The Role of Forest Vegetation in the Biogeochemical Cycle of Heavy Metals

Abstract

Concentration of the heavy metals Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb was measured in different compartments of vegetation and soil in a beech (Fagus silvatica) and a spruce (Picea abies) forest and the inventory of these elements was calculated. During a period of 3 years the heavy metal concentration in precipitation and soil water fluxes below tree root zone was determined and total element fluxes were calculated.Annual input from the atmosphere is small (≤30%) for the metals Cr, Mn, and Ni when compared to the amounts stored in the annual increment of biomass. The percentage is higher for Fe (40 to 60%). Uptake of these metals must be supplied partly by weathering of soil minerals. Accumulation of Cu in biomass is completely accounted for by atmospheric input. Total uptake of Co, Zn, Cd, and Pb into the cycling fraction (leaves, needles) and the noncycling fraction (wood) can be accounted for or is exceeded by atmospheric input. Air pollution from industry, home firing, and motor vehicles is the probable source.Biomass contained up to 27% of total Cd in the ecosystem, but only about 8% of Cu, 2 to 5% of Ni, Zn, and Mn, about 1% of Pb and Cr, and <0.3% of Fe and Co. Accumulation of Pb, Fe, and Co is very strong in the organic surface layer which contains up to 180 times the amount of metal reaching soil as annual litterfall, but only 3 times the amount of Mn, indicating a fast release of the metal by decomposition of organic matter.

Forest vegetation affecting the deposition of atmospheric elements to soils

“…The high Mn concentrations in TH have been reported by numerous authors (e.g. Heinrichs & Mayer, 1980;Atteia & Dambrine, 1993) and they were confirmed through laboratory experiments (Fritsche, 1992). They are interpreted as a consequence of the Mn role in the carbohydrate metabolism and in the photolysis of water.…”

“…Chemistry of the TH (precipitation below tree canopy) has a complex character resulting from numerous processes determining its chemical composition (Heinrichs & Mayer, 1980;Norden, 1991;Skřivan et al, 1995). Chemical composition of the wet atmospheric precipitation entering the tree canopy is enriched by its interaction with the above -ground parts of trees through several ways:…”

Use of chitosan for the removal of metal ion contaminants and proteins from water

“…Coniferous trees efficiently filter pollutant particles from the air (Salemaa et al, 2001 ). Stand throughfall and plant litter increases the load of heavy metals and sulphur on the forest floor (Heinrich and Mayer, 1980;Derome and Nieminess, 1988;Nieminen et al, 1999).…”

Uptake and Translocation of Iron by Native Tree Species In A Constructed Wetland Treating Landfill Leachates

“…However, iron concentrations greater than 100 mg kg 1 have also been reported in the literature. Heinrichs and Mayer [35] observed average iron concentrations of 270 and 180 mg kg 1 in the trunk wood of European beech and Norway spruce trees. Vogt et al [48] observed average iron concentrations of 150 and 110 mg kg 1 in the roots of hemlock and fir trees.…”

“…Piczak [33] , Kozlov et al [34] and Heinrichs and Mayer [35] observed average iron concentrations of 128-300 mg kg 1 , 154-350 mg kg 1 and 210 mg kg 1 in the leaves of Norway maple, mountain birch and Norway spruce trees, respectively. Reeves and Baker [36] stated that the low, normal and high concentrations of iron in dried plant leaves are 10 mg kg 1 , 60-600 mg kg 1 and 2500 mg kg 1 , respectively.…”