Potential acid sulfate soil

impact on agriculture and environment

Soils which become acid when drained due to oxidation of pyrite (FeS2) WRB Potential acid sulfate soil contains sulfidic soil material that contains pyrite but has not oxidized to an extent that the soil-pH dropped to a value below 4.0

Formation of pyrite
Fe2O3 + 4SO42- + 8CH2O + 1/2O2 = 2FeS2 + 8HCO3- + 4H2O Iron must be present Sulfur must be present Anaerobic condition must prevail to reduce SO42- & Fe3+ Organic matter as energy source for the microbes The process increases pH

Location of pyrite in the landscape

In delta regions, marshes and lagunes where sea water is meeting fresh water. Inland wetland areas which are enriched with ferro iron and sulfate from higher parts of the landscape Soil material with high content of pyrite is called sulfidic soil materials

Fluvisols and gleysols

Histosols

Oxidation of pyrite
If the soil is drained pyrite will be oxidized: 4FeS2 + 15O2 + H2O -> 2 Fe2(SO4)3 + 2H2SO4 pH drops significantly and not only ferro iron but also ferri iron will be mobile. Soils which become very acid due to oxidation of pyrite are classified as actual acid sulfate soils

Oxidation of pyrite might form a thionic horizon

Definition of thionic horizon A thionic horizon must: have a soil-pH < 4.0 (in 1:1 water suspension); and have
yellow/orange jarosite [KFe3(SO4)2(OH)6] or yellowish-brown schwertmannite [Fe16O16(SO4)3(OH)10.10H2O] mottles; or concretions and/or mottles with a Munsell hue of 2.5Y or more and a chroma of 6 or more; or Direct superposition on sulfidic soil materials; or 0.05 percent (by mass) or more of water-soluble sulphate; and

have a thickness of 15 cm or more.

Jarosite in a soil from a marshland

Agriculture problems
actual acid sulfate soils
Low soil pH Aluminium toxidity Salinity (from sea water) Phosphorous deficiency (precipitation of aluminium phosphates) H2S toxidity if flooded N-deficiency due to slow microbial activity Engineering problems as soil acidity attacks steel and concrete structures

Environmental problems Ochre pollution of watercourses

Severe ochre pollution of Danish streams has frequently occurred due to drainage of farmland. The ochre pollution breaks down the ecosystems The ochre pollution was believed to be due to oxidation of pyrite.

Normal stream

Ochre from drains

Composition and pH of ochre

based on 21 samples
Fe2O3 Al2O3 CaO MgO Mn SO4 Organic C C/N Loss of ignition pH 30-70% <10% <5% <2% <1% except few samples >10% <5% 5-20% 10-30 30-60% 3.5-7.0

Mapping of potentially acid sulphate soils

In order to prevent ochre pollution of the streams a mapping of potential acid soils was conducted The mapping should be done within a 3 years period Based on the mapping a legislation should be made to stop the ochre pollutions of the streams.

Sampling area

Camp site and equipment for mapping potential acid sulfate soils

Sampling area

Traveling to sampling site

Augering in wetland

Samples

Soil description scheme

Determination of colour and pH

Potential acidity analytical results for lime free samples

A sample is potential acid sulfate if: pH drop below 3.0 within 16 weeks of oxidation and pH drops more than one unit within that period

Potential acidity lime containing samples

Potential acid sulfate if: %pyrite x 34 meq/100g > (Ca + Mg) meq/100g

Potential acid sulfate soil classes

Class 1: > 50% acid sulfate soil profiles Class 2: 20-50% acid sulfate soil profiles Class 3: 2-20% acid sulfate soil profiles Class 4: <2% acid sulfate soil profiles

An acid sulfate soil profile is a profile containing at least one acid sulfate soil sample

Map showing potential acid sulfate soils

Red 50%-100% Yellow 20%-50% Green 20%-2% Blue: <2% Potential acid sulfate soil

Area statistics

Ochre investigation areas if the farmer wants to drain

What to do?