Effect of Heavy Metal Pollution on Potassium Behavior in Typic Udic Ferrisol

The indirect influence of heavy metal contamination of soil on nutrient availability, an important aspect of soil quality, may need to be taken into consideration when determining overall effects of heavy metals. A laboratory experiment was performed to study the effects of combined pollution of Cu, Ph, Zn and Cd on soil K status as indicated by chemical fractions, adsorption-desorption and quantity/intensity (Q/I) relationship of K in a Typic Udic Ferrisol (generally called red soil), by employing uniform design and single factor design. Compared to the control, content of exchangeable K was decreased, but that of soluble K increased in the samples contaminated with heavy metals. Due to heavy metal pollution, potassium adsorption was reduced by 5% to 22%, whereas the desorption percentage of adsorbed K increased by 2% to 32%. The Q/I curves shifted downward, potassium buffering capacity (PBCK) decreased, and equilibrium activity ratio values (ARoK) increased with increasing heavy metal pollution. These influences followed the sequences of Ph>Cu>Zn and combined pollution>single one. Displacement of K from canon exchange sites and decrease in soil CEC due to heavy metals should be responsible for the changes of soil K behaviours. The findings suggest that heavy metal pollution of soil might aggravate the degradation of soil K fertility by decreasing K adsorption and buffering capacity and increasing desorption.