Chemical Characteristics of Soils in Natural and Impounded Wetlands along the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, U.S.A.

Abstract

Temporal and spatial variation in soil chemistry was examined in natural and impounded marshes along
a subtropical lagoon in east-central Florida. The soils were saline, with mean electrical conductivities (EC) in
the range of 38 to 113 dS/m. The temporal component accounted for the largest proportion of the variance
in the items measured. Significant differences were found within and between sites for all the variables except
NO₃ and NH₄. In general, the differences reflected the degree of tidal influence at the different sites; clear
trends of decreasing pH, organic matter, K, Na, and EC and increasing P and Fe with increased tidal influence
were evident both at the different sites, and at the various stations within each site. Few consistent patterns
in the relationship of the measured variables with depth were evident except for NH₄, K, and organic matter
which had higher concentrations in the 0-25 cm layer than in the 26-50 cm layer.

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