Baltic soil survey: total concentrations of major and selected trace elements in arable soils from 10 countries around the Baltic Sea

Agricultural soils were collected from 10 European countries over a 1 800 0 00 km(2) area surrounding the Baltic Sea. The sampling density was 1 site/2 500 km(2). Two samples were taken at each site: topsoil 0-25 cm (ploughing layer, A(p)-horizon) and subsoil (bottom samples, usually B- or C-horizon) at an approximate depth of 50-75 cm, well below the ploughed layer. The sam ples were analysed for total element concentrations of 41 elements by WD-XR F. Analytical results for both layers are quite comparable. Large differenc es between element concentrations and variations can be observed for most e lements when the different countries are compared. The Nordic countries sho w considerably higher concentrations and variations for quite a number of e lements [Al, Fe, (Mg, P), Ti, Ba, Sc, Sr, V] in their agricultural soils. T his is an expression of geology, the relatively younger age of the soils he re and of the climatic conditions (reduced weathering rates). Regional geoc hemical maps demonstrate that geology overwhelmingly dominates the total co ncentration of chemical elements as observed in the agricultural soils. The three (four) large tectonic units (Caledonian mountain chain, Fennoscandia n Shield and the northern and southern eastern European Platform) composing this area are all reflected in the regional maps. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scienc e B.V. All rights reserved.