BIAN Kai, YU Ruilian, HU Gongren, JIANG Songhe

( Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China )

Abstract: A cylindrical sample (160 cm in depth, 16 samples) was collected from a tea garden in Anxi area, China. Contents of REE in soil were determined by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and the geochemical characteristics of REE were also investigated. Results show that content of total REEs ranges from 165.38 to 229.91 mg/kg in the soil core and the average contents of rare earth elements in the vertical profile of soil are much higher than those in China as well as in the world. The fractionation between LREE and HREE is apparent in the whole soil profile. Relative enrichment of LREE and variable HREE of the soil were observed. Ce shows positive anomalies in the process of soil development, whereas Eu is negatively anomalous. Enrichment factors (EF) of REEs analysis suggest that average EF ranges from 0.28 to 1.34. According to EF results, rare earth elements are at the light pollution level or no pollution. The results of this study provide basic data to understand the characteristics of REEs, to improve the existing conditions and to select the backup site for sustainable development of tea garden in Anxi area.

Key words: tea garden soil; rare earth element(REE); geochemical characteristics; enrichment factor

EARTH AND ENVIRONMENT Vol.45, No.2, Tot No.316, 2017, Page 145-150