Investigation and Modeling of Manganese Concentration in the Gravel Roadside

Abstract

Road transport is one of the biggest soil polluter. There are a lot of investigations of soil pollution near highways, but soil pollution near gravel roadsides needs more experimental research. In this experimental study we selected gravel road Juseviciai – Budvietis – Derviniai and analyzed soil pollution near this road. Soil samples were collected on both sides of the road by making the transversal profile, the sampling points move away of the road at a distance 1; 2; 5; 10 meters, the samples were collected in 600 meters long strip. All samples were collected by using the envelope principle, samples were taken from the top of the soil layer 0–10 cm depth. It was established that Mn concentration in the soil sample, which was taken from the middle of gravel road carriageway, reached 238,5 mg/kg – it means 1,79 times less than background value. This value is more than 6 times less than maximum allowed concentration and quit close to the values, which were established on both sides in the soil close to gravel road. The modelling of Mn concentration where made in appropriate scale of mathematical model – 15 meter to both sides of gravel road, the width of the road – 4 meters. The simulated soil volume is 34 x 14 meters, the soil type – medium-coarse sandy loam. It was modeled that after one year Mn concentration in the soil, close to gravel road remains 1,3 times less than background value (at a constant Mn emission in the environment). Moving away from driveway till 10–15 meters the concentration of Mn decrease to 200 mg/kg in the soil depth of 0,5 m. After 10 years this concentration will reach 1 meter depth. Bet there would be no changes of Mn concentration in the groundwater level.