Comparisons of Various Chemical Extracts as Quantity Factors to Determine Metal-Buffering Capacity of Soils

Applicability of various chemical extracts was investigated as quantity (Q) factors to determine cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) desorption quantity–intensity (Q/I) relationships in soils. The metal extracts were sums of sequential metal fractions (except the residual fraction) using Tessier's (TSE) and Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) procedures and various single chemical extracts: 1.0 M potassium nitrate (KNO₃), 1.0 M magnesium nitrate Mg(NO₃)₂], 1.0 M magnesium chloride (MgCl₂), and 0.11 M acetic acid (CH₃COOH) solutions. Water-extractable metal was applied as a fixed intensity (I) factor. The TSE or BCR metal fractions were significantly correlated with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)–extractable metals, and all the metal desorption Q/I curves were linearly fitted. However, most of metal BC values estimated by using the single chemical extracts were very low and did not have consistent trends for target metals. Only 0.11 M CH₃COOH-extractable metals might be reliable. Therefore, TSE and BCR metal fractions can be applicable to replace DTPA-extractable metals, and 0.11 M CH₃COOH-extractable metals might also be useful.