Zinc Transformation in a Calcareous Soil as Affected by Applied Zinc Sulfate,Vermicompost, and Incubation Time

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of zinc (Zn) rates and vermicompost levels on distribution of Zn forms of a calcareous soil. After incubation periods, soil samples were air dried, and a sequential extraction scheme was used to fractionate Zn into soluble and exchangeable, bound to carbonate, organically bound, bound to manganese (Mn) oxide, bound to amorphous iron (Fe) oxide, bound to crystalline Fe oxide, and residual forms. In untreated soil, Zn was mainly in the residual fraction. Increasing rates of applied Zn significantly increased all forms of Zn. Carbonate and residual forms showed the greatest increase. Application of vermicompost significantly increased all fractions except Mn-oxide form. This increase was more pronounced for organically bound, soluble, and exchangeable forms, indicating an increase in bioavailability of soil Zn. Incubation time significantly decreased soluble, exchangeable, and organically bound forms but increased other forms of Zn, meaning a significant reduction in Zn phytoavailability in soil with time.     

Soil Zinc Transformations as Affected by Applied Zinc and Organic Materials

Information on soil zinc (Zn) distribution is essential for understanding its chemical reactions and bioavailability. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of wheat straw, cow manure, and vermicompost applied with Zn rates on Zn distribution in a calcareous soil. A sequential extraction scheme was used to fractionate Zn into soluble and exchangeable, bound to carbonate, organically bound, bound to manganese (Mn) oxide, bound to amorphous iron (Fe) oxide, bound to crystalline Fe oxide, and residual forms. In untreated soil, Zn was mainly in the residual fraction. Increasing rates of applied Zn increased all forms of Zn. Carbonate and residual forms showed the greatest increase. Organic materials application increased all fractions, except Mn-oxide form, and this increase was more pronounced for the organically bound form. Concentration of soluble, exchangeable, and organically bound forms was greatest in cow manure–amended samples as compared to other organic materials, suggesting that cow manure contained more bioavailable Zn than other organic materials.     

Chemical Speciation of Heavy Metals in the Fractionated Rhizosphere Soils of Sunflower Cultivated in a Humic Andosol

Chemical speciation and bioaccumulation factor of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) were investigated in the fractionated rhizosphere soils and tissues of sunflower plants grown in a humic Andosol. The experiment was conducted for a period of 35 days in the greenhouse, and at harvest the soil system was differentiated into bulk, rhizosphere, and rhizoplane soils based on the collection of root-attaching soil aggregates. The chemical speciations of heavy metals in the soil samples were determined after extraction sequentially into fractions classified as exchangeable, carbonate bound, metal–organic complex bound, easily reducible metal oxide bound, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)–extractable organically bound, amorphous mineral colloid bound, and crystalline Fe oxide bound. Iron and Zn were predominantly crystalline Fe oxide bound in the initial bulk soils whereas Mn was mainly organically bound. Heavy metals in the exchangeable form accumulated in the rhizosphere and rhizoplane soils, comprising <4% of the total content, suggesting their relatively low availability in humic Andosol. Concentrations of organically bound Fe and Mn in soils decreased with the proximity to roots, suggesting that organic fraction is the main source for plant uptake. Concentrations of Mn and Zn in the metal–organic complex also decreased, indicating a greater ability of sunflower to access Mn from more soil pools. Sunflower showed bioaccumulation factors for Zn, Fe, and Mn as large as 0.39, 0.05, and 0.04 respectively, defining the plant as a metal excluder species. This result suggests that access to multiple metal pools in soil is not necessarily a major factor that governs metal accumulation in the plant.     

Fractionation of zinc in some New Zealand soils

Abstract

The amounts and forms of zinc in twenty surface soils from Canterbury and Southland, New Zealand were determined using a sequential fractionation scheme. Total soil zinc concentrations ranged from 38.1 mg#lbkg^‐1 to 113.8 mg#lbkg^‐1. Although the proportions of zinc found in individual fractions varied between soils, on average approximately 3% occurred as exchangeable zinc, 5% as organic‐bound zinc, 9%, 18%, 24% was associated with manganese, amorphous iron and crystalline iron oxides, respectively, and 40% was in the residual fraction. In a group of soils formed in greywacke alluvium or loess, exchangeable zinc was inversely related to soil pH. Within the same group of soils, those of similar age with greater concentrations of total and organic‐bound zinc were present in imperfectly‐ and poorly‐drained soils compared with well‐drained soils. Zinc extracted from the soils with a range of reagents used to assess ‘plant available’ zinc was correlated strongly with the concentrations of zinc present in the exchangeable and organic‐bound zinc fractions.     

Kinetics of speciation of copper,lead, and zinc loaded to soils that differ in cation exchanger composition at low moisture content

Abstract

A better understanding of the fates of heavy metals in wide range of soils is important in improving efficiency of remediation technologies of heavy metals polluted soils. To contribute to this field we studied the kinetics of speciation of copper (Cu), leaf (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in six soils differed in major cation exchanger composition. Soluble salts of Cu, Pb, and Zn were loaded to the soils, incubated at field moisture contents, and the change in chemical forms of the metals was traced by sequential extraction. In Inceptisols predominated by 2:1 layer silicates and poorly crystalline iron oxides, the added Cu and Pb were found mostly in exchangeable and oxide bound fractions, with decreasing and increasing proportion of the former and the latter during 50 days after addition, respectively. In allophanic and humic Andisols, about 50 to 70% of the total Cu and Pb was found in oxide bound fraction with a significant amount in organically complexed fraction in the latter. The amounts of Cu and Pb in each fraction varied only slightly with time in these soils. The proportion of oxide bound Cu arid Pb was relatively low in a kaolinitic Ultisol irrespective of its higher iron oxide content. Zinc was found mostly in exchangeable and soluble fractions except in Andisols. Low crystallinity of oxide minerals as well as their amount is important factors determining heavy metal retaining capacity of soils. The exchangeable and oxide bound heavy metals should be treated separately in models simulating removal of heavy metal cations by washing and electrokinetic methods.     

Zinc speciation in phosphate‐affected soils

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) speciation was determined in a Zn pre‐treated Andosol, Inceptisol, and a Vertisol before and after adding phosphate. The fractions obtained, i.e., soluble, exchangeable, iron‐manganese (Fe‐Mn) bound, chelated and insoluble organic forms had a different distribution in the three soils. The exchangeable form predominated in the Andosol, followed by Fe‐Mn oxide bound Zn and minor amounts of the chelated forms, whereas Fe‐Mn oxide bound Zn was very abundant in the Inceptisol and Vertisol. Sizable amounts of the exchangeable form were also present. Phosphate pre‐treatment of the Inceptisol and Vertisol did not alter the distribution of the different forms of Zn, whereas in the Andosol the exchangeable as well as the Fe‐Mn oxide bound Zn increased markedly, chelated Zn also increased somewhat.     

耕作改制对砂姜黑土中锰的影响

研究砂姜黑土旱改水对土壤中Mn含量、赋存形态和有效性的影响结果表明,砂姜黑土中Mn存在于粘土矿物、晶形氧化铁、无定性氧化铁、氧化锰态、有机物和碳酸盐中比例分别为27.19%~46.26%、10.48%~21.65%、2.76%~12.28%、17.39%~26.53%、10.61%~24.57%和0.16%~8.35%。旱改水实施水旱轮作后砂姜黑土中全Mn含量极显著降低,平均降幅为8.77%,但伴随土壤pH值的趋中性,土壤中Mn由植物有效性较低的晶形铁结合态逐渐向植物有效性较高的氧化锰态、无定形铁态和有机态转化,活化了土壤中的Mn,提高了Mn的有效性和可移动性。     

旱改水对砂姜黑土中锌含量的影响研究

本文用连续分级浸提法,研究了旱改水对砂姜黑土中锌的含量、赋存形态和有效性的影响。砂姜黑土中的锌绝大部分以残留态存在,晶态铁结合态约占１０％,其余形态锌一般小于＃％。这些形态锌可以分为三类;一类为土壤锌的强度因子,即代换态锌,另一类是土壤锌的容量因子,即有机态、无定形铁结合态的晶形铁结合态锌;第三类为残留态 有效态锌主要来自代换态。旱改水后,晶形铁结合态锌向有机态和无定形铁结合态锌转化,使得土壤中锌     

Redistribution of copper in alfisols under submergence. I. native copper

Abstract

Rice farmers apply organic matter and phosphatic fertilizer before or at the time of puddling (an operation involving tilling of puddled soil before transplanting of rice seedlings) as a part of their soil management program for growing wet land rice. This brings about changes in chemical environment which modifies micronutrient redistribution among soil fractions and thus, their availability to rice crops. An experiment was conducted to understand the effect of organic matter and phosphorus (P) on transformation of copper (Cu) in Alfisols under submergence. Soils were incubated for 75 days in the laboratory under submerged condition and were analyzed for different fractions of Cu content at periodic intervals. Copper was mobilized from water soluble plus exchangeable (WSEX), organically complexed (OC), and crystalline iron (Fe) oxides (CRYOX) bound fractions to amorphous iron oxides (AMOX) and residual (RESID) fractions, the rate of mobilization being maximum from CRYOX and to RESID fraction during initial 15‐day period. Organic matter application retarded Cu transformation from OC and into RESID fraction and increased its content in AMOX fractions. It also decreased WSEX Cu markedly. Copper transformation was not significantly influenced by P application.     

甘肃主要农业土壤中Cu、Zn、Mn、Fe的形态及有效性研究

本文对甘肃省主要农业土壤中Ｃｕ、Ｚｎ、Ｍｎ、Ｆｅ的形态及其有效性进行了研究。结果表明，供试土壤的全Ｃｕ含量范围为２２－２４ｍｇ／ｋｇ，全Ｍｎ为５４２－７７２ｍｇ／ｋｇ，全Ｆｅ为３５６８５－３８３５５ｍｇ／ｋｇ。四种元素均以灌漠土的含量最低，褐土最高。土壤中Ｃｕ、Ｚｎ、Ｍｎ、Ｆｅ的大部分以残留矿物态和氧化铁结合态存在。生物试验和统计分析表明，Ｃｕ、Ｚｎ、Ｍｎ、Ｆｅ的交换态和松结有机态对植物最为有效，     

Zinc fractions in soil and uptake by wheat as affected by different preceding crops

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is widespread in alkaline and calcareous soils. Limited information is available on the effect of preceding crops on the distribution of Zn in soil solid phase. This field study was conducted to investigate the changes in Zn chemical forms in soil solid phase as affected by four preceding crops [Sunflower (Heilianthus annuus L. cv. Allstar), Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. cv. Speed Feed), Clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L. cv. Koseh-e-Isfahan)] in a calcareous soil. A control treatment with no preceding crop (fallow) was also used. Our results showed that the preceding crops increased Zn concentration in exchangeable fraction (EXCH-Zn), the organically bound zinc form (ORG-Zn) and zinc bound to iron and manganese oxides (FeMnOX-Zn) while decreased carbonates bound-zinc (CAR-Zn) and residual zinc forms (RES-Zn). However, the changes in Zn fractions were dependent on the preceding crop type. The EXCH-Zn and ORG-Zn pools can be considered labile pools that play significant roles in supplying Zn for plants. Among the preceding crops used in this experiment, clover (Clo) had the highest effect on transforming CAR-Zn form to EXCH-Zn and ORG-Zn labile forms and thus resulted in the highest Zn accumulation in tissues of the target wheat (Triticumaestivum L. cv. Back Cross). Although the changes in chemical forms of Zn in the soil solid phase are complex and dependent on various factors, our findings showed that the preceding crops significantly increased the concentration of Zn in exchangeable and organic matter pools and in turn resulted in higher uptake of Zn by the target wheat.     

Chemical Fractions of Mn in Acidic Soils and Selection of Suitable Soil Extractants for Assessing Mn Availability to Maize (Zea Mays L.)

Twenty surface (0–15 cm) samples of acidic soils were analyzed for water soluble (WS), exchangeable (EX), lead displaceable (Pb-disp.), acid soluble (AS), manganese (Mn) oxide occluded (MnOX), organically bound (OB), amorphous Fe oxide occluded (AFeOX), crystalline iron (Fe) oxide occluded (CFeOX) and residual (RES) fractions of Mn, and also for extractable Mn in some common soil extractants: (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) (pH 7.3), DTPA (pH 5.3), AB-DTPA (pH 7.6), Mehlich-3 (pH 2.0), Modified Olsen, 0.005 M calcium chloride (CaCl₂), 1 M magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) and ion exchange resins. The WS-Mn fraction showed a significant and positive correlation with Mn extractable in DTPA (pH 5.3) and AB-DTPA (pH 7.6), while both WS-Mn and EX-Mn fractions correlated significantly and positively with Mn concentration and uptake by maize plants grown in these soils. The AB-DTPA (pH 7.6) and DTPA (pH 5.3) appeared suitable to assess the availability of Mn in acidic soils.     

Wheat plants invest more in mycorrhizae and receive more benefits from them under adverse than favorable soil conditions

Soil chemistry and biota heavily influence crop plant growth and mineral nutrition. The stress-severity and optimal resource allocation hypotheses predict mutualistic symbiotic benefits to increase with the degree of metabolic imbalance and environmental stress. Using two cross-factorial pot experiments with the same biologically active calcareous soil, one time highly saline and nutrient-deficient, and the other time partially desalinated and amended with mineral soil fertilizer, we explored whether these general predictions hold true for zinc (Zn) nutrition of bread wheat in mycorrhizal symbiosis. Increased arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal root colonization positively correlated with plant Zn nutrition, but only when plants were impaired in growth due to salinity and nutrient-deficiency; this was particularly so in a cultivar-responsive to application of mineral Zn fertilizer. Evidence for direct involvement of AM fungi were positive correlations between Zn uptake from soil and frequency of fungal symbiotic nutrient exchange organelles, as well as the quantitative abundance of AM fungi of the genera Funneliformis and Rhizophagus, but not Claroideoglomus. Combined partial soil desalination and fertilization swapped the dominance ranking from Claroideoglomus spp. to Funneliformis spp. Positive growth, nitrogen, and Zn uptake responses to mycorrhization were contingent on moderate soil fertilization with ZnSO₄. In agreement with the predictions of the stress-severity and optimal resource allocation hypotheses, plants limited in growth due to chemically adverse soil conditions invested relatively more into AM fungi, as evident from heavier root colonization, and took up relatively more Zn and nitrogen in response to mycorrhization, than better growing and less mycorrhized plants. It thus appears that crop plant cultivar-dependent mycorrhization and Zn fertilizer-responsiveness may reinforce each other, provided that there is bioavailable Zn in soil and plant growth is impaired by suboptimal chemical soil conditions.     

Changes of metal forms by organic amendments to Hawaii soils

Abstract

Forms of metals in soils control their availability to plants and animals and affect the environment differently. To evaluate shifts of metal forms as affected by organic amendments, a sequential extraction procedure was used to fractionate calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) in two Hawaii soils amended with three organic wastes. The designated forms are water‐soluble, exchangeable, sorbed, organically bound, carbonate, and residual fractions. The soils, a Mollisol (Waimanalo series) and an Ultisol (Paaloa series), were incubated at 25°C±2°C at field capacity with either chicken manure, sewage sludge, or green manure (cowpea leaves) at 0, 5, and 20 Mg#lbha^‐1 for one or five months. Organically bound metals decreased with time because of organic matter decomposition. Iron was mostly residual, but water‐soluble Fe also increased in the acid Paaloa soil. Unlike Fe, most forms of Ca and Mg were transformed to the exchangeable form in 5 months. There was no significant change of Mn forms during the 5‐month incubation. Virtually all organically bound Zn shifted to carbonate and residual forms in the neutral Mollisol (pH 6.2), but shifted to carbonate and exchangeable forms in the acid Ultisol (pH 4.5). The solubilities and exchangeabilities of the five metals in the two soils treated with sewage sludge were not significantly different from those treated with cowpea green manure or chicken manure during the 5‐month incubation. The results suggest that the additions of sewage sludge, chicken manure, or cowpea green manure to Hawaii soils at 20 Mg#lbha^‐1 do not have environmentally significant impacts in terms of Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn. On the other hand, the amendments may decrease Ca and Mg deficiencies in highly weathered, nutrient‐poor soils such as Ultisols and Oxisols of the tropics.     

Extractability and Transformation of Copper and Zinc Added to Tropical Savanna Soil under Long-Term Pasture

The extractability and slow reactions of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in a weathered savanna soil under Brachiaria decumbens, Digitaria smutsii, and Stylosanthes guianensis pastures were determined in a laboratory incubation study using a sequential extraction to remove operationally defined fractions of the metals, consisting of exchangeable, organically bound, precipitate [occluded in aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) oxides], and residual metal fractions. The soils from the pasture fields were spiked with 100 mg Cu kg^–1 soil and 200 mg Zn kg^–1 soil for 24 weeks. Copper and Zn extractable with 1 N potassium nitrate (KNO₃) solution decreased exponentially with time but reached a steady state after 2–3 weeks. The concentrations of Cu and Zn exchangeable with potassium (K) were greater in the Digitaria smutsii field soil than Brachiaria decumbens and Stylosanthes guianensis field soils. The exchangeability of added Cu and Zn (indexed Mⁿ⁺ _(exch)) with time was described by a simple exponential decay equation: Mⁿ⁺ _(exch) = αe^βt, where α is a constant, β is a coefficient that defines the rate of transformation of added Cu and Zn from the exchangeable to nonexchangeable pools, and t is time. The β values for Cu (0.040–0.076 mg kg^–1 d^–1) were almost 10 times greater than those of Zn (0.005–0.007 mg kg^–1 d^–1). Sequential extraction of added Cu and Zn indicated that between 26 and 30% of the total Cu and between 19 and 30% of the total Zn were associated with organic matter. Similarly, between 35 and 38% of total Cu and between 47 and 60% of total Zn were associated with Fe, Al, and manganese (Mn) oxides. The differential capacity of the pasture fields to transform added Cu and Zn from exchangeable and labile form to nonlabile and nonexchangeable form appears to be governed by organic matter (OM), pH, and active Fe ratio in the pasture field soils.     

Improved growth and Cu tolerance of Cu excess-stressed white clover after inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Glomus intraradices, on growth and copper (Cu) tolerance of white clover (Trifolium repens) were investigated in soils with different Cu amounts. The AM inoculation increased plant biomass and the total or bound Cu concentrations in shoots and roots but decreased the total Cu in soils and the exchangeable Cu in shoots, roots and soils at all Cu levels. Mycorrhizal plants had higher levels of root phosphorus and shoot zinc (Zn) at lower Cu levels and more nitrogen and Zn in roots and potassium, calcium and magnesium in shoots and roots at all Cu addition levels. Additionally, AM inoculation enhanced urease, acid phosphatase and catalase activities in rhizosphere soils and mycorrhizal roots showed higher levels of peroxidase, catalase, proline and soluble sugar at all Cu addition levels. These results indicate that mycorrhizal white clover is potentially suitable for Cu phytoremediation based on greenhouse studies.     

EFFECT OF BORON-DOPED GOETHITE ON SOIL ACIDITY,DIFFERENT FORMS OF MANGANESE IN RED SOIL AND THE GROWTH OF RAPE (BRASSICA NAPUS L.) SEEDLINGS

Rape (Brassica napus L.) seedling pot experiments were performed with a red soil treated with goethite which had boron (B) either adsorbed (ad-B-goethite) or occluded (oc-B-goethite). Soil acidity, different forms of manganese in the soils and different elements content of the rape seedlings were determined. It was found that the addition of boron-containing goethite to the soils resulted in increased rape growth, elevated soil pH and decreased exchangeable acidity. Compared with the control, boron-containing goethite elevated the content of exchangeable manganese (Mn) (EXC-Mn), organic matter bound Mn (OM-Mn), reducible oxide Mn (RO-Mn) and residual Mn (RES-Mn) which were difficult to use for plant. Low labile organic matter was significantly correlated with easily reducible oxide Mn (ERO-Mn) (P < 0.01) and RO-Mn (P < 0.05). Middle organic matter and soil pH was significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with RES-Mn. Stepwise regression was used to select the combination of variables that best estimates shoot and root dry weight of rape seedling. Among them, soil pH, EXC-Mn, OM-Mn, RO-Mn and RES-Mn significantly influenced the dry weight of rape seedlings. The addition of boron-containing goethite improved the uptake of iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and copper (Cu) element and decreased the uptake of Mn and zinc (Zn) element in rape seedling. The results suggested that boron-containing goethite could provide a better soil acidity environment for plant growth; it was also an important agent increasing a part of manganese difficult to use for plant and reducing the activity of soil manganese, which was beneficial to altering rape seedling growth.     

Assessing arbuscular mycorrhizal plant metal uptake and soil metal bioavailability among ‘dwarf’ sunflowers in a stratified compartmental growth environment

Using the micronutrient zinc (Zn) as a metal contaminant, a stratified compartmental pot greenhouse experiment involving ‘dwarf’ sunflowers and an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus was designed to assess the role of AM symbiosis toward plant growth and metal uptake, and to differentiate its impact toward edaphic parameters across different soil strata. Consistent with previous hypotheses, AM plants contained up to 40% lower metal concentrations in their shoots than non-AM plants, particularly at the highest soil Zn levels (200 and 400 mg Zn kg^?1 dry soil); this, corresponding with an enhanced growth status among AM plants. Upon assessing the soil Zn concentrations and pH, AM treatments also tended to have higher soil Zn levels and more alkaline conditions compared to non-AM treatments. This was found especially in the topmost soil stratum where AM root colonization was deemed most active as evidenced by a higher frequency of extraradical hyphae, vesicles, and arbuscules. Together, these effects were putatively linked to the AM-induced mechanism of metal biosorption known to modulate soil nutrient bioavailability and even delay the onset of metal toxicity.     

Effect of Liming on the Plant Availability and Distribution of Zinc and Copper among Soil Fractions

Abstract

Information on the redistribution of applied micronutrients into different fractions as a result of lime application is important to predict plant accumulation of nutrients and to select appropriate chemical extraction procedures for evaluation of micronutrient availability. The present work was carried out to study the influence of liming on the availability and redistribution of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) among soil fractions. Additionally, the effect of liming was evaluated on the recovery of these micronutrients by different chemical extractants (Mehlich‐1, Mehlich‐3, and diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (DTPA), which were correlated with Zn and Cu concentrations in corn (Zea mays L.) plants and soil fractions (exchangeable, organic matter, amorphous iron oxides, and crystalline iron oxides). The results showed that Zn added to soil samples that did not receive lime was retained mainly in the exchangeable and organic matter fractions. The liming resulted in distribution of Zn into iron oxides and as a result decreased the plant accumulation of Zn. Mehlich‐3 was the most efficient extractant to predict the plant accumulation of Zn in the acid soils, whereas DTPA was the most efficient in the limed soils. The oxide crystalline fraction was the major fraction responsible for retaining Cu in the soils. However, Cu added to soil was distributed mainly into organic matter. Mehlich‐3 was the most suitable extractant for predicting the bioavailability of Cu in limed or unlimed soils.     

Long‐term transformations of cadmium,cobalt, copper,nickel, zinc,vanadium, manganese,and iron in arid‐zone soils under saturated condition

Abstract

The bioavailability and toxicity of metals in soils to plants, hence to animals and human beings through the food chain, and their mobility in the ecosystems highly depends upon their forms, pathways and kinetic rates of transformation in soil. Long‐term transformation pathways, kinetics and lability of cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) in two arid‐zone soils were studied under saturated water regime (simulating the moisture regime in the soil during the raining season and shortly after irrigation) by using operationally selective sequential dissolution techniques. Iron, Mn, Co, vanadium (V), Ni, Zn, and Cu were transformed from the non‐available form (reducible oxide fraction) and potential available form (easily reducible oxide fraction) into the available and readily available form (exchangeable and carbonate fractions), thereby increasing their mobility, availability or toxicity. However, Cd was transformed from the readily available form into the potentially available form, thus decreasing its lability. The fast transformations of all metals occurred in the first month, followed by a much slower process.