Spatial variability of the chemical characteristics of a trace-element-contaminated soil before and after remediation

This study addresses the spatial and temporal variability of soil properties before and after the application of organic and inorganic amendments in a trace-element-polluted soil using statistics and geostatistical methods. The experiment took place in a plot (20×50 m) affected by the acid toxic pyritic sludge from the Aznalcóllar mine (Seville, Spain) in April 1998. Soil samples from 0- to 15-cm depth were collected within 48 locations, on a 14×45 m grid in 2002 and 2003, respectively. The samples were analysed for pH, total organic carbon, total sulphur and total, available and soluble As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations. Classic statistical and geostatistical methods were used to assess variability in contamination levels. All soil properties determined in the plot showed a large variability with high coefficients of variation. In both years, mean values of total concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were higher than the background values in the area. In general, amendment application increased soil pH and total organic carbon content and decreased heavy metal solubility, however it did not have a clear effect on total and available trace-element contents. Experimental semivariograms were developed to determine the spatial dependence of soil properties and were adjusted to spherical and linear models with nugget effect. Then, the spatial distribution of the different variables was estimated by kriging to design contour maps. These contour maps can help to identify the pollution patterns and delineate the range of contamination. A spatial similarity pattern among total As and Pb (the lesser mobile elements) and total S content was found in both samplings revealing a correspondence between the contamination and spots of residual sludge. Levels of metal pollution were influenced by soil pH. Despite those clean-up efforts the soil still presents significant levels of pollution related to the presence of remaining sludge in the soil. The kriging-interpolated maps were a very valuable tool in studying pollution and monitoring soil parameters after amendment application at field scale.