Effect of Addition of Ameliorative Materials on the Distribution of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn in Extractable Soil Fractions*

Abstract

The effects of lime, limestone, and zeolite addition on the availability of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn in three contaminated soils were investigated in a pot experiment after four vegetation periods of spring wheat, spring barley, and oat. The results showed different responses of extractable element portions to soil amendment when 0.01 mol dm −3 aqueous CaCl2 was applied as a soil extraction agent. Substantial differences were evident among the investigated elements as well as among the individual soil treatments. Except natural zeolite, the ability of ameliorative materials to redistribute cadmium and zinc from a soil solution into less mobile but labile soil fractions was observed. The lead availability was less affected and the extractability of arsenic even increased in some of the treated pots. Moreover, the availability of arsenic was more affected by different characteristics of experimental soils than by individual soil treatments. It was found that these treatments can be applied neither for multicontaminated nor for all the soil types. The soil treatments had a lower effect on the less mobile soil fractions