Prediction of heavy metal behavior in soil by means of simple field tests

Binding and retention against uptake by plants, and groundwater pollution of the metal ions Cd, Mn, Ni, Co, Zn, Cu, Cr(III), Pb, Hg, Fe(III), and Al by soils in relation to pH, redox potential, texture, organic matter, and iron oxide contents can be diagnosed in the form of rough relative values with simple field methods. A comparison with the results of some pot and field trials showed the practicability of this method.