Document: PAU-3-62-2

Soils of Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida: Baseline chemical and physical characteristics.

SCHMALZER, P.A.*, M.A.HENSLEY and C.A.DUNLEVY

Dynamac Corporation, Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899 USA ¹

Abstract:
Baseline characteristics of soils are necessary for remediation and for future ecological studies. We classified soils of Kennedy Space Center (ca. 33,311 ha) into 10 classes based on soil properties and land use history: Coastal, acid scrub, coquina scrub, flatwoods, hammocks, freshwater wetland, saltwater wetland, citrus scrub, citrus hammock, and disturbed. We collected twenty samples of surface soils (0-30 cm) in each type for chemical and physical analyses. Total metals (Al, As, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mg, Mn, Hg, K, Na, V, and Zn) were above detection limits in sufficient samples for detailed analyses as were pH, CEC, and bulk density. Total metals (log-transformed) differed among soil classes (ANOVA, p < 0.001), as did pH, CEC, and bulk density. Games-Howell post-hoc tests indicated differences among classes. Coastal soils were high in Ca and pH due to shell material. Saltwater wetland soils were high in Mg, K, and Na reflecting saltwater influence. Acid scrub and flatwoods soils were low in cations, Al, and Fe from intense leaching. Agricultural soil classes (citrus scrub, citrus hammock) had high values of Cr, Cu, Mn, and Zn from pesticide or fertilizer application. Sieve analysis revealed that mean grain size was greatest in coastal and coquina scrub, a result of shell fragment content. Soil characteristics reflect physical and biotic processes as well as anthropogenic influence.

Keywords: baseline, soil, land use, metals

This abstract is being presented at: 3:30 PM in session:
Poster Session #15: Nutrient Cycling.