ABSTRACT
Quantitatively, trace elements are negligible chemical constituents of soils, but are essential as micronutrients for plants. The rst publications on trace elements were devoted to plant nutrition problems. Further, it was recognized that the behavior of trace elements in the soil differs widely for both the element and the soil and that these differences should be understood better for the prediction and effective management of the trace element status of soils. Although trace elements are mainly inherited from the parent rocks, their distribution within the soil pro les and their partitioning between the soil components re ect various pedogenic processes as well as the impact of external, especially anthropogenic factors (e.g., agricultural practices, industrial pollution). Recently, trace element contents, forms, and behavior are signi cant information to soil survey users (Wilson et al., 2008).
