The relationship between dissolved organic matter and percolation water chemistry in northern Finland

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between dissolved organic matter and chemical constituents of percolation water collected at 5, 20 and 40 cm depths from 13 ionbalance sampling plots located along lines extending through Finnish Lapland from Cu-Ni smelters in the Kola Peninsula, Russia. All the monitoring plots have as uniform as possible stand and site characteristics. The plots were located in Scots pine stands on dry and dryish sites with genetic horizons characteristic of Fe-humus podsols. The soil type on most of the sites was sorted fine sand or sand. Significant positive correlations were found between dissolved organic matter (DOM) and total dissolved Al concentrations at 5 and 20 cm, but not at 40 cm. A significant negative correlation was found between DOM and pH at 5 cm, but not at 20 or 40 cm. The anion deficit was positively correlated with DOM at 5 cm in the percolation water. Organic matter thus plays an important role as an anioh in percolation water, and regulates water pH in the surface soil. A high proportion of dissolved Al was in the form of organic complexes. Total dissolved Al levels were well below the toxic limits for pine.