Identification and monitoring of agricultural land contaminated by military operations

Abstract

Russia’s attack on Ukraine has caused widespread contamination of agricultural land, which is now an urgent environmental problem that is important for human health and sustainable development. In this regard, the purpose of this study was to analyse the impact of military operations in Ukraine on agricultural land. To fulfil this purpose, a study was conducted at the Educational and Research Centre of Mykolaiv National Agrarian University, which included data collection and analysis in different regions of Ukraine, including Dnipro, Mykolaiv, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. It was found that in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, soil contamination with lead exceeds the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) by 3 times and fluoride by 1.5 times; in Mykolaiv Oblast, the concentration of lead exceeds the MPC by 5 times, the content of zinc, copper, fluoride, and oil products by a quarter; and in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the concentration of lead exceeds the MPC by 11.17 times, the content of zinc and fluoride is increased by half, petroleum products – by 35%, and phosphates – by 30%. Furthermore, the study confirmed the impact of military operations on the physical and chemical properties of soils, specifically, an increase in the acidity of the soil environment (pH) and the density of the topsoil. To reduce the impact of war on soil and the ecosystem, it is necessary to monitor and assess the effects of military operations, develop and implement environmentally friendly technologies, and restore and rehabilitate the affected areas. The findings of this study can be used to prepare recommendations for the authorities to minimise the environmental impact of military operations on soils

Keywords

• agricultural sector
• martial law
• soil density
• heavy metals
• petroleum products