Forms of Copper in the Aspect of Anthropogenic Changes in the Profiles of Horticultural Soils in the Cities of South-Eastern Poland

The aim of the research was to show the changes taking place in soils as a result of the influence of anthropogenic factors in the form of intensive horticulture and pollution within the city. It was made on the basis of the distribution of individual fractions as well as available and total Cu forms in the profiles of garden soils located at houses and in the family allotment gardens in six cities in south-eastern Poland. The research took into account the granulometric composition according to which the cities were divided into two groups. The pollution assessment was based on the concentration indicator, Igeo, and indicators taking into account the forms available for plants: Cav/Ct and BF. There was no copper contamination with regard to legislation act and Igeo. The role of organic matter as an important component in copper in the humus horizons of soils in long-term horticultural cultivation has been considered. The content of all forms of copper was higher in humus horizon which also indicated the anthropogenic changes. Among the two groups of soils, a greater impact of the treatments used in horticulture on those made of sands was found in relation to the silty ones.

Differences in the Content of Zn Fractions in the Profiles of Soils from Allotment and Domestic Gardens in South-Eastern Poland

The aim of the research was to show the distribution of fractions as well as bioavailability and the total forms of Zn in the profiles of soils from domestic gardens and family allotment gardens in six cities in south-eastern Poland. Results found that the level of Zn total form varied in the ranges from A horizon: 12.75–154.75 mg·kg−1 in sandy soils and 18.20–104.00 mg·kg−1 in silty soils. Accumulation of metals was assessed using concentration indices, Igeo, and the Cav/Ct and BF indices of bioavailable forms. The analysis took into account the role of organic matter as an important component in binding the analyzed metals in soil horizons subjected to long-term horticultural cultivation. In the two groups of sandy and silty soils distinguished according to their particle size distribution, horticultural treatments were found to exert a greater impact on sandy soils. Additionally, higher contents of the examined element were stated in the humus horizons, as indicated by the high values of concentration and Igeo indices showing high Zn pollution in the soils. The content of bioavailable zinc forms was significantly high, especially in soils with a higher metal content.

Soil Formation, Subaerial Sedimentation Processes and Ancient Cultures during MIS 2 and the Deglaciation Phase MIS 1 in the Baikal–Yenisei Siberia (Russia)

The time of Sartan glaciation in the Baikal–Yenisei Siberia, is comparable with that of MIS 2 and the deglaciation phase MIS 1. Loess loams, aeolian–colluvial sands and sandy loams represent subaerial sediments. There are four subhorizons (sr1, sr2, sr3 and sr4) in the Sartan horizon (sr). Sedimentary and soil-forming processes at different stratigraphic levels are considered. Differing soil formation types of cold periods are distinguished. Soils of the interstadial type with the A-C profile are represented only in the Early Sartan section of this paper. The soils of the pleniglacial type are discussed throughout the section. Their initial profile is O-C, TJ-C and W-C. Plant detritus remnants or poor thin humus horizons are preserved in places from the upper horizons. We propose for the first time for the interphasial soil formation type of cold stages to be distinguished. This is represented in the sections by the preserved BCm, BCg, Cm and Cg horizons of 15–20 cm thick. The upper horizons are absent in most sections. According to the surviving fragments, these were organogenous (O, TJ and T) and organomineral (AO and W) horizons. The sedimentation and soil formation features are considered from the perspective reconstruction of the Sartan natural and climatic conditions. Buried Sartan soils often contain cultural layers. Soil formation shows a well-defined periodicity of natural condition stabilization, which allowed ancient populations to adapt actively to various situations. Archaeologists’ interest in fossil soils is based on the ability of soils to “record” information about the natural and climatic conditions of human habitation.

Rare earth elements in soils of saline agrolandscapes of the Baraba plain

The total content of rare earth elements in the soil profile of saline agricultural landscapes catena of the Baraba plain within Novosibirsk region was studied. The total content of zirconium, yttrium, scandium, gallium, including lanthanides - cerium, lanthanum and ytterbium was determined. Rare earth elements are extremely poorly analyzed. At present, their influence on plants, organisms of animals and humans is being actively studied, although the maximum permissible and tentatively permissible concentrations for them have not yet been developed. The total content of rare earth elements, determined in the soils of the catena, depends on the granulometric composition and the degree of humus content of the soil horizons. It was revealed that in the studied soils they are mainly contained in the number of clarkes of the earth's crust, with the exception of lanthanum in the humus horizons, where its content is almost 1.5 times (44-48 mg/kg) higher than the clarke in the earth's crust (29 mg/kg), and ytterbium (10 times higher than the clarke). Along the soil profile, an insignificant movement of rare earth elements in both vertical and horizontal directions was noted, which indicates a low mobility of their compounds. Zirconium predominates in the profile of the studied soils from the group of rare earth elements. Its content in the humus horizons of soils of eluvial positions is within the clarke of the earth's crust; variations along the profile are insignificant. Ytterbium is contained in large quantities - from 1.89 to 4.05 mg/kg of soil, which is significantly higher than the clarke of the earth's crust (0.3 mg/kg of soil). The role of lanthanides in the soil -plant - animal - human system requires further in-depth study.

Changes in Soil Features and Phytomass during Vegetation Succession in Sandy Areas

This research was conducted on an area of inland sands characterised by various degrees of overgrowth by vegetation and soil stabilisation. This landscape’s origin is not natural but is connected to human industrial activities dating from early medieval times, which created a powerful centre for mining and metallurgy. This study aims to identify the changes in the above- and belowground phytomass in the initial stages of succession and their influence on the chemical properties and morphology of the soil. It was found that Salix arenaria dominated in primary phytomass production in all plots tested. The amounts of this species found in each community were as follows: 8.55 kg/400 m2 (algae–mosses), 188.97 kg/400 m2 (sand grassland–willow), 123.44 kg/400 m2 (pine–willow–mosses), 14.63 kg/400 m2 (sand grassland–mosses–willow), and 196.55 kg/400 m2 (willow–pine–sand grassland). A notable share of Koeleria glauca was found in the phytomass production of Plots IV (45.73 kg) and V (86.16 kg). Basic soil properties (pH, Corg, Nt), available plant elements (P), and plant nutrients (Ca, Mg, K, P, Fe) beneath the dominant plant species were examined. Soil acidity (pH) varied greatly, ranging from acidic (pH = 3.2) to weakly acidic (pH = 6.3). The content of organic carbon (Corg) in individual plots beneath the dominant species in the humus horizon ranged from 0.28% to 1.42%. The maximum contents of organic carbon and total nitrogen were found in organic (O) and organic-humus (OA) horizons. The highest Pavail content was found in organic and organic-humus horizons, ranging from 10.41 to 65.23 mg/kg, and in mineral horizons under K. glauca (24.10 mg/kg) and Salix acutifola (25.11 mg/kg). The soil features and phytomass were varied differently across individual sites, representing different stages of succession.

Features of methane emission into the atmosphere over buried landfill bodies in urbanized ecosystems of Moscow

On the outskirts of cities landfill bodies are formed, the territories of which are later used in urban planning. Over the buried landfill soils which represent construction and household garbage, methane flows are formed, which worsen the environmental conditions of the territories and negatively affect the psychosomatic health of residents. The goal was to study methane emissions from various buried landfills in Moscow. Our study on urbanized ecosystems in Moscow revealed different methane emissions in the soils. Thus, over young landfill bodies, the concentration of methane in the soils was 8 -16 ppm. This led to the release of methane into the atmosphere of the capital city. In the old landfill bodies, the concentration of methane in the soil was 1-2 ppm and did not cause methane emissions into the urban atmosphere. The analysis of the obtained data revealed the absorption of methane by soils on old landfill bodies at high and very high methane oxidation (Lobochevsky, Zyuzinskaya, Brateevskaya, Kashirskoe Highway and Ochakovka Streets). For organomineral horizons of replantozems with an increased content of organic matter and a loamy granulometric composition, increased methane formation and oxidation of autochthonous gas with undetected emission were detected.In technogenic and gray-humus horizons of urbanozems, methane formation and methane oxidation were reduced.

EVALUATION OF THE GROWING CONDITIONS OF SEA-BUCKTHORN PLANTATIONS UNDER INUNDATIVE IRRIGATION

Sea-buckthorn grows well on slope lands that are high-ly drained and lack stagnant water. The optimum soil mois-ture content for sea-buckthorn corresponds to 70% of the lowest moisture capacity. Under continuous soil moisture deficit, the leaf surface area decreased, the fruits were poorly set as a result of ovary drop during the first half of the growing season, and berry size decreased. In this re-gard, the study of the water regime of the soil under sea-buckthorn plantations the possibility of its regulation re-mained quite topical. The available moisture in the humus horizons of chernozem in May 2004 corresponded to a satisfactory level. At the end of summer, the moisture con-tent of the chernozem decreased to unsatisfactory state. As a result, the plants experienced water deprivation throughout the growing season. Naturally, the need arose for irrigation, especially in June and August with irrigation rates of 490 and 280 t per m3, respectively. In the underly-ing horizons, the soil moisture deficit was weaker. In the humus horizons, the available moisture in the chernozem in the middle of the slope did not differ much from the mois-ture content at its top. At the same time, in the transitional BC layer in the second half of summer, the available mois-ture content was significantly higher. This difference was also found in the parent rock. In the lower part of theslope, the one-meter soil layer contained a greater amount of moisture which contributed to the decrease of its deficit during the entire growing season. This was especially no-ticeable in the illuvial horizon and parent rock. In the sec-ond half of summer,the available moisture content here remained higher than in the upper slope sites. In conclu-sion, it should be noted that only humus-accumulative hori-zons A (arable) + AB needed irrigation with different irriga-tion rates depending on the location of the sea-buckthorn plantations on the slope and their growth features.

Interpretation of the Alluvial Floodplain Accumulation: On the Example of Cross-sections of Geoarchaeological Site Ostrov Listvenichnyi (Northeast Angara Region)

This paper examines characteristic features of floodplain accumulation at geoarchaeological site Ostrov Listvenichnyi, located on the Angara River at the same-name island (Northeast Angara region, Baikal Siberia). The problems of interpretation of topographic and lithological data, island architecture, glacial and postglacial natural climatic insights (MIS 2–MIS 1) are also touched upon. The accumulation of sediments at a series of 16 archaeological test pits recorded along the northwestern side of the island was analyzed by using pedolithological method. Island formation history included the upbuilding of the origin island based on river point bar, further transformation into “east” pre-island and final articulation of ancient “east” pre-island and younger “west” pre-island. The primary differences in alluvium composition of ancient pre-island (red beds, clay loam) and Holocene sedimentations (grey beds, sandy loam), both situated at the same level, were identified and explained. Detailed analysis of floodplain accumulation revealed eight distinct lithological layers varying by the structure and the composition. The following conclusions were reached based on the data available: lithological strata 1–5 have formed in Sartan, lithological strata 6–8 have formed in Holocene. Every layer contains the information on the changing climate and environment: signals of floods (high flood stages in 7 layer, “dry” stages in 3 layer), different phases of humification (humusless strata 1–4, first fragile humus horizons in layer 5, more pronounced humus horizons a, b, c, d in layer 4, and humus background in strata 7–8), epigenetic markers of сryogenic processes in strata 3–5. Analysis suggest also three chronologically differentiated floodplain benches: lower 1,5–2 meter bench (top of layer 3) associated with Middle Sartan; middle 2,5–3 meter bench (top of layer 5) associated with Final Sartan; top 4,5–5 meter bench (top of layer 8) associated with modern time.

WATER REGIME OF CHERNOZEM LEACHED UNDER SEA BUCKTHORN ON DEEPFILLING ESTUARIES

In the humus horizons, the productive moisture reserves in the chernozem in the middle of the slope did not differ much from the moisture reserves at its top. At the same time, in the transition layer of the SUN in the second half of summer, they were significantly higher. This difference also occurred in the soilforming rock. In the lower part of the slope, the meter-long layer of the soil layer contained a greater amount of moisture, which helped to reduce its deficit during the entire growing season. This was especially noticeable in the illuvial horizon and the soil-forming rock. In the second half of the growing season, the ELVs here remained higher than on the upper elements of the slope. In conclusion, it should be noted that only humus-accumulative horizons of Ap+AB needed irrigation with different irrigation norms, depending on the location of sea buckthorn plantations on the slope and the characteristics of their vegetation.

Statistical analyses of chemical and physical properties of alluvial soils in the Belaya river valley (Near-Angara region) and its interpretation

The aim of the study: to describe chemical and physical properties of alluvial soils using a big array of data. Location and time of the study. The study was carried out in the Belaya River valley from 1993 to 2019. Methodology. The data of 237 soil samples collected from genetic horizons of alluvial soils from the Belaya River Valley (52º40'–53º00'N, 103º00'–104º00'E, Priangariye, Russia) were statistically processed by using descriptive statistics, cluster and correlation analyses. To perform statistical analyses soil samples were grouped according to their humus content: all horizons, all humus horizons, all non-humus horizons. Main results. Most of the horizons were characterized as slightly alkaline, sandy loam, medium humus ones. The positive relationship between exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+ is due to their joint presence in parent rock material, i.e. dolomite. Cluster analysis allowed identifying groups of horizons (for example, mineral and mineral-organogenic), sharply differing in properties. Conclusion. The presented chemical and physical properties of alluvial soils described using a big array of soil samples, can be used as a reference for monitoring their change in the future due to various natural and anthropogenic factors.