Nature of redox concentrations in a sequence of agriculturally developed acid sulfate soils in Thailand

doi:10.1016/S1002-0160(17)60449-1

Pedosphere

Volume 30, Issue 3, June 2020, Pages 390-404

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(17)60449-1 Get rights and content

Abstract

Potential acid sulfate soils (PASS) are drained for agriculture, resulting in the formation of active acid sulfate soils (AASS), which gradually evolve into post-active acid sulfate soils (PAASS). Various redox concentrations (precipitates, costings, and mottles) occur in these soils as a result of pedogenic processes including biological activity and effects of land management. Although several studies have determined the mineralogy and geochemistry of ASS, the mineralogy and geochemistry of redox concentrations occurring in a sequence of ASS through PASS to PAASS have not been investigated. This study examined the mineralogy and geochemistry of redox concentrations and matrices within 5 PASS, 8 AASS, and 5 PAASS in Thailand. The labile minerals were predominantly controlled by oxidation status and management inputs. The unoxidized layers of PASS, AASS, and PAASS contained pyrite and mackinawite. The oxidation of Fe sulfides caused acidification and accumulation of yellow redox concentrations of jarosite and Fe (hydr)oxides at shallow depths. As the soils became well developed, they were recognized as PAASS, and the jarosite and goethite transformed to hematite. As ASS were drained, Co, Mn, Ni, and Zn moved downward and were associated with Fe sulfides and Mn oxides in the unoxided layer. Concentrations of As, Cu, Cr, Fe, and V did not change with depth because these elements became associated with jarosite and Fe (hydr)oxides in yellow and red redox concentrations, as well as the root zone, in the partly oxidized layer of AASS and PAASS. Arsenic was associated with pyrite under reducing conditions.

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Multi-element features of active acid sulfate soils across the Swedish coastal plains
2023, Applied Geochemistry
Acid sulfate soils are sulfide-rich soils with notable associated environmental risks. The low pH of these soils mobilizes metals from the soil minerals, which will lead to both acidification and metal contamination of the surrounding environment. This paper presents the results of a geochemical study of 66 profiles of acid sulfate soils collected from a total of 22 sites (three profiles for each site) on the Swedish coastal plains, which stretch for some 2000 km along the Baltic Sea and Kattegat. The reduced zone at the bottom of the profiles was characterized by pH frequently >6.0, the transition zone (above the reduced zone) by a steep pH gradient from near-neutral to weakly acidic, and the oxidized zone located above the transition zone by highly acidic conditions with a pH minimum <4.0. Each zone in each profile was sampled for geochemical analyses. The aqua regia extractable S concentrations ranged widely in the reduced zone (0.06–7.5%) and were strongly depleted in the oxidized zone (median decrease 69%) from extensive sulfide oxidation and associated severe acidification and sulfate leaching. In addition to S, there were significant losses from the oxidized zone of eight alkali and alkaline earth metals (Ba, Be, Ca, K, Li, Mg, Na, and Sr), four first row transition metals (Co, Mn, Ni, and Zn), three second row transition metals (Cd, Y, and Zr), the rare earth elements (Ce, La, and Yb), and Al, Th, and B. These elements would therefore be expected to be enriched in nearby surface waters, which was supported by hydrogeochemistry data from elsewhere in the boreal zone. Nineteen other chemical elements were not significantly lost from the oxidized zone relative to the reduced zone (Fe, Ti, W, Se, Sc, V, Cu, Cr, P, In, Te, Ag, Sb, Bi, Sn, Mo, U, As, and Pb) and therefore, would not be expected to occur in elevated concentrations in acid sulfate soil affected surface waters, as was supported by literature data from elsewhere in the boreal zone. A hypothesis of more extensive oxidation, acidification, and leaching of the soils in south Sweden (hemiboreal zone) than north Sweden (boreal zone) due to a warmer climate in the former region was rejected based upon pH and multi-element patterns from 9 field sites from the north and 12 field sites from the south. Consequently, the losses were likely primarily controlled by local factors, such as time since drainage and soil development. However, the oxidized zone was significantly thicker in the north (median: 75 cm) than south (median: 40 cm). This suggested that although the proportional losses (i.e., difference in elemental concentrations between the oxidized and reduced zones) were overall not different between the two regions, the total amount of elements lost from the soils will have been larger in the north. Of the elements with no significant losses, several were extracted with 1 M HCl to a larger extent in the oxidized than the reduced zone (Fe, As, Cr, Cu, Mo, Sc, Ti, U, and V). This indicated retention in the acidic environment following release from weathered and/or oxidized soil minerals. These elements, of which several are particularly toxic (As, Cr, and U), may thus be mobilized and leached if the soils geochemical conditions change either naturally or via human activities.
Assessment of the acidification risk of the acid sulfate soil materials in a tropical coastal peat bog:Muthurajawela Marsh, Sri Lanka
2022, Catena
Citation Excerpt :
Their behaviour, impacts, and management approaches have long been studied in all regions except South Asia (e.g. Bloomfled and Coulter, 1974; van Breemen, 1982; Johnston et al., 2010; Fall et al., 2014; Shamshuddin et al., 2014; Combatt Caballero et al., 2019; Mendonca et al., 2021). For example, some of the modified CASS landscapes with improved soil and water management practices have been used to cultivate certain crops such as rice, oil palm, cocoa, and sugarcane in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, and northern Australia (Kinsela and Melville, 2004; Shamshuddin et al., 2004; Grealish and Fitzpatrick, 2013; Sukitprapanon et al., 2020; Mendonca et al., 2021). However, our understanding of acid sulfate soils in the tropical regions is incomplete due to the limited contribution from the South Asian region.
Coastal regions in tropical countries encompass a diverse set of highly productive ecosystems with underlying acid sulfate (AS) soil materials. Muthurajawela Marsh is a tropical, saline, peat bog on the western coast of Sri Lanka and is known to contain AS soil materials. It is a critically important coastal wetland ecosystem and provides a multitude of benefits and services to the surrounding environment and the people in the area. At present, the AS soil materials in the marsh are at risk of exposure due to development activities in the surrounding areas. In this study, net acidity (NA) was quantified using an acid base accounting approach which includes retained acidity (RA) in addition to actual and potential sulfidic acidity (AA and PSA). The NA and the other soil characteristics were investigated in three soil profiles down to 1.5 m, along a north–south transect. All sites contained hypersulfidic soil materials as confirmed by field pH (pH_F) > 4, field oxidation pH (pH_FOX) < 4 and sulfide content > 0.01%. Net acidity values ranged from 23 to 4000 mol H⁺ t^-1which was above the recommended management requirement value for peat and medium clay soils (i.e. 18 and 36 mol H⁺ t⁻¹). At the northern site (S1), PSA was the main contributor to the NA, indicating future risk if the site were to become exposed to air. Both AA and RA were major contributing fractions at the middle (S2) and southern (S3) sites, with a possible imminent acidity discharge. All sites lack inherent buffering capacity, consequently, acidity can be released from the oxidation of the AS soil materials leading to the potential impact on the marsh ecosystem. The findings of this study indicate that human activities should be carefully managed to minimize the hazards that can occur due to exposing AS soils in the marsh.
Sulfate migration and transformation characteristics in paddy soil profile affected by acid mine drainage
2021, Environmental Research
Citation Excerpt :
Adsorption of SO42− is pH-dependent and gets stronger at low soil pH. When soil pH is between 3 and 6, the SO42− binds to iron oxides through inner-sphere adsorption (Kuznetsov et al., 2007). At pH values greater than 6, SO42− adsorbs on iron oxyhydroxide only as an outer-sphere complex (Sukitprapanon et al., 2020). In 20–30 cm soil, SO42− was mainly adsorbed by inner-sphere complexation due to the lowest pH 4.41.
SO₄²⁻, a major component of acid mine drainage (AMD), plays an important role in study environment of AMD. We investigated the distribution and adsorption–desorption mechanisms of SO₄²⁻ and the variation of stable isotope of sulfur (δ³⁴S) values in the soil profile polluted by AMD. Results showed that the species and ³⁴S values of SO₄²⁻ differed significantly among different soil depths. In the surface soil (0–20 cm), native water-soluble SO₄²⁻ (WSS) in the range ~85 % total SO₄²⁻ was the dominant species. There was a peak of adsorption, which correlated significantly with amorphous oxide Fe, indicating that iron oxides and pH was fundamentally proportional to SO₄²⁻ forms. The high concentrations of Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ also played important roles in form of SO₄²⁻ in soil profile. Desorption kinetics of explained three SO₄²⁻-bound forms. The trend mean δ³⁴S values of WSS and AS in soil vertical profile was very similar with increasing from surface to subsurface, and have lower δ³⁴S values than those of total sulfur, indicating that mineralization of organic sulfur should produce SO₄²⁻ that was more depleted in δ³⁴S. SO₄²⁻ desorbed and trend δ³⁴S values could provide reasonable explanation for the migration of SO₄²⁻. In the AMD irrigation scope, the higher SO₄²⁻ concentration was reserved by immobilized as organic sulfur, and then main approach of SO₄²⁻ migration was desorption and organic sulfur mineralize in now stage.
Rare earth elements in acid sulfate soils under long-term paddy rice cultivation in Thailand
2019, Geoderma Regional
Citation Excerpt :
Total P concentration (ranging from 22-299 mg kg-1) is elevated in topsoils due to the use of phosphorus fertilizers. Åström (1998a) reported that leaching of P is limited in AS soils under acidic condition as P is adsorbed by clay minerals (e.g. kaolinite) (Gilkes and Prakongkep, 2016) and iron (hydr)oxides (e.g. ferrihydrite, goethite, and hematite), which are abundant in the oxidized layer and sulfuric horizons of AS soils (Singh and Gilkes, 1992; Sukitprapanon et al., 2017). Table 2 shows that total Fe ranges from 2455 to 40517 mg kg-1 with the maximum concentrations in the sulfuric horizon.
There is little published information on amounts and associations of rare earth elements (REEs) in tropical acid sulfate soils (AS soils) with sulfuric horizons (pH < 4). This research focused on the distribution and partitioning of several REEs (Sc, Y, La, Ce, Nd, and Gd) in four tropical AS soils with sulfuric horizons under long-term paddy rice cultivation on the Lower Central Plain of Thailand. The bulk soil samples were analyzed for total concentrations of REEs using x-ray fluorescence and an aqua regia digest with inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The partitioning of REEs between soil constituents was assessed using a sequential extraction procedure. Some of REEs in the topsoil had been added in phosphatic fertilizers. The REEs had not been leached from the AS soils with sulfuric horizons as they progressively developed more oxic and acidic conditions under agricultural development. Rare earth elements are mostly associated with the residual fraction, followed by acid soluble and pyrite fractions. The acid soluble fraction of REEs is highest in the topsoil. Amounts of OC, poorly-crystalline Fe-(hydr)oxides and iron monosulfides affect the distribution of REEs in the topsoil of the tropical AS soils with sulfuric horizons after a long period of paddy rice cultivation. When AS soils with sulfuric horizons are managed by liming to increase soil pH for rice production, more of the REEs become adsorbed onto organic matter.
Management of Acid and Acid Sulfate Soils
2023, Soil Constraints and Productivity
Increasing productivity of acid sulphate soil for rice through application of ameliorant in Banyuasin South Sumatera
2023, IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science

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Nature of redox concentrations in a sequence of agriculturally developed acid sulfate soils in Thailand

Abstract

Geochim Cosmochim Acta

Geochim Cosmochim Acta

Appl Geochem

Appl Geochem

J Geochem Explor

Geochem Cosmochim Acta

Appl Geochem

Chem Geol

J Geochem Explor

J Geochem Explor

J Southeast Asian Earth Sci

Chemosphere

Chem Geol

Geoderma

Chemosphere

J Colloid Interface Sci

Chem Geol

Chem Geol

Chem Geol

Geochim Cosmochim Acta

Sci Total Environ

Sci Total Environ

Geochim Cosmochim Acta

Appl Geochem

Geochim Cosmochim Acta

Geoderma

Appl Geochem

Water Res

J Asian Earth Sci

Geoderma

Sci Total Environ