• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.22-40
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• 2022

The goal of this study was to estimate the possible scattering distance of deicer from the highway and the impact range of deicer on soil quality in terms of plant growth. Among the major elements (Ca²⁺, Cl^- and Na⁺) of deicer, Ca²⁺and Cl^- are usually applied as fertilizer to soil. Therefore both elements (Ca²⁺and Cl^-) were not appropriate for a tracer of deicer at the agricultural area. In this study, SAR (sodium adsorption ratio) of soil was proposed as an alternative tracer to confirm the distribution of the deicer around the highway areas. Because deicer is the main anthropogenic source of Na⁺ around the highway areas and does harm to the physical properties of soil and plant growth through the destruction of soil aggregate, SAR would be an recommendable tracer to access the distribution of deicer as well as adverse effect on soil quality at highway areas. The influence range of deicer based on SAR of soil was estimated to be less than 20 m distance from the highway even though the possible flying distance of deicer was found to be more than 100 m from the highway. However the deicer seriously deposited within 10 m from the highway.