Vertical distribution patterns of S, Mo and some rare earth elements (REE)‎ along the soil profiles from Sulaimani governorate, Kurdistan of Iraq

Abstract EN

This study was conducted to investigate the background concentrations of total S, Mo Gd, Ge, Hf, La, Sc, Th, and Y in the soil, and vertical distribution of these elements through profile depths of Sulaimani governorate, Kurdistan of Iraq.

Soil samples were taken from seven different pedons in different locations; five pedons were dug from forest sites.

The pedons 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7 from Cypress forest, Olive forest, Pine forest, Oak forest, and Pine forest, respectively.

While the two others pedons (pedons 3 and 6) were dug from grassland sites.

Soil samples were taken in each horizon.

Forty-three soil samples were taken to the laboratory for this study.

Soil samples were finely ground and dried at 105°C for 2 hours.

Then S, Mo, Gd, Ge, Hf, La, Sc, Th, and Y were determined by ICP-OES.

Principal component analysis was used to express the data in a more relevant form and to predicate a high degree of interrelations among a set of variables, also used for obtaining the most interpretable linear combinations within the dataset of total elements in the soil profiles.

Results for total values of REE were La ND – 274.16, Y 15.96-32.24, Sc 10.66 -17.63, and Gd 1.10 – 6.45 mg kg−1, respectively.

Average total element concentrations in soil samples were in the following order: S > La > Y > Sc > Th > Ge > Hf > Gd > Mo.

There are no specific pattern distributions of the studied elements in the profile depths in studied locations.أ