Groundwater input drives large variance in soil manganese concentration and reactivity in a forested headwater catchment

In headwater catchments, surface groundwater discharge areas have unique soil biogeochemistry and can be hot spots for solute contribution to streams. Across the northeastern United States, headwater hillslopes with surface groundwater discharge were enriched in soil Mn, including Watershed 3 of Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire. Soils of this site were investigated along a grid to determine extent of Mn-rich zone(s) and relationships to explanatory variables using ordinary kriging. The O and B horizons were analyzed for total secondary Mn and Fe, Cr oxidation potential, total organic C, moisture content, wetness ratio, and pH. Two Mn hot spots were found: a poorly drained, flowing spring (Location A); and a moderately well-drained swale (Location B). Both had similar to 6,000-9,000 mg Mn kg(-1) soil. However, Location A had high Cr oxidation potential (a measure of Mn reactivity), whereas Location B did not. Location C, a poorly drained seep with slow-moving water, had lower Mn content and Cr oxidation potential. Manganese-rich soil particles were analyzed using X-ray absorption near-edge structure and micro-X-ray diffraction; the dominant oxidation state was Mn(IV), and the dominant Mn oxide species was a layer-type Mn oxide (L-MnO2). We propose input of Mn(II) with groundwater, which is oxidized by soil microbes. Studies of catchment structure and response could benefit from identifying hot spots of trace metals, sourced mainly from parent material but which accumulate according to hydropedologic conditions. Small-scale variation in Mn enrichment due to groundwater and microtopography appears to be more important than regional-scale variation due to air pollution.

Automated summary

In headwater catchments, surface groundwater discharge areas are hot spots for solute contribution to streams. A study in the northeastern United States found two manganese-rich hot spots in poorly drained and moderately well-drained areas. The dominant oxidation state of manganese in the soil was Mn(IV), which is likely the result of oxidation by soil microbes. Small-scale variation due to groundwater and microtopography appears to be more important than regional-scale variation due to air pollution.