Changes in soil properties and heavy metals concentration in soil of military shooting range in central Lithuania

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the changes in physical properties and contamination with heavy metals of military shooting range soil. Field soil were collected from outdoor shooting range soils in central Lithuania, shooting range is located in Alytus city. Physico-chemical examination showed that the pH value of shooting range soil was described as alkaline (7.91 – 8.30). Decrease in organic matter content has been established in soil samples taken from backstop berm of a shooting range, moreover, increased soil density has been discovered in all soil samples. Soil was heavily contaminated with Pb, Ni, Cd and allowable quantities of Cu. The backstop berm soil was heavily contaminated with lead (max. 653.33 mg/kg), nonetheless limit concentration of lead have been exceeded in backstop berm soil. The concentration of cadmium found in the shooting range area (0-400 meters) varied from 17.42 mg / kg to 39.07 mg/kg and was higher than concentration in the backstop berm (p <0.05). The limit concentration of cadmium, which is 3 mg / kg, was exceeded in all soil samples. Large amounts of nickel were found closer to the beginning of the firing line and decreased with increasing distance of the firing line (r = 0.90, p < 0.05). Limit concentration of nickel in soil (75 mg/kg) was exceeded at 100, 200 and 300 meters distances.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.erem.74.4.21073