METALLIC ELEMENTS’ CONTENT IN SOIL, NEEDLES AND BARK OF PINE TREES AFTER THE REDUCTION OF ALCALIC IMMISSION

Regional Monitoring of Natural Environment 2003, No 4, 107-113

METALLIC ELEMENTS’ CONTENT IN SOIL, NEEDLES AND BARK OF PINE TREES AFTER THE REDUCTION OF ALCALIC IMMISSION

 

Anna Świercz

Summary

The research into the content of the metallic elements in the needles and bark of pine trees and the podzol was conducted in 2001 at two Scots pine stands being under direct influence of alcalic immission of Cement Plant Małogoszcz S.A. in the Świętokrzyski administrative district. In the vicinity if the cement plant the annual average fall of dust amounts at 20-30% of the norm (defined at 200g/m2) and at present it does not endanger the environment. The conducted researches show that the long lasting small alkaline emission strongly influences the soil surface and the pine trees located close to the cement plant. The effect of that influence refers to the observed changes in the soil and bioindexes, thus showing:

– continued considerable high pH value in the neutral to slight basic and reaction range,

– high total content of Ca, K, Mg in the needles and bark of pine trees with the lower content of Al, Fe i Mn,

-unnaturally increased concentrations of the metallic elements in organic soil horizons being constantly alcalized: Ca (8-9-times), K (2-3-times), Mg (3-4-times), Pb (twice), Na (3-4-times) and the clear decrease in the content of Fe i Mn (twice).

The changes in the chemical composition of soil, pine bark and needles caused by still persisting alcalic immission influencing the functioning of the ecosystem and the vital condition of the pine stands in an unbeneficial manner.