Status of iron in alluvial soils from the wisla river valley, Poland

Abstract

Iron is the essential element for plant growth. Although most soils contain adequate total Fe, amounts that are available to plants might be inadequate. Plant available Fe depends on factors such as Fe species in the soil and the ability of plant roots to make Fe compounds soluble. In this paper, forms and mobility of Fe in soils formed from Wisla river sediments were evaluated. The soils of studied area although rich in total Fe, contain insufficient concentration of labile Fe, a plant available fraction. Sequential extraction procedure was used for the speciation of Fe fractions. Data obtained show very low Fe concentration in fractions of plant available Fe such as soluble and exchangeable Fe (0.5–2.2 mg kg⁻¹ soil). Most of the Fe was found in the Fe oxide (over 12% of the total) and residual, fixed in silicate structures, fractions (more than 80% of the total). Substantial amounts of Fe is associated with soil organic matter. Iron associated with manganese oxides and acid soluble Fe compounds are present in minor amounts.