Anastasia Vladimirovna Khamutovskaya

Mineralization rates of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition of non-remediated and remediated oil)polluted, as well as background soils from the main types of West Siberian middle taiga’s ecosystems were measured in laboratory experiments. Rates of SOM mineralization were measured by alkali absorption of CO₂ released from wet soil samples at 20°C (basal respiration). Because of linear character of cumulative curves of CO₂ release SOM mi neralization rates were expressed by mineralization index K1 equal to the annual amount of CO₂ released per 1 gramm of soil. K1 values varied in a range 0,123—1,578 mg СО₂/g/day. Highest value was found in background forest soil, lowest — in oil-polluted peat soil with extremely high oil content (544 g/kg). K1 values negatively correlated (K = –0,57) with oil content. SOM mineralization rates in remediated oil)polluted peat soils varied in a range — 0,31—0,85 mg СО₂/g/day