Distribution of water-soluble inorganic ions in the soils of Cyprus

• Multi-element and component soil geochemical atlas of Cyprus at 1 site per 1 km2.
• Images of the distribution of F−, Cl−, NO3− and SO42 − in the soil of Cyprus.
• Water soluble ion distribution is controlled by a combination of influences.
• Nitrate distribution in soil is affected by anthropogenic influences.
• Sulphates are affected by sulphide deposits and mining activities.

The water-soluble anion content of soils reflects variable input of geogenic and anthropogenic influences, and is an important indicator of soil fertility, the existence or risk of salinization and effects of other pollutants. A rapid ion chromatography method has been used to determine the concentration of water-soluble F−, Cl−, NO3− and SO42 − on a suite of 3771 top soil samples collected as part of the geochemical atlas of Cyprus project. Excluding areas with salt flats and beach deposits, the average soil concentrations in Cyprus are 193 mg/kg for Cl−, 17 mg/kg for F−, 67 mg/kg for NO3− and 866 mg/kg for SO42 −. Parent lithology (especially sedimentary environment) and the effects of seawater are the dominant controls on F− and Cl−, whereas SO42 − and NO3− display a mix of geogenic and anthropogenic influences (including the effects of agriculture and mining of the basalt-hosted sulphide deposits). They display distinct fractal population characteristics that can be related to different sources of anions.