I. CHEMICAL ANALYSES OF PLANTS

We have used chemical analyses of selected plant species in the following projects to indicate contamination of the environment:

• Chemical analyses of the leaves of streetside trees affected by winter salting of the roads in Prague (1981–1985)

We investigated the dynamics of chloride and some elements (Na, K, Ca) in the leaves of several woody trees in 12 streets and 5 parks in inner Prague [1].

[1] Suchara I. (1982): Obsah vyluhovatelného Cl^-, Na⁺, K⁺ a Ca⁺⁺ v listech uličních stromů ovlivněných zimním solením vozovek.- Zahradnictví, Praha, 9: 289–300.

• Determining the contamination levels of grass and crops along the D1 Prague-Brno highway (1986–1988)

We monitored the contamination of grass and field crops by selected metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) along the D1 highway at each twentieth kilometre at distances of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 m on both sides of the highway and in the central reservation green belt (e.g., [2], Tab. 1).

[2] Sucharová J. et al. (1990): Znečištění půdy a rostlin Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb a Zn v okolí dálnice D1 (Praha - Brno).- Záv. Zpr., Úkol Ředitelství dálnic Praha, ms., VŠÚOZ Průhonice, 122 p.

• Monitoring the increasing contamination of plants along the D61 highway after a new segment was opened (1988–1990)

We determined the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn along a segment of the D 61 highway (Piešťany – Horná Streda, Slovakia) in grass and field crops at a distance of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 m on both sides of the highway and in the central reservation green belt before the opening of the highway segment and after it had been in operation for one year and for two years ([3]).

[3] Suchara I. et al. (1991): Znečištění půdy a rostlin Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb a Zn v okolí dálnice D61 úsek Piešťany - Horná Streda.- Záv. Zpr., Úkol Riaditeľstvo diaľnic Bratislava, ms., VŠÚOZ Průhonice, 97 p.

• Multi-element analysis of the straw and grain of cereals in south Moravia (2002-2003)

In an area affected by intensive wind erosion of soil covers on the Carpathian flysch between Brno, Kroměříž and Břeclav, we determined the concentrations of 35 elements in the straw and grain of barley and wheat at time of maturation. In parallel, we carried out the same determinations in cereals planted in syenite soils near Tasov (Žďár nad Sázavou district). The results have not been published (Tab. 2).

• Determining the distribution of 40 element concentrations and stable lead isotope ratios in moss, grass and spruce needles in forests in the Czech Republic (2008–2011)

We determined the concentrations of Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, N, Na, Nd, Ni, Pb, Pr, Rb, S, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Th, Tl, U, V, Y and Zn in moss (Pleurozium schreberi), grass (Avenella flexuosa) and annual and biennial spruce needles (Picea abies) at more than 250 forest sites in the Czech Republic (e.g., [4], Fig. 1). Total lead concentration and ratios of stable lead isotope concentrations  detected in plants and in forest soil and humus were compared [5]. These investigations were performed in the framework of international project CZ0074 supported by Financial Mechanism of Norway.

[4] Suchara I. et al. (2011): The performance of moss, grass, and 1- and 2-year old spruce needles as bio-indicators of contamination: a comparative study at the scale of the Czech Republic. – Sci. Total Environ. 409: 2281-2297.

[5] Sucharová J. et al. (2011): Spatial distribution of lead and lead isotopes in soil B-horizon, forest-floor humus, grass (Avenella flexuosa) and spruce (Picea abies) needles across the Czech Republic.- Appl. Geochem. 26: 1205–1214.

II. ANALYSES OF SOILS

• Analyses of the soil covers of parks and street tree bowls in inner Prague (1980–1985)

In the framework of an ecological investigation project on vegetation plots in inner Prague, we determined the following characteristics of soil covers in parks and street tree bowls at various soil depths: soil texture (grain size distribution), active (pH-H₂O) and exchange (pH-CaCl₂) reactions, content of organic carbon (C_ox), total nitrogen (N) and available phosphorus (by Olsen), concentrations of Al, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mg, Ni, Pb and Zn (2M HNO₃), numbers of cellulolytic and other bacterial groups, speed of cellose decomposition, etc. Year-round dynamics of chloride concentration in soil and current soil moisture at soil depths of 5, 50 and 100 cm. More details are available in [5], [6], [7], [8], [9] and are documented in Fig. 2, and Fig. 3.

[5] Suchara I (1983): Některé fyzikální a chemické charakteristiky parkových a uličních půd vnitřní Prahy.- Rostlinná Výr., Praha, 29: 1259 – 1270.

[6] Suchara I. (1983): Roční sledování dynamiky obsahu Cl^- v parkových a uličních půdách vnitřní Prahy.- Zahradnictví, Praha, 10: 317– 324.

[7] Suchara I. (1984): Dynamika momentní půdní vlhkosti parkových a uličních půd vnitřní Prahy.- Zahradnictví, Praha, 11: 143–152.

[8] Suchara I. (1987): Rozklad celulózy ve vybraných parkových a uličních půdách Prahy.- Zahradnictví, Praha, 14: 211–220.

[9] Suchara I. et al. (1990): Ekologie pražských parků.- Záv. Zpr. Úkolu A 12-329-836-02-02, ms., VŠÚOZ Průhonice, 77 p.

• Studies of soil covers along highway D1 and a segment of highway D61 (1981–1991)

Over a period of two years we collected and studied soil samples to determine the grain size distribution, the active and exchange reactions (pH-H₂O, pH-CaCl₂), the content of C_ox and total nitrogen, the electrical conductivity of the soil extracts, the concentrations of Cl^- and Na, K, P, and Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn (2M HNO₃) collected at depths of 0–5 cm and 20–25 cm in the central reservation green belt and at a distance of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 m on both sides of highway D1 (at each twentieth kilometre) and later along a newly opened segment of highway D61 (Piešťany-Horná Streda, Slovakia) ([9], [10], [11], Fig. 4, Fig. 5). We made a detailed study of soil salinity due to winter de-icing of highways D1 and D2 (Brno-Bratislava). We made a detailed investigation of the dynamics of the chloride concentrations along highway segments running in a variety of terrains (e.g., embankments, trenches, plains). We studied the occurrence of the halophilous plant species Spergularia salina (D1 km 103,0 and 144,5) and the distribution of grass Puccinellia distans (a facultative halophyte), which was spreading along the road edges of the whole highway D1 at that time (Tab. 3 and Fig. 6).

[9] Suchara I. et al. (1986): Účinky používání posypových solí na půdy a rostliny v okolí dálnice.- Dílčí Záv. Zpr., Projekt ÚL – 9/83 Ředitelství dálnic Praha, ms., VŠÚOZ Průhonice, 76 p.

[10] Suchara I. et al. (1986): Znečištění půdy a rostlin v okolí dálnice Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb a Zn.- Dílčí Záv. Zpr., Projekt ÚL – 9/83 Ředitelství dálnic Praha, ms., VŠÚOZ Průhonice, 50 p.

[11] Suchara I. et al. (1991): Znečištění půdy a rostlin Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb a Zn v okolí dálnice D61 úsek Piešťany - Horná Streda.- Záv. Zpr. Úkolu, Riaditeľstvo diaľnic Bratislava, ms., VŠÚOZ Průhonice, 97 p.

• Determining selected elements in the soil in south Moravia (2002–2003)

We determined the concentrations of 36 elements (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Nd, Ni, Pb, Pr. Rb, S, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Th, Tl, U, V, Y and Zn) in soil samples (2M HNO₃) collected at a depth of 20–25 cm in an area with high wind erosion intensity between Brno, Kroměříž and Břeclav. The investigation confirmed the effect of soil dust deposition on increased concentrations of terrigenic elements repeatedly found in the large-scale biomonitoring surveys in moss and humus in the area ([12], Fig. 7).

[12] Sucharová J. et al. (2003): Stanovení obsahu prvků v půdě a mechu jako podklad pro upřesnění distribuce vysokých atmosférických úrovní spadu sledovaných prvků na jižní Moravě.- Výr. Zpr., Projekt MŽP VaV/640/1/00, ms., VÚKOZ Průhonice, 116 p.

• Total content of elements in forest soils in the Czech Republic (2008–2011)

We determined the total concentrations of Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nd, Ni, Pb, Pr, Rb, S, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Th, Tl, U, V, Y and Zn in soil samples collected at depths of 15-20 cm and 30-35 cm in more than 250 forest stands evenly spread over the Czech Republic. The element concentrations were determined after the samples had been digested in HNO₃+H₂O₂+HF+H₃BO using ICP-MS and OES-ICP techniques. In parallel, we determined the total concentration of Hg (AMA 254) and nitrogen (Kjeldahl), active and exchange reactions (pH-H₂O and pH-CaCl₂) and the portion of organic matter (loss-on-ignition). These investigations were performed in the course of implementing international project CZ0074, e.g., [13].

[13] Sucharová J. et al. (2012): Top-/bottom-soil ratios and enrichment factors: What do they really show?- Appl. Geochem. 27: 238–245.