评价城市土壤磷素淋溶风险的化学指标

Soils from urban and suburban areas are normally enriched with phosphorus (P). Sixteen urban soils with a wide range of total P concentrations under typical urban land uses were sampled and analyzed for extractable P concentrations using water, sodium bicarbonate and citric acid. Meanwhile the soils were artificially leached in columns and P concentrations in the leachates were determined. With linear regression a two-stage linear relationship was found to exis tbetween concentrations of P in the leachates and soil P contents obtained by various chemical measurements, i.e., there was a “change-point” denoting the critical threshold value for extractable P between the regression lines, above which concentrations of P in leachates increased substantially. These threshold “change-point” values were 1.5 mg kg^-1 for water-soluble P and CaCl2-P, 25 mg kg^-1 for Olsen-P, and 250-350 mg kg^-1 for citric acid-P with the sharpest change and the best predictor [τ2 (upper) = 0.928, τ2 (lower) = 0.807] appearing for Olsen-P. These “change-points” were considered important criteria in assessing the risk of P leaching from urban soils and could be used as standards to delineate and target hazardous areas in urban and suburban areas.     

福建耕地土壤磷素富集空间差异及其影响因素

利用1∶250 000福建省耕地土壤类型空间数据库以及1982年1 676个和2008年200 322个耕地土壤调查样点数据资料,借助GIS技术与灰色关联分析模型,探讨了26年间研究区耕地耕层土壤有效磷富集程度空间差异及其影响因素。结果表明:26年来福建省耕地土壤有效磷呈明显富集趋势,全省92.81%的耕地有效磷处于不同程度富集状态,有效磷平均富集量和年均富集率分别高达24.38 mg?kg-1和10.01%,并呈较明显的空间差异。地处南亚热带的厦门市耕地有效磷富集程度最大,中亚热带的南平市富集程度最小;有效磷富集程度较高的土类为紫色土、潮土、水稻土和赤红壤,较小的土类为滨海盐土和石灰土;富集程度较大的亚类包括淹育水稻土、灰潮土和漂洗水稻土,较小的亚类包括棕色石灰土和滨海盐土。研究区耕地土壤磷素富集及其空间差异主要受年均磷肥施用量、p H、年均气温和土壤黏粒含量显著影响,灰色关联系数0.722。根据研究区耕地土壤磷素富集程度及其空间差异制定磷肥优化管理措施是十分必要的。     

Ecological evaluation of artificial soils treated with phosphogypsum

An attempt to set up ecologically acceptable concentrations of toxic components contained in phosphogypsum was made for soils of different land uses. For this purpose, an experimental ecological evaluation of a standard soil mixture (model artificial soil ISO 11268-1) treated with phosphogypsum was performed. Both positive and negative effects of the phosphogypsum components were found. Thus, a significant increase in the biomass of lawn grasses was observed in the model soil with the phosphogypsum content of less than 3.3%. In the soil containing more than 6.8% phosphogypsum, the concentrations of Sr and F exceeded the maximum permissible values and adversely affected the living organisms. According to the basic ecological norms, the allowable content of phosphogypsum should be ≤2.0% for the soils of specially protected natural areas; ≤6.8% for agricultural and urban soils; and ≤9.6% for the soils of forest, water management, and transport lands.     

新疆喀什地下水浅埋区弃荒地表层土壤积盐与地下水的关系

为了研究新疆喀什地下水浅埋区弃荒地表层土壤积盐与地下水的定量关系,对试验区自然状况下的土壤含水量、表层土壤含盐量、地下水埋深、地下水矿化度和潜水蒸发量进行了原位监测,模拟了潜水蒸发量与地下水埋深的关系,定量分析了弃荒地自然条件下地下水埋深、地下水矿化度对土壤表层盐分的影响,建立了表层土壤含盐量与地下水埋深、地下水矿化度的经验模型。结果表明:在5~50 cm土层,土壤质量含水率随土层深度增加而增大;地下水埋深、地下水矿化度对表层土壤盐分有显著的影响,当地下水埋深为定值时,表层土壤含盐量与地下水矿化度呈线性正相关;当地下水矿化度为定值时,表层土壤含盐量与地下水埋深呈线性负相关;土壤盐分表聚现象明显,不同地下水埋深条件下表层土壤含盐量随累计潜水蒸发量的增加而增大,表层土壤积盐速率随地下水埋深的增大而减小,地下水埋深为25 cm条件下表层土壤积盐速率约是地下水埋深为50 cm的表层土壤积盐速率的2倍多。     

南京城市土壤磷的形态和吸附-解吸特征

研究了南京城市土壤有机磷、各形态无机磷的含量和比例以及磷的吸附 -解吸特性。结果表明 :随着土壤全磷含量的增加 ,Al-P、Fe -P、O -P、Ca -P含量、Al-P占全磷的比例增加 ,但有机磷占全磷的比例、Fe -P占全磷的比例减少 ;与非城区土壤相比较 ,城市土壤磷的吸附量低 ,磷的解吸量和解吸率高 ;城市土壤中Al -P的含量及其在全磷中的比例较高 ,而磷的吸附量低、解吸率高是导致城市地下水磷浓度偏高的重要原因之一。     

不同利用方式旱地红壤水稳性团聚体及其碳、氮、磷分布特征

针对江西红壤地区不同利用方式引起的土壤质量和肥力的相应变化,研究了不同肥力水平、不同利用方式下红壤旱地水稳性团聚体含量及其养分分布规律。研究表明,荒地土壤中>5 mm水稳性团聚体含量显著高于其他利用方式,花生地和果园土壤则以0.25～0.053 mm的水稳性团聚体为主。各肥力水平下,菜地土壤中除>5 mm水稳性团聚体外,各粒级团聚体中有机碳、全氮和全磷含量均显著高于花生地、果园和荒地土壤。说明菜地土壤长期大量施肥,导致土壤碳、氮、磷养分含量均相对丰富。不同利用方式旱地红壤中,有机碳、全氮主要分布在>5 mm、5～2 mm和2～1 mm的较大粒径水稳性团聚体中。说明随着团聚体粒径增大,其有机碳含量增加,土壤全氮的消长趋势和有机碳一致。土壤全磷较均匀地分布在水稳性团聚体中,如高肥力菜地和荒地土壤各粒级团聚体中全磷含量间均无显著性差异。各利用方式旱地红壤中2～1 mm和1～0.5 mm的水稳性团聚体含量与土壤有机碳、全氮和全磷含量间均达到了极显著正相关。     

Distribution of major elements and trace metals as indicators of technosolisation of urban and suburban soils

Purpose

Can geochemical characteristics indicate the human impact on soil formation (technosolisation) for urban and suburban soils? This question is assessed for the city of Marrakech located in one of the main agricultural areas of Morocco and characterized by a very rapid rate of expansion. The aim of this work is to assess geochemical properties of surface horizons of urban and suburban soils and to compare them with land use types.

Materials and methods

Fifty-eight surface soil samples were collected in different sectors of the city with different land use histories. As land use can be defined as the human use of land, these sampling sites were selected according to the current human activity (e.g., residential districts, agriculture, market-gardening, traditional, or industrial activities) and according to the superposition of the land use over time. All samples were air-dried, disaggregated, homogenized, and then sieved through a 2-mm mesh. Major elements and trace metals were measured in the soil using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. For technical limits, Cd was measured using atomic adsorption spectrometry.

Results and discussion

Urban and suburban soils of Marrakech present generally similar geochemical compositions for many elements. Siliceous (SiO₂) compounds related to the parent material are dominant in these soils. However, the significant concentrations of P₂O₅ and CaO, measured in some of the urban soils studied, can be attributed to anthropogenic inputs of phosphorus (P) and technic materials, mainly building materials composed of cement and gypsum (plaster). Soils collected from agricultural areas irrigated with urban wastewater and soils developed on rubbish dumps are the most contaminated by metals (e.g., Cu, Zn, and Pb). Therefore, the distribution of major and trace elements in soils underlines the considerable impact of urban land uses.

Conclusions

Human activities determine the type of land use, impact the urban environment, and cause a wide spatial diversity of soil quality. The urban and suburban soils of Marrakech contain similar major element distributions except for strongly anthropised soils (soils developed on rubbish dumps and agricultural soils irrigated with urban wastewater). Unlike major elements, trace elements present systematically significantly higher concentrations in urban soils than those measured in control soils. In these conditions, the highest concentrations exceed international clean-up standards and are correlated with land use type. Phosphorus, Ca, and several heavy metals are proposed as indicators of human impacts on soil characteristics in urban and suburban environments.     

土壤硒富集空间分布特征及影响因素研究

以揭阳市土壤为对象,系统采集了表层土壤样(0～20 cm)1 330个和深层土壤样(150～200 cm)331个,并利用相关性分析、回归分析、方差分析及GIS空间分析技术等方法对土壤硒的含量分布、富集特征及影响因素进行了系统的分析。结果表明,揭阳市表层土壤Se含量处于0.02～2.01 mg/kg之间,几何平均值为0.48 mg/kg,是中国土壤Se平均含量的1.66倍。揭阳市土壤总体呈足硒及富硒特征,不存在硒过剩,极少区域土壤呈硒缺乏特征,表层与深层土壤表现基本一致,富硒土壤主要分布于普宁市、惠来县及北部边缘。表层土壤中Se富集面积达到52.03%,但在空间上分布零散,这可能与母质、土壤类型等因素有关。强富集区域集中分布于花岗岩与粉砂岩为母质的土壤区,而大部分由第四纪冲积物形成的土壤无富集。方差分析表明:不同母质、土壤类型及土地利用方式对土壤Se的含量及富集水平均造成不同程度的影响,其中影响揭阳市表层土壤Se含量的主要因素为成土母质。除此之外,土壤理化性质及海拔也是影响揭阳市表层土壤Se富集的重要因素。回归分析表明表层土壤Se与pH值呈极显著的负相关,并且分别与有机碳、Fe_2O_3及Al_2O_3呈极显著线性正相关。     

杭州市城市土壤中重金属、磷和其它元素的特征

Health implications of inhaling and/or ingesting dust particles with high concentrations of heavy metals from urban soils are a subject of intense concern. Understanding the geochemistry of these metals is key to their effective management. Total concentrations of heavy metals, phosphorus (P) and 8 other elements from topsoil samples collected at 82 locations in Hangzhou City were measured to: a) assess their distribution in urban environments; and b) understand their differentiation as related to land use. Metal mobility was also studied using a three-step sequential chemical fractionation procedure. About 8.5%, 1.2%, 3.6%, 11.0% and 30.3% of the soil samples had Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations, respectively, above their allowable limits for public and private green areas and residential use. However, in commercial and industrial areas, most samples had metal concentrations below their allowable limits. Statistical analyses revealed that the 16 measured elements in urban soils could be divided into four groups based on natural or anthropic sources using a hierarchical cluster analysis. Additionally, Cu, Pb, and P showed similar spatial distributions with significant pollution in commercial zones, suggesting vehicle traffic or commercial activities as dominant pollutant sources. Also, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Zn, Mn and Fe had the highest concentrations in industrial locations, signifying that industrial activities were the main sources of these seven metals. Moreover, the data highlighted land-use as a major influence on heavy metal concentrations and forms found in topsoils with large proportions of soil Cd, Co, Cr, and Ni found in residual fractions and soil Cu, Pb and Zn mainly as extractable fractions.     

不同改良措施下新疆重度盐渍土壤盐分变化与脱盐效果

为了比较盐渍化土壤不同改良措施的治理效果,以新疆新开垦的重度盐渍化农田为研究对象,设置5个处理分别为农业改良措施、根区隔盐+农业改良措施、暗管排盐+农业改良措施、化学改良+农业改良措施和天然对照区,通过3 a的试验研究土壤盐分运移的影响因素、动态变化与不同改良措施脱盐效果。结果表明:人为灌溉、农田蒸散量、地下水埋深与土壤盐分均达到极显著相关,生育期灌水对耕层土壤盐分影响最大,相关系数为-0.871。整个改良过程中农业改良措施处理表层和底层盐分含量较高,根区隔盐处理盐分表聚现象明显,暗管排盐、化学改良处理均表现出底层盐分明显高于表层。从各处理3a的脱盐效果来看,第1年脱盐效果均不理想,第2年脱盐率显著提升,其中根区隔盐和暗管排盐处理各土层脱盐率均超过44%,改良效果最好,由于土壤总盐分含量减少第3年各措施脱盐率明显降低。总体来看,各改良措施均能够有效降低耕层土壤盐分,根区隔盐、暗管排盐处理在0~80 cm耕层脱盐率分别为61.33%、59.37%,优于其他处理;化学改良处理0~40 cm土层脱盐效果优于底层,其脱盐率为55.32%,明显高于农业改良处理的脱盐率45.42%,但0~80 cm土层脱盐率2处理间差异不大。新疆盐碱化程度重,农田根区隔盐、暗管排盐工程改良结合农业深耕、秸秆还田、增施有机肥等措施是综合治理重度盐渍化土壤的有效途径,研究结果能够为新疆干旱区盐渍化土壤有效改良和合理开发利用提供理论依据和参考。     

Sorption of phosphorus by some surface soils from Quebec in relation to their properties

Abstract

Surface horizons from Podzolic and Gleysolic soils were collected in various parts of the province of Quebec, Canada, and equilibrated with various amounts of KH₂PO₄ in 0.01 M CaCl₂ for 48 hours. P sorption data conformed to the linear form of the Langmuir and Freundlich equations. P solubility isotherms showed evidence of hydroxyapatite formation in most samples studied, whereas equilibration solutions of only few samples were saturated with respect to either dicalcium phoshate dihydrate or octocalcium phosphate. These reaction products were associated to soil pH and levels of added phosphate. The average values of the Langmuir sorption maximum for these studied Gleysolic and Podzolic samples were 763 and 1096 μg/g respectively. These values were higher than those obtained by the segmented and modified Freundlich models.

Relationships between the soil characteristics and P sorption parameters were evaluated by regression analysis. Among all variables, oxalate‐extractable Fe plus Al content of the Podzolic samples and the ratio of oxalate—extractable Al to clay of the Gleysolic samples gave the best significant correlation coefficients. Furthermore, soil pH and various ratios such as pyrophosphate‐extractable Fe and Al, oxalate‐extractable Fe and organic matter to clay were found to be significantly correlated only with the P sorption parameters of the Gleysolic samples.     

Influence of cultivation on the distribution of phosphorus in three soils from NE Scotland and their aggregate size fractions

Abstract. The effect of cultivation on the P properties of whole soils and aggregate sizes separated from them was investigated for soil developed on three types of parent material. Cultivation, with associated fertilizer additions, increased both the total soil P content and extractable P of the whole soils. When the soils were separated into aggregate sizes (< 2, 2-52, 53-150 and 151 2000 μm), total soil P and resin extractable P increased with decreasing aggregate size. Water extractable inorganic P exhibited the opposite trend, while concentrations of water extractable organic P were similar from each aggregate size. Eroded aggregates can adsorb P or release P to solution, the extent of which will be dependent upon a combination of soil attributes and the prevailing solution conditions. The resulting equilibrium P concentration (EPC) of the eroded material will be markedly different from that of the whole soil. By increasing the P content, particularly of the smaller sized aggregates it is likely that the EPC of the eroded material would favour greater P desorption.     

植被毯覆盖对旱区露天煤矿土壤生态化学计量及酶活性的影响

为阐明不同材质植被毯覆盖对干旱地区露天煤矿土壤养分及酶活性的影响,以宁夏贺兰山自然保护区大峰矿为研究对象,分析秸秆、椰丝及秸秆-椰丝3种不同材质植被毯覆盖后矿区土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷、脲酶、蛋白酶、碱性磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶及生态化学计量比特征。结果表明：1）植被毯覆盖增加土壤表层有机碳和总氮含量且最大值为椰丝植被毯覆盖土壤,总磷含量无明显变化,10～20 cm土壤有机碳、总氮、总磷含量无明显变化;2）植被毯覆盖增加C/P、N/P且最大值同样为椰丝植被毯覆盖土壤,C/N无明显变化;3）植被毯覆盖土壤脲酶和碱性磷酸酶活性显著高于裸地,且0～10 cm大于10～20 cm,蛋白酶活性无显著变化,过氧化氢酶活性仅有椰丝植被毯的0～10 cm显著高于10～20 cm;4）土壤酶活性与环境因子的相关性和冗余分析结果显示：土壤TP、C/N是制约酶活性的主要影响因子,而N/P、TN是驱动酶活性的主要因子。三种植被毯覆盖后,土壤表层养分含量增加,同时增加了土壤表层的C/P和N/P,且促进表层土壤酶活性。此外,4种酶活性之间也存在显著正相关关系（P<0.01）。相对于秸秆、秸秆-椰丝植被毯,椰丝植被毯...     

Soil management for Alfisols in the semiarid tropics: erosion, enrichment ratios and runoff

Abstract. Continuous cultivation of soils of the semiarid tropics has led to significant land degradation. Soil erosion and nutrient loss caused by high runoff volumes have reduced crop yields and contributed to offsite damage. We compared a number of soil management practices (tillage, mulch and perennial/annual rotational based systems) for their potential to improve crop production and land resource protection in an Alfisol of the semiarid tropics of India. Runoff and soil erosion were monitored and surface soil and sediment were analysed for nitrogen and carbon to determine enrichment ratios. Amelioration of soils with organic additions (farmyard manure, rice straw) or rotating perennial pasture with annual crops increased soil carbon and nitrogen contents and reduced runoff, soil erosion and nutrient loss. Soil erosion totalled less than 7 t ha^–1, but enrichment ratios were often greater than 2 resulting in up to 27 kg N ha^–1 and 178 kg C ha^–1 being lost in sediment. Up to an extra 250 mm of water per year infiltrated the soil with organic additions and was available for crop water use or percolation to groundwater. The results show that there are good opportunities for reducing degradation and increasing productivity on farms.     

The influence of different types of urban land use on soil microbial biomass and functional diversity in Beijing,China

Soil microbes in urban ecosystems are affected by a variety of abiotic and biotic factors resulting from changes in land use. However, the influence of different types of land use on soil microbial properties and soil quality in urban areas remains largely unknown. Here, by comparing five types of land use: natural forest, park, agriculture, street green and roadside trees, we examined the effects of different land uses on soil microbial biomass and microbial functional diversity in Beijing, China. We found that soil properties varied with land uses in urban environments. Compared to natural forest, soil nutrients under the other four types of urban land use were markedly depleted, and accumulation of Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd was apparent. Importantly, under these four types of land use, there was less microbial biomass, but it had greater functional diversity, particularly in the roadside‐tree soils. Furthermore, there were significant correlations between the microbial characteristics and physicochemical properties, such as organic matter, total nitrogen and total phosphorus (P < 0.05), suggesting that lack of nutrients was the major reason for the decrease in microbial biomass. In addition, the larger C/N ratio, Ni concentration and pool of organic matter together with a higher pH contributed to the increase in microbial functional diversity in urban soils. We concluded that different land uses have indirect effects on soil microbial biomass and microbial community functional diversity through their influence on soil physicochemical properties, especially nutrient availability and heavy metal content.     

Phosphorus sorption,supply potential and availability in soils with contrasting parent material and soil chemical properties

Soil phosphorus (P) management requires a more targeted and soil‐specific approach than is currently applied for agronomic recommendations and environmental evaluation. Phosphorus buffering capacities control the supply of P in the soil solution and were measured across Irish soils with contrasting parent material and chemical properties. Langmuir sorption buffer capacities (MBCs) and binding energies (b) were strongly correlated with soil pH and extractable aluminium (Al). A broken‐line regression fitted to the relationship between MBC and Al derived a change‐point value for Al above which MBC increased linearly. Soils above the change point were predominantly acidic to neutral with non‐calcareous parent material, with larger buffering capacities and binding energies than calcareous soils. Ratios of Mehlich3‐Al and P (Al:P) were used to relate buffering capacity to supply potential in non‐calcareous soils. Large ratios of Al:P were associated with poor P availability, characteristic of strongly P‐fixing soils. Threshold values of iron‐oxide paper strip P (FeO‐P) and Morgan's P revealed Al:P ratios where soils began to supply P in available form. The change‐point for Morgan's P fell within the current target index for P availability; however, the confidence interval was more compatible with previous agronomic P indices used in Ireland. Relationships between Morgan's P and measures of extractable P, M3‐P and Olsen P, deviated in calcareous soils at large soil P contents, indicative of P precipitation processes dominating in these soils. Identifying differences in soil P buffering capacity at the laboratory scale would improve agronomic and environmental assessment at field and catchment scales.     

互花米草入侵对滨海湿地不同质地土壤碳氮磷及其生态化学计量比的影响

为了阐明外来物种入侵对滨海湿地不同质地土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)及其生态化学计量比的影响，对福建省滨海地区东湖湿地两种质地土壤的土著种与入侵种植被下土壤C、N、P含量及其生态化学计量特征与影响因素进行了测定与分析。研究结果表明：相同植被下，壤质土的C、N、P及其计量比均高于砂质土。互花米草入侵增加了两种质地土壤的C、N含量及碳磷比(C/P)、氮磷比(N/P)，降低了土壤有效磷(AP)、P含量与碳氮比(C/N)，其中砂质土的土壤N含量显著增加了近1倍(P<0.05),AP含量下降近70%，壤质土的C/P增加了近2倍(P<0.05)。不同质地土壤中铵态氮(NH₄⁺-N)和硝态氮(NO₃^–-N)含量对互花米草入侵的响应不同，在壤质土中，互花米草入侵后降低了50%的NH₄⁺-N含量，增加了近3倍的NO₃^–-N含量(P<0.05)；而在砂质土中，互花米草入侵后土壤NH₄     

中国水稻土磷储量及其空间分异

Due to the growing concern about the agricultural phosphorus (P) losses pollution, an in-depth understanding of P in paddy soils of China would be helpful in providing a national perspective of the environmental impact of P cycling and fertility on China’s farms. In this study, we evaluated the P storage and the P density of paddy soils in China, characterized the spatial variations of P among the subgroups of paddy soils and soil regions in China, and evaluated the P data using GIS-based analysis, which included a newly compiled 1:1 M digital soil map of China, and using 1 490 soil profiles. The available and total P densities of paddy soils were 6.7 and 698.5 g m-3, respectively. Overall in China, the total P storage within 1 m of paddy soils was estimated to be 330.1 Tg. The P density of paddy soils varied substantially with subgroups due to the different soil water regimes such as groundwater table and soil drainage. The P availability in paddy soils, especially in surface layer, was higher in high temperature and precipitation areas. Further research is needed to examine more anthropogenic impact factors, such as increasing use of chemical fertilizer.     

Environmental fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons under different plant traits in urban soil as affected by nitrogen deposition

Nitrogen deposition and contamination with anthropogenic substances such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) increasingly threaten ecosystems, in particular, urban systems. We planted different plant communities (Holcus lanatus, Lotus corniculatus, Picea abies, Calluna vulgaris) in N-deficient urban soil to test whether the divergent plant–soil systems differ in their ability to affect the fate of phenanthrene and pyrene in the soil, and whether the ability of the system to sequester external N would differ between the plant and soil systems. Importantly, the influence of the N input as affecting PAH dynamics under the plant communities was explored. The effects of plants on soil microbial biomass (PLFA) and microbial activity (basal respiration) were studied. Although plant type did not affect the dynamics of phenanthrene and pyrene in the soil, N addition had a positive effect on phenanthrene retention in each plant–soil treatment. The content of soil extractable phenanthrene decreased due to N addition especially in soils growing P. abies. This conifer also sequestered the added N to its shoots most efficiently suggesting restoration success of urban soils to be plant trait dependent.     

Effect of some soil properties on extractable boron content in argentine pampas soils

Abstract

The influence of some soil properties on hot 0.02 M calcium chloride (CaCl₂) extractable boron in the Argentine Pampas was studied. The selected soils represent an extensive area in the middle west of the country where most of the grain crops are produced. Soils have all developed on loess and cover a wide range of organic matter, pH, and exchangeable calcium. The most representative soils are Typic Argiudolls and Typic Haplustolls. Two hundred soil samples were taken in order to characterize their 0.02 M CaCl₂ extractable boron content and study the boron behavior with regard to other soils properties and environmental conditions. The amounts of extracted boron on all samples had a significant correlation with soil organic carbon (positive), and soil pH (negative). The regression equation between extractable boron and organic carbon content was y=0.1021+0.3722 OC R²: 0.51. Since solubility in hot CaCl₂, 0,02 M is considered an availability index, these results support the hypothesis that organic carbon content is the main boron reserve for plants. When a multiple regression was calculated, both variables organic carbon and pH explained 57% of variation in extractable boron. The studied area can be subdivided into regions with different boron content, within each region the relationship between boron content and organic carbon and pH were also different. The exchangeable calcium content had a light influence especially in the subsuperficial layer. The influence of environmental conditions on boron content and its relationship with soil properties were discussed.