lombi, Dr. F., Zhao, Prof. S. McGrath, and Dr. S. Young for helpful discussions and advice.

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Author notes

  1. Erica Donner

    Present address: Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, South Australia, 5095, Australia

  2. Michael St. J. Warne

    Present address: Department of Environmental Research Management, Catchment Water Science, Water Quality and Aquatic Ecosystem Health, GPO Box 2454, Brisbane, Queensland, 4001, Australia

  3. Kris Broos

    Present address: VITO—Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Soil Research Centre, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6DW, UK

    Erica Donner, Mark E. Hodson & Stephen Nortcliff

  2. Centre for Environmental Contaminants Research, CSIRO Land and Water, PMB 2, Glen Osmond, South Australia, 5064, Australia

    Mike J. McLaughlin, Diane Heemsbergen, Michael St. J. Warne & Kris Broos

  3. Soil Science, School of Agriculture Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, South Australia, 5064, Australia

    Mike J. McLaughlin

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  1. Erica Donner
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Correspondence to Erica Donner.

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Donner, E., McLaughlin, M.J., Hodson, M.E. et al. Ageing of zinc in highly-weathered iron-rich soils. Plant Soil 361, 83–95 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1247-y

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