engleski

Is There a Connection Between IC and Skiing?

Skiing industry have significant influence on the environment of ski resorts, especially on soil condition and species richness. Plants and soil on ski slopes are directly affected by slopes, changes in microclimate and vegetation, intake of water, ions and snow additives. Snow additives include chemicals such as: nitrogen- based fertilizers (urea, ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulphate, ammonium chloride), potassium chloride, sodium chloride and phosphates. The purposes of additives are to convert a soft snow to hard snow or to harden the surface of ski slope. During the last 20 years production of artificial snow increased considerably. Snowmaking begins with a water supply such as a river or reservoir and includes addition of listed chemicals. The aim of this research was to determine ionic composition of soil by means of ion chromatography method and to investigate influence of snow additives on chemical changes in soil. The research was conducted on the Sljeme ski slope (Red Fall), which is the part of the Medvednica Nature Park. Soil sampling was conducted in April 2015 after the snow was malted on three locations on the ski slope (start line, middle of slope and finish line). The control location was located in the forest area near the ski slope. In total, 12 soil samples were taken. Ion content in wet soil samples was extracted in ultra-pure water in 1:10 (w/v) ratio according to ÖNORM L 1092 norm. After the extraction, samples were centrifuged and filtrated in two steps: firstly through filter paper and then through cartridge (OnGuard IIP, 1cc, Dionex, Sep-Pak Vac and OASIS HLM, Waters) to prevent contamination of the separation column with organic molecules. Anions separation and detection in extract was performed on Dionex ICS-1000 system: separator column [Ion Pac AS 17 (4×250 mm) Dionex] ; KOH eluent with gradient separation: (A)10 mmol L-1 KOH, (B) 10 mmol L-1 KOH – 35 mmol L-1 KOH – 10 mmol L-1 KOH in 12.5 min (C) 10 mmol L-1 KOH (total separation time 30 min) ; flow rate: 1.0 mL min-1 ; detection: suppressed conductivity. Cation separation and detection in extract was performed on Doinex ICS-1000 system: separator column [Ion Pac CS 16 (5×250 mm) Dionex] ; MSA eluent (30 mM) constant during analysis (total separation time 30 min) ; flow rate: 1.5 mL min-1 ; detection: suppressed conductivity. Statistical analyses of differences in ion content in soil according to different locations were computed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SAS Institute 9.1.3 and mean values were separated by Fisher’s LSD test at P ≤ 0.05. Results revile that artificial snow-production and chemical maintenance of snow significantly increased chloride, sodium and calcium content in the ski-slope soil compared to the ion content on the control location. The contents of fluoride, sulphate, potassium, nitrate, and magnesium on monitored locations did not differ statistically from the control location. Average values, for all four investigated locations were: 2.84 mg F- /kg ; 158.2 mg SO4 2-/kg ; 32.0 mg K+ /kg ; 2.20 mg N-NO3/kg and 19.8 mg Mg2+/kg.

Ion chromatography ; Artificial snow ; Nitrogen-based fertilizers ; Soil

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