Articles

Natural ¹³C abundance of different organic matter (OM) pools of Haplic Chernozem (Streleskaya steppe plot of the Central Chernozemic State Biospheric Reserve) isolated by granulo-densitometric fractionation was studied. Natural variations of the ¹³C/¹²C ratio (δ¹³C) allowed to confirm the sequence of OM decomposition in soils, which follows a continuum from fresh and partially decomposed organic materials in the discrete OM (Free and Occluded) to significantly/completely processed in the mineral-associated OM (Clay and Res). This is reflected in the increase of the δ¹³C value during passing from discrete to mineral–associated OM. All studied OM pools are subjected to microbial processing, but in different extent. Free OM, despite the fact that it consists of well-recognized plant material, is not always the most fresht and most undecomposed organic material. The «lighter» isotope signature of occluded OM as compared to free OM, despite its obvious higher degree of microbial processing, may be a consequence of its physical protection in microaggregates (unstable under the sonication) within the soil structural units. The most microbial processed mineral-associated organic material (Clay and Residue fractions) is characterized by the «heaviest» isotopic signature. The isotopic composition of carbon in the whole soil is mainly determined by the Residue fraction due to its quantitatively domination in the bulk soil.

The conceptual scheme allows to quantify the carbon (C) fluxes of in the OM pool / soil system. It was revealed that the main C fluxes in the OM pools go from the Free OM to the Residue fraction through unstable under the sonication microaggregates. The most probable C flows into the whole soil — unstable under the sonication microaggregates, as well as the Residue fraction, which are characterized by the lowest Δ¹³C values (difference between Δ¹³C of «sourse» and «product»).

The total content of lead, the content of its acid-soluble and mobile forms of compounds in sod-carbonate soils of the impact zone of the Cherepovets Steel Mill (Vologda region) were studied. The isotopic composition of lead of its specified forms of compounds has been determined. It is shown that lead, being a part of the gas and dust emissions of the enterprise, is detected in increased quantities up to 6–10 km in the north direction studied by us from the source of pollution. The penetration of technogenic lead compounds down the soil profile up to horizon B is observed. The isotopic ratios of lead ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁷Pb studied by us reveal clear dependencies on the lead content in soils. For all isotopic ratios in the series «total lead < acid-soluble lead < mobile lead», the contribution of technogenic lead compounds to its isotopic composition increases, since in the same series there is an increase in the proportion of technogenic lead compounds from its total amount. Extrapolation of the dependence of the ratio ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb on the lead content in the low content area gives the value of this ratio in the range of 1,19–1,25, which corresponds to the isotopic composition of the total lead of the background soils of the European part of Russia. In high polluted soils near Steel Mill, this ratio decreases to 1.10, which corresponds to numerous literature data. The choice of isotope ratio is crucial for obtaining more detailed information about the nature and sources of technogenic lead contamination of soils. Thus, in soils with a low lead content, according to the values of the isotope ratio ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁷Pb, lead is released associated with another source of pollution, presumably from a city thermal power plant operating on coal.

From 1978 to 2021, the migration parameters and dynamics of the distribution of ¹³⁷Cs in arable and virgin soils of the Tula region were studied. Identical patterns of distribution of ¹³⁷Cs from global and Chernobyl fallout in the soil profile of leached chernozems were revealed. On arable land, agrotechnical measures contribute to the uniform distribution of ¹³⁷Cs in the arable soil layer. In virgin soil horizons of chernozem soils of meadow phytocenoses, the processes of redistribution of radionuclides in the surface layers were most active in the first 10-year period after the fallout, which this contributed to the equalization of ¹³⁷Cs content in layers 0–2 and 2–5 cm and its increase in the 5–10 cm layer to more than 30% by the beginning of 2000. Nowadays, more than 75% of the ¹³⁷Cs content in virgin chernozem soils of the Tula region is concentrated in the upper 15 cm layer, and the penetration depth of radionuclides reaches 40–45 cm.

From 1978 to 2021, the migration parameters and dynamics of the distribution of ¹³⁷Cs in arable and virgin soils of the Tula region were studied. Identical patterns of distribution of ¹³⁷Cs from global and Chernobyl fallout in the soil profile of leached chernozems were revealed. On arable land, agrotechnical measures contribute to the uniform distribution of ¹³⁷Cs in the arable soil layer. In virgin soil horizons of chernozem soils of meadow phytocenoses, the processes of redistribution of radionuclides in the surface layers were most active in the first 10-year period after the fallout, which this contributed to the equalization of ¹³⁷Cs content in layers 0–2 and 2–5 cm and its increase in the 5–10 cm layer to more than 30% by the beginning of 2000. Nowadays, more than 75% of the ¹³⁷Cs content in virgin chernozem soils of the Tula region is concentrated in the upper 15 cm layer, and the penetration depth of radionuclides reaches 40–45 cm.

The study of ¹³⁷Cs and K behavior in «soil-plant» system of chernozem zone in remote period after Chernobyl accident was carried out. Experimental plots in agrosystems such as wheat, soybean, buckwheat, rapeseed, sunflower, grass mixture, and natural biosystem of a dry meadow were selected in the central part of Plavsk radioactive hotspot in Tula region. The level of ¹³⁷Cs soil contamination was 171 ± 26 kBq/m² (498 ± 100 Bq/kg). Average gross K content in soils was 2,0 ± 0,1%, including exchangeable K — 235 ± 54 mg/kg and non–exchangeable K — 816 ± 116 mg/kg. Vertical distribution of ¹³⁷Cs within contaminated 30-cm soil layer of agrosystems, as well as gross K, was uniformly accumulative, while K_ex and K_non-ex distribution was regressive and accumulative. At the same time, ¹³⁷Cs microdistribution in root zone was invariant, and gradient enrichment of soil near the root surface was shown for mobile forms of potassium. Intensity of ¹³⁷Cs transfer from soils to plants for all studied crops was 1–2 orders lower than intensity of K root uptake. Element distribution between plant organs differed. ¹³⁷Cs distribution was acropetal for Cereals and basipetal for crops from other families, and K was distributed basipetally in all tested plants.

The aim of the work is to summarize the data available in the scientific literature on the values of the ¹³⁷Cs/¹³³Cs isotope ratio in soils and vegetation cover of forest ecosystems in radioactively contaminated and background territories. The values of the specific activity of ¹³⁷Cs and the concentration of ¹³³Cs presented in radioecological studies are unified by calculating the molar ratio of these isotopes. Based on the generalized literature data, it is shown that the values of ¹³⁷Cs/¹³³Cs in soils, forest litter and vegetation increase in radioactively contaminated areas. In background regions exposed only to global radioactive fallout, the isotopic ratio of ¹³⁷Cs/¹³³Cs is about 0,1–1,0 (× 10^-8), whereas in the Chernobyl fallout zone it increases by 1000–100 000 times. The isotopic ratio of ¹³⁷Cs/¹³³Cs decreases down the soil profiles in various forest ecosystems. Spatial variation of the ¹³⁷Cs/¹³³Cs ratio in litter is associated with the diversity of ecotopes in forest biogeocenoses. The alignment of the values of the ¹³⁷Cs/¹³³Cs ratio in the vegetation cover and upper soil horizons indicates the achieved equilibrium of technogenic ¹³⁷Cs with natural stable ¹³³Cs in the biogeochemical cycle of this element. A comparative study revealed that the isotopic ratio of ¹³⁷Cs/¹³³Cs increases in the following range of plant cover representatives: Bryophyta < Sorbus aucuparia < Lichenes < Russula vesca < Frangula alnus < Polypodiophyta. For fungi, interspecific differences were noted in the following increasing series in the isotopic ratio ¹³⁷Cs/¹³³Cs: Lactarius deliciosus < Sarcodon scabrosus < Suillus bovinus < Tricholoma saponaceum < Lepista nuda < Russula delica < Macrolepiota excoriata. For the reference species of coniferous trees — Pinus sylvestris - the isotopic ratio of ¹³⁷Cs/¹³³Cs in the forest area of the Bryansk region polluted by Chernobyl fallout increases in the following number of components: roots < large branches < trunk wood < needles < small branches < cones.

The article provides an overview of the results of long-term studies of the migration of radionuclides in the composition of lysimetric waters. The features of lysimetric studies at various stages of radioecology development are considered. It is noted that the use of lysimeters for a long time was limited to low levels of radionuclides in soil solutions, and large-scale studies began after the Chernobyl fallout (1986). It is shown that the greatest output of radionuclides in lysimetric waters occurs in forest, especially coniferous phytocenoses, the least — in meadow and agrophytocenoses. In the long-term dynamics, the maximum intensity of radionuclide migration in the lysimetric waters is observed in the initial period after aerial precipitation, in the seasonal period — in the summer. A small amount of radionuclides migrates with downward water flow. Annual outflow with vertical subsurface runoff varies depending on soil-climatic conditions, the period after precipitation, the thickness and depth of the layer. Annual outflow from the forest litter layer varies from tenths to units of percentage, from the layer 0–20 cm — from hundredths to tenths of a percentage from the total radionuclide supply in these layers. The relative output of ⁹⁰Sr is much bigger than ¹³⁷Cs. In soil solution from 70% to 90% radionuclides [¹⁴⁴Ce, ²³⁹Pu ¹⁰⁶Ru ,¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr] are in the form of radionuclide-organic compounds of various molecular weights.