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Concentration and Distribution of Elements in Plants and Soils near Phosphate Processing Factories, Pocatello, Idaho¹

ABSTRACT

The processing of phosphatic shale near Pocatello, Idaho has a direct influence on the element content of local vegetation and soil. Samples of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. tridentata) and cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) show important negative relations between the concentration of certain elements Cd, Cr, F, Ni, P, Se, U, V, and Zn) and distance from phosphate processing factories. Plant tissues within 3 km of the processing factories contain unusually high amounts of these elements except Ni and Se. Important negative relations with distance were also found for certain elements (Be, F, Fe, K, Li, Pb, Rb, Th, and Zn) in A-horizon soil. Amounts of seven elements (Be, F, Li, Pb, Rb, Th, and Zn) being contributed to the upper 5 cm of the soil by phosphate processing, as well as two additional elements (U and V) suspected as being contributed to soil, were estimated, with F showing the greatest increase (about 300 kg/ha) added to soils as far as 4 km downwind from the factories. The greatest number of important relations for both plants and soils was found downwind northeast) of the processing factories.

Key Words: eolian sediments • Artemisia tridentata • Bromus tectorum • contamination • point source • transect

¹ Contribution from the U. S. Geol. Surv., Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225, USGS Serial No. D-76-313.

² Soil Scientist and Botanist, respectively.

Received for publication February 13, 1976.