POLLUTANT ELEMENTS CONCENTRATION IN THE LANDSCAPE SOILS OF THE BESED’ RIVER

Abstract

Purpose: to study the distribution and concentration of pollutant elements in alluvial soils of various elements of the floodplain landscape and their relationship with fertility indicators. Materials and methods: the gross content of elements was determined by the atomic absorption method, the soil fertility agrochemical indicators were determined according to generally accepted methods. The variability of the pollutant element concentrations in layers in 5 cm to 20 cm of the studied soils and the concentration clarke were calculated. Results: the decreasing series of concentrations of pollutants have a general similar structure, which is explained by the same type of biogeochemical conditions of the floodplain regime. Some differences are present in the soil of the near-terrace floodplain subsystem, which can be explained by the difference in the water regime and redox conditions of this territory from other parts of the floodplain and by the variation in the horizontal and vertical mobility of pollutant elements. Conclusions: the concentration of pollutant elements in the soils of the floodplain landscape of the Besed’ river does not exceed the clarke value. The exception is Cd in the soil of the floodplain central subsystem and Cu and Cd in the soil of the floodplain near-terrace subsystem. The vertical distribution of pollutant elements in the 0–20 cm layer is determined by the element chemical properties and the genesis of the floodplain subsystem soils and can be uniform or concentrated in separate layers. In the floodplain landscape of the Besed’ river the clarke concentrations of pollutants and their concentrations increase from the near-river to the near-terrace subsystem of the floodplain for Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb, Co, Mo, As. For Mn and Cd, the maxima were found in the central subsystem of the floodplain landscape. The high clarke concentration of cadmium and lead, which is atypical for the soils of the floodplain landscapes of this region, and the peculiarities of these elements distribution may indicate their anthropogenic origin. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between the content of organic matter, exchangeable cations and Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, Pb, Co, As concentration.

Keywords

• alluvial soils
• floodplain landscape
• pollutant elements
• content
• concentration clarke
• fertility
• correlation