Articles

The adsorption properties of dispersed systems are determined by their surface energy, therefore the indicators of hygroscopy (adsorbed water content) and dispersity (specific surface area of the solid phase) of soils and sediments are in close mutual correlation. This well-known empirical fact received a new fundamental interpretation based on the theory of disjoining water pressure according to Deryagin in the form of a thermodynamic equation connecting the specific surface area, hygroscopic water content of soil samples and the relative humidity of the air in the laboratory room. The theoretical equation allowed us to substantiate the methodology for quantifying the hydrophilic specific surface area of soil samples based on widespread data on their hygroscopy. A comparison of the new method with the standard BET-analysis of the specific surface area, as well as with the previously proposed physically based method for its determining by the slope of thermodynamic water retention curves, showed their statistically reliable agreement in a wide range of estimated specific surface area values from 5 to 340 m²×g^-1 for soil samples of different genesis and texture.

The article provides data on a comparative analysis of the features of vegetation restoration in areas of oligotrophic bogs with a high degree of oil product pollution, located on the territory of an oil field in the Middle Ob region, reclaimed according to standard schemes, widely used in the 2000s, and by cutting off oil-contaminated soil. The total projective vegetation cover (TPVC) of all reclaimed areas mostly reaches standard values (above 30%). The TPVC in areas without cutting is slightly higher than in areas with cutting due to the difference in recovery time in favor of the former. At the same time, the average number of all recorded species in areas with cutting is slightly higher, and they include some oligotrophic vascular plants (heather shrubs, Drosera rotundifolia, Eriophorum vaginatum), which spread much less frequently in areas without cutting. The projective cover of the herb-shrub layer is higher in areas without cutting. The content of oil products in the surface layer of 0‒20 cm in areas with cutting is generally lower compared to areas reclaimed by traditional methods. However, even high concentrations (more than 250 g×kg^-1) do not have a significant negative effect on the total projective cover of the grass/herb-shrub layer, while its minimum values are primarily associated with a lack of moisture on high microrelief elements. Similarly, high concentrations of hydrocarbons do not serve as an obstacle to the development of moss cover dominated by sphagnum mosses in areas of cut-off hollows. At the same time, polytrichous and brown mosses were much more sensitive to oil pollution in the form of bitumen crust, and thus avoided areas without cutting.

The effectiveness of remediators in detoxification of soils contaminated with heavy metals was studied in a lab experiment. The objects of the study were the soils of the southern tundra, functioning under conditions of anthropogenic impact: Haplic Gleysols (Gelic) and Histic Fluvisols (Oxyaquic). The chemical ability of remediants to bind metals (Ni and Cu), transferring them to a sedentary state in comparison with the reference variants (without any addition of remediants), was evaluated. In experiments, remediants were used in three doses (D1, D2, D3): shungite; diatomite, glauconite and bentonite. To assess the immobilization of Ni and Cu in soils, acid-soluble (CR) forms (extraction of 1 n. HNO₃), mobile forms (ammonium acetate buffer solution with pH 4.8), water-soluble forms of Ni and Cu (1:20 aqueous extract) were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The effectiveness of soil detoxification during the application of remediants was evaluated by the phytotoxic effect in an express phytoassay with standardized tests (Brassica rapa CrGC and Avena sativa) represented by higher plants. A decrease in the proportion of mobile forms of Ni and Cu by 50% or more in Haplic Gleysols (Gelic) was revealed with the addition of any dose of ameliorants. The greatest effect of reducing mobility was exerted by shungite and diatomite at a dose of D1 — up to 15% Ni and Cu for Histic Fluvisols (Oxyaquic) soil. The use of the selected remediants in the indicated amounts did not reveal a phytotoxic effect on the tests in the experiment.

We studied morphological properties, pH, organic carbon content, and specific activity of ¹³⁷Cs and natural radionuclides (⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th) in the upper horizons of soils in deactivated and slightly damaged areas of the city. The studies were carried out in the urban ecosystems of the city of Elektrostal (Moscow region) in 2019, i.e. 6 years after local precipitation of ¹³⁷Cs due to a radiation incident. Morphological features of the upper horizons of urban soils were: brownish-gray color, light-loamy composition, small-lumpy and lumpy structure, inclusions of construction and household waste. In the upper horizons of urbiquasizems and urban soils, a low carbon content (less than 1%) with high coefficients of variation - were detected. In the studied urban soils, a wide range of water pH values was noted: from acidic (4,6–5,5) to highly alkaline (>8,0) reaction. Correlation analysis showed that in the upper horizons of UR, the content of organic carbon was reduced and alkalinization of the soil environment was observed. The accumulative type of distribution of ¹³⁷Cs was recorded for soil profiles of polluted urban ecosystems in which decontamination measures were not carried out. The profiles of urban soils that were subjected to decontamination revealed low values of the specific activity of ¹³⁷Cs in surface bulk layers and maxima in buried contaminated horizons. In the bulk horizons of UR, which include a large amount of crushed stone, there is an increase in the specific activity of ²²⁶Ra. Some technogenic horizons UR and TCH, consisting mainly of quartz sand, are characterized by very low values of specific activities ²²⁶Ra and ⁴⁰K. Correlations of chemical and radiation indicators in the profiles of urban soils reflect the different composition and properties of upper horizons formed as a result of excavation and decontamination work.

As part of the study of the ecological state of soils and vegetation in the zone of impact of the Sredneuralsky Copper Smelter (SUMZ), the following tasks were solved: the content of heavy metals in the soils of the test sites laid within the zone of impact of the SUMZ was determined; macrokinetic patterns of seasonal dynamics of the normalized relative vegetation index (NDVI) at the test sites in the zone of impact of the SUMZ were revealed; macrokinetic patterns of vegetation response in the form of NDVI, calculated according to MODIS and Landsat 8 data, to soil pollution by a complex of heavy metals in the zone of impact of the SUMZ were revealed; soil quality was ranked according to the patterns of vegetation response in the form of NDVI to soil pollution by a complex of heavy metals within the boundaries of the natural protection zone (NZZ) of the SUMZ according to 2023.

The intra-seasonal dynamics of photosynthetically active biomass in the form of NDVI was modeled using a theoretical growth equation based on MODIS satellite data. The seasonal maximum of the vegetation index at the trial sites in 2012 fell on the 25‒28 week. In 2023, it occurred on the 27‒33 week, depending on the location of the sampling point. The rate of maximum achievement is characterized by weak intra-seasonal and interannual variation.

The patterns of changes in the concentration of photosynthetically active biomass in the form of maximum NDVI for the 2023 season in response to the gross content of a complex of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd and Zn) in the soil of the test sites were modeled using the theoretical equation of dose dependence. The maximum permissible level of the heavy metal complex in the soil in the form of a geometric mean, which does not cause a decrease in the values of the vegetation index calculated according to the data of the MODIS and Landsat 8 satellites, was 101 and 106 mg×kg^-1, respectively.

The analysis of histograms of the distribution of NDVI values within the NZZ was carried out, which showed how the true frequencies of occurrence of the values of the vegetation index correspond to the empirical boundary of the NZZ associated with the maximum dose dependence point identified by the study of the 2012. The nature of the distribution of true NDVI values for the NZZ exclusively fully supports the used zoning theory based on the analysis of dose dependence. The modern boundaries of the SUMZ natural protection zone are 4‒7 km away from the center of the sanitary protection zone.

Ratuioning of the content of hazardous substances in soil as an object of environmental protection in the Russian Federation is provided by a set of normative acts establishing the principles of assessment, approaches to the use of soils of varying degrees of anthropogenic transformation, the level of their pollution, at which the responsibility of the land user for violation of legislation on soil protection occurs. The analysis of normative acts shows that the most stringent pollution regulation system has been established in Russia, which is based on determining the compliance of the content of chemical elements and compounds in soils with sanitary and hygienic standards in the territories of settlements and agricultural lands. On other lands, as a standard, the excess of which leads to the onset of economic responsibility for pollution, the value of the concentration of the pollutant in the adjacent territory of a similar purpose and type of use, which is not adversely affected by a specific type of violation, is applied. At the same time, chemical elements and compounds are considered as pollutants, regardless of their origin, degree of danger and biological significance. The application of this approach within the framework of law enforcement practice creates significant problems in establishing the fact of negative impact, calculating the amount of damage from pollution, and developing measures for soil remediation. Thus, the current regulations consider as pollutants substances of natural origin, including those that ensure soil fertility and are applied with mineral and organic fertilizers. The use of the background level of substances as the maximum permissible value does not take into account the natural variability of elements and compounds in soils, as well as the errors of their chemical analysis. The excessive rigidity of the applicable standards is the reason for the increased costs of soil remediation measures.

The way out of this situation is to revise the rationing system, taking into account the biological significance of elements and compounds, and the need to introduce a multi-level system of soil quality indicators. There is a need to improve the conceptual framework as part of regulatory documents on soil protection.