A Comparative Assessment of the Characteristics of Saturated Wetland Soil and a Well Drained Forest Soil

A surface flow wetland was constructed in the Burnside Industrial Park, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, to treat stormwater runoff from the surrounding watersheds which are comprised primarily of commercial properties and two former landfills. The aim was to protect a freshwater ecosystem that consists of a 4.6 km long brook and two lakes. A comparative analysis of the pH, total and plant available iron, total and plant available manganese and organic carbon content of a saturated soil collected from a naturally vegetated island in the constructed wetland and a drained soil collected from a nearby forest was performed. The pH of the soil of the constructed wetland was significantly greater than the pH of the forest soil. The total iron concentrations in the soil of the constructed wetland were significantly greater than those in the forest soil. There was no significant difference between the plant available iron concentrations in the soil of the constructed wetland and those in the forest soil. The total manganese and the plant available manganese concentrations in the soil of the constructed wetland were significantly greater than those in the forest soil. There was no significant difference between the organic carbon concentrations in the soil of the constructed wetland and those in the forest soil.