Nickel in British Serpentine Soils

Abstract

SUMMARY The results of a survey of British serpentine soils are presented, with particular emphasis on nickel, although a range of other elements is considered. Nickel has been assayed as total concentration, by soil extractions and by bioassay using oat plants. The results have been used to classify the soils in the survey using ordination based on principal components analysis. Although nickel was present in high total concentrations, its availability to oat plants was low and none of the soils gave rise to the distinctive foliar symptoms of nickel toxicity. Considerable variation in soluble and total nickel was evident, the highest values being those of Shetland serpentine soils. The possible causes of this variation are discussed in terms of the influence of maritime conditions and weathering regimes.