Long-term changes in the Cu,Pb, and Zn content of forest soil organic horizons from North-East Scotland

Forest soil organic horizons from old and young plantations in the Alltcailleach Forest, N.E. Scotland were first sampled in 1949/50 and resampled in 1987. Copper, Pb and Zn in the soils were determined simultaneously on the original (stored) and the resampled soils. Overall mean Cu and Pb concentrations increased from 12.7 to 15.3 and 49.5 to 60.8 mg kg^?1 between 1949/50 and 1987. Zinc concentrations decreased from 76.4 to 60.7 mg kg^?1. Amounts of all 3 heavy metals increased because of increases in the thickness of organic horizons. Mean accumulation rates for Cu, Pb and Zn were 39.1, 186 and 114 g ha^?1 yr^?1, respectively. The rate of accumulation of Pb was significantly related to the rate of accumulation of organic matter. Copper and Zn concentrations were directly correlated with pH and inversely correlated with C/N ratio, whereas Pb was inversely correlated with pH and directly correlated with % C and C/N ratio. The more acidic soil organic horizons therefore contained higher concentrations of Pb and lower concentrations of Cu and Zn.