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 was collected from outdoor shooting range soils in central Lithuania. The shooting range is located in Alytus city. Physico-chemical examination showed that the pH value of the shooting range soil was described as alkaline (7.91– 8.30). A decrease in organic matter content was established in soil samples taken from the backstop berm of a shooting range; moreover, increased soil density was discovered in all soil samples. The 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, the limit concentration of lead was exceeded in the 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 the 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 an increasing distance from the firing line (r = 0.90, p < 0.05). The limit concentration of nickel in the soil (75 mg/ kg) was exceeded at 100 m, 200 m and 300 m distances.