Geochemical behavior and source analysis of rare earth elements in intensive agriculture soils through high-resolution sampling

Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are crucial for a low-carbon economy but overuse pollutes ecosystems. Studying their behavior and source in agricultural soils provides vital insights for soil management. To address this, we collected an extensive dataset comprising 2901 topsoil and 733 subsoil samples from an agriculturally dominant region in eastern China, characterized by uniform parent material. This comprehensive dataset enabled a thorough examination of the geochemical behavior and sources of REEs in the region. Our findings revealed the feasibility of utilizing La, Ce, and Y to predict ΣREE, LREE, HREE, and LREE/HREE ratios, thereby enhancing the REEs database for eastern China. The average ΣREE concentration in the study area measured 193.0 μg/g, with LREEs constituting 89 % of this total, representing a slight enrichment relative to the Upper Continental Crust. Notably, the electron-donating ability of Ce exhibited a correlation with Mn, indicating its potential as an indicator of redox reactions. The results obtained through structural equation modeling and random forest analysis identified Al, Ti, and K as the most influential environmental factors affecting ΣREE concentrations. Additionally, the indirect impact of K on ΣREE through pH was established. The strong correlation observed between major elements and Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREEs) shed light on the mechanisms responsible for the notable fractionation of REEs in topsoil. Furthermore, our investigation underscored the substantial influence of pedogenetic processes on the enrichment and leaching of REEs. Source analysis pinpointed significant contributors to REEs, including fertilizers, pesticides, domestic wastewater, coal fly ash, and the native soil parent material. In conclusion, our study emphasizes the pressing need for judicious control of anthropogenic REE inputs. This step is pivotal not only for ensuring the sustainable utilization of soil but also for ultimately safeguarding ecosystems and environmental quality.