Soil acidity could release harmful metals into water, impacting water quality.
The study examined the stability of copper, zinc, and phosphorus in sandy soils by simulating leaching with different solutions. Most of the accumulated metals and nutrients were easily extractable from the soils. The pH of the soil greatly affected the solubility of copper, zinc, and phosphorus. Copper and zinc were found to be more stable compared to phosphorus under current soil conditions. However, soil acidification or increased organic matter from afforestation could lead to higher release of these elements from the soils.