In this study, 500 bottom soils and 7300 topsoils samples were collected to determine the major elementsconcentrations and to evaluate the correspondence of soil chemical contents and the local geology and to betteridentify background values. The <2 mm fraction of each sample was analysed for a total of 52 elementscombining ICP-MS and ICP-ES techniques. This study focuses on the concentration and distribution of majorelements: Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P and Ti. A combined methodological approach, which involved compositional data analysis, multifractal data interpolation, as well as enrichment factor analysis, was applied to thegeochemical dataset. Results indicate that the compositional approach in the multivariate data analysis allows tobetter interpret the behaviour of elements in natural environment and in geochemical processes as compared toraw data and to improve the quality of related maps. The study has shown that the soils of the Campania regiongenerally contain higher concentrations of investigated major elements than those assessed for European andItalian agricultural soils. In Campania, both bottom soils and topsoils contain higher concentrations of Al, K, Na,P and Ti in volcanic areas. Limestone and dolostone are responsible for higher Ca and Mg contents, while soilsformed on siliciclastic deposits generally contain higher levels of Fe and Mn. P and Na concentrations are higherin volcanic soils, but the contribution of fertilizers, which is evident in some areas, should not be underestimated.Weathering processes play an essential role in the distribution of elements in soils, and this appears very evidentmostly in volcanic areas. The observations are consistent with the results of the enrichment factors analysis.

Major elements concentration in soils. A case study from Campania Region (Italy)

Ilaria Guagliardi
2023

Abstract

In this study, 500 bottom soils and 7300 topsoils samples were collected to determine the major elementsconcentrations and to evaluate the correspondence of soil chemical contents and the local geology and to betteridentify background values. The <2 mm fraction of each sample was analysed for a total of 52 elementscombining ICP-MS and ICP-ES techniques. This study focuses on the concentration and distribution of majorelements: Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P and Ti. A combined methodological approach, which involved compositional data analysis, multifractal data interpolation, as well as enrichment factor analysis, was applied to thegeochemical dataset. Results indicate that the compositional approach in the multivariate data analysis allows tobetter interpret the behaviour of elements in natural environment and in geochemical processes as compared toraw data and to improve the quality of related maps. The study has shown that the soils of the Campania regiongenerally contain higher concentrations of investigated major elements than those assessed for European andItalian agricultural soils. In Campania, both bottom soils and topsoils contain higher concentrations of Al, K, Na,P and Ti in volcanic areas. Limestone and dolostone are responsible for higher Ca and Mg contents, while soilsformed on siliciclastic deposits generally contain higher levels of Fe and Mn. P and Na concentrations are higherin volcanic soils, but the contribution of fertilizers, which is evident in some areas, should not be underestimated.Weathering processes play an essential role in the distribution of elements in soils, and this appears very evidentmostly in volcanic areas. The observations are consistent with the results of the enrichment factors analysis.
2023
Istituto per i Sistemi Agricoli e Forestali del Mediterraneo - ISAFOM
Compositional data analysis
Background concentration
Enrichment factor
Robust principal component analysis
Geochemical mapping
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Descrizione: Major elements concentration in soils. A case study from Campania Region (Italy)
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14243/461123
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