An exothermic chemical reaction of chemical deicers by a dissolving process can melt snow and ice on road surfaces, which ensures traffic safety during winter. After runoff from melting snow, deicing salts accumulate in soils along roadsides, impacting the properties of soil matrix and soil water, and suppressing road vegetation growth. To estimate the adverse effects of different types of chemical deicers such as chloride, nitrate, glycerin and industrial salt on soil health, 0.1%, 0.3% and 0.5% concentrations of deicer solutions are sprinkled on a soil surface at seven-day intervals for two months. Soil density, organic matter content, pH value and electric conductivity are measured to compare the soil matrix properties in different processes. Soil samples are leached to 150% saturated moisture content with water. Twenty-four hours later, the soil leach solutions are collected to test salinity content, pH, chlorine, ammonia nitrogen and COD. The results show that industrial salt and chloride deicers significantly destroy soil structure and reduce soil moisture permeability. Chloride, ammonia nitrogen and COD content of the industrial salt leach solution are higher and lead to serious potential effects on groundwater resources. The glycerin and nitrate deicers impacts soil health less, for the C and N components could be absorbed by vegetation. In order to protect the roadside soil environment, we recommend organic salts as the primary snowmelt material.
展开▼
