Articles

The main types of soils in the northeastern part of the Sakhalin Island have been studied in conditions of oil pollution (1 year and 10 years), as well as their background counterparts. The regularities of hydrocarbons transformation in oil-contaminated soils are revealed, the possibility of launching self-purification processes based on the results of an assessment of the composition of petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) is shown. The analysis of n-alkanes as markers of TPH biodegradation showed a change in their content and composition, depending on the degree and age of soil contamination by TPH, as well as the sorption capacity of soils. During the first year, the mechanisms of soil self-purification are triggered, leading to a change in the composition of n-alkanes: light fractions volatilized, alkanes C16–C23 undergo to biodegradation. Under conditions of 1-year oil contamination of soils, the composition of petroleum hydrocarbons undergoes significant changes, expressed in an increase in the proportion of microbial n-alkanes (ΣC20–25). An increase in the content of high molecular homologues ΣC26–C34 has been found in comparison with the initial state of oil-contaminated soils and the composition of oil. The calculations of CPI (coefficient of oddness), Ki (coefficient of biodegradation) and Kw (coefficient "degree of waxiness") demonstrateв the transformation of the composition of n-alkanes and, in general, the transformation of petroleum hydrocarbons in time. The use of the sum of odd n-alkanes C27, C29, and C31 as a diagnostic indicator is a solid base for selecting background soils in the area of hydrocarbon deposits.

This study is focused on the erosion losses of heavy metals and other elements, as well as their redistribution in large soil aggregates. An erosion-prone slope in the zone of sod-podzolic soils (Educational and Experimental Soil and Ecological Center of Lomonosov Moscow State University "Chashnikovo") was selected as an object. In the selected samples, the gross content of the main soil trace elements and macroelements was determined using X-ray fluorescence analysis. It was noted that Zn, Sr, Fe and Rb were removed from the soil at the foot of the slope, moreover, these elements were mainly accumulated in aggregates 5‒2 mm in diameter. In turn, Zr, Nb, Ti, Cr, Al were also actively washed out at the foot of the slope, approximately equally distributed among all groups of aggregates. There are also elements for which the influence of the studied factors (location relative to the slope and size of aggregates) was not observed: Cu, Ni, Ga, As. A unique behavior was recorded for manganese, it is the only element for which an increase in the content was reliably recorded at the foot of the slope, moreover, in small aggregates <2 mm in diameter (p-value <0,05), the most prone to erosion washout. According to the results of dispersion and correlation analyses, we are assuming that erosion processes influence the distribution of zinc, strontium, chromium and manganese, and the distribution of other elements is influenced by the factor of parent material, anthropogenic input and/or podzolic process.

The study investigates the profile distribution of a complex of pollutants in roadside soils. The research was conducted in the Moscow Region, within the territory of the Educational and Experimental Soil and Ecological Center of Lomonosov Moscow State University "Chashnikovo". Soil samples were collected along a transect perpendicular to the Leningrad Highway at distances of 2 m (roadside), 7 m (a depression in the terrain before the forest belt), 50 m (a field behind the forest belt), and 175 m (the central part of the field) from the road surface, at depths of 0–5 cm, 15–20 cm, 30–35 cm, and 45–50 cm. The 2–7 m zone was characterized by technogenic soils, while the 50–175 m zone consisted of sod-podzolic soils used for agriculture. The contents of heavy metals (HMs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs), as well as chlorides (Cl⁻)—key components of deicing agents—were determined. Additional analyses included particle size distribution, organic carbon content, soil pH, and electrical conductivity. It was found that the distribution of different pollutants in the soil profile was not uniform and depended on soil properties, pollutant characteristics, and the landscape design. The 2–7 m zone was characterized by intense contamination with all types of pollutants. PAHs showed a decreasing or bimodal vertical distribution (from top to bottom); HMs showed a decreasing pattern for Cu and Zn, while for Ni and Pb, an increase in concentration was observed in the lower layers or a uniform profile distribution was noted. PHCs showed a decreasing profile, and Cl- exhibited either a decreasing or bimodal distribution. Among soil properties, organic carbon content and particle size distribution were the main factors influencing the vertical differentiation of pollutant concentrations. Exceedances of the maximum allowable concentrations were observed for the mobile forms of Cu and Zn, as well as for petroleum hydrocarbons and PAHs. In the 50–175 m zone, the dynamics of soil contamination were different. Concentrations of all pollutants gradually decreased with depth, reaching background levels. Pollution was detected only in the surface soil layer for PAHs, the concentrations of which slightly (up to twofold) exceeded regional background values. The study highlighted the importance of investigating soil profile contamination near roads. Certain pollutants (Ni and Pb, PAHs, and Cl⁻) may show complex vertical distributions with increasing concentrations in deeper soil layers. It was also shown that the design of the roadside landscape played a crucial role in the distribution of pollutants. An artificially created depression a few meters from the Leningrad Highway can intercept runoff from the road surface, preventing pollutant migration to agricultural areas located upslope. Additionally, a living windbreak in the form of a forest belt reduced the airborne migration of pollutants. Intensive sedimentation of PAHs in front of the forest belt resulted in a nearly 20-fold decrease in their concentrations in soils behind it. Such landscape design can be an effective solution for protecting agricultural fields adjacent to highways. However, the study also emphasized the need for remediation measures to reduce extremely high pollutant levels in close proximity to the road, as surface dust can act as a secondary source of soil contamination near roads and also affect pedestrians and drivers

The distribution patterns of microelements in soils along two soil-geochemical catenas within the "Chashnikovo" territory in Moscow Oblast were studied. The first catena, "Klyazma", is associated with the northeastern slope of the Klyazma River valley and includes eluvial, transit, transit-accumulative, and superaquatic landscapes. Within this catena, a carbonate double-sided biogeochemical barrier was diagnosed at the contact zone between the transit and transit-accumulative landscapes. A distinctive feature of this catena is the modern functioning of the superaquatic landscape in its post-hydromorphic stage of development. The type of this catena is heterolithic due to the transition from cover loams on moraine to alluvial deposits within its boundaries. The second catena, "Kirpichnoye Pole", consists of eluvial and a series of transit-accumulative landscapes with varying hydromorphism degrees. The eluvial landscape is located in the well-drained upper part slope of northeastern exposure. The second site within the transit-accumulative landscape is situated in the contact zone of the partially drained lower part of the slope, influenced by the gully "Krasnyy Voyn". The third and fourth sites of this landscape are characterized by increasing levels of hydromorphism. Throughout the entire length of the catena, soil formation occurs on cover loams underlain by moraine, which allows it to be classified as monolithic. The relevance of the study is determined by the fact that the typological differences between the catenas and the presence of a carbonate biogeochemical barrier in one of them allowed us to establish similarities and differences in element behavior under different conditions. Element behavior reflects general features common to soils within the southern taiga landscapes of Moscow Oblast. The distribution pattern of elements in soils is explained by soil-forming processes, past agricultural activities, bioaccumulation processes, and the influx of elements as pollutants due to the proximity of these landscapes to the M-10 highway ("Moscow-Saint Petersburg") and residential buildings. Texture-differentiated soils show correlations between silt fraction content and elements such as V, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, and As, while alluvial soils exhibit strong links between medium silt fraction and Mn, Fe, As, Mo, Cd and Hg. Within the studied catenas, the increase in hydromorphism leads to the accumulation of iron-manganese concretions in the soils. The carbonate barrier reduces the overall migration flow primarily of elements belonging to the iron family.

The article examines the distribution features of one of the main radionuclides of the Chernobyl release — 137Cs — in the wood of the trunk of the Scots pine, depending on the age class. It is shown that in the long-term period after precipitation, the distribution of 137Cs in the stand of pine biogeocenoses in the territory of the Bryansk Polesie of the Russian Federation, which was most severely affected by the Chernobyl accident, at contamination  densities (2183 kBkm–2), exceeding the indicator established by the Law of the Russian Federation "On Social Protection of Citizens Exposed to radiation as a result of the Chernobyl disaster", and classifying the territories as radioactively contaminated (37 kBkm‒2), the minimum index (0,23 kBk kg‒1) and the average value of the specific activity of 137Cs in wood (2,24 23 kBkkg–1) does not exceed the standards for wood products for various purposes, with the exception of that for wood used for the construction of residential premises. The obtained novel data indicate that in the distribution of 137Cs, both by trunk height (from the top of the tree to the trunk) and by average indicators of wood contamination in general, there is a clear trend of a decrease in the specific activity of radionuclide depending on the age of the stand. In this regard, for the most adequate assessment of possible contamination of wood and compliance of the identified levels of specific activity of radionuclides with regulatory indicators, in particular in the context of construction use, sampling of this component should be carried out in relation to age groups in increments of 10 years.

Keywords: Bryanskoe Polesie, Chernobyl fallout, nuclear contamination, pine biogeocenoses, wood use, tree age class.

Methodological peculiarities of basal respiration (BR) measurement have been studied on the peat soil samples from two taiga subzones. It is found that the BR values at the initial incubation time (30 minutes) significantly exceed the ‘classical’ variant (24 hours) and gradually decrease with time. It is observed for all types of samples. The dependence of BR on the volume of the gas phase in the system was revealed - the values are higher the larger the volume of the incubation vial and the larger the ratio of the volume of the gas phase: mass (volume) of the sample. Initial values of CO2 concentration do not influence the dynamics of BR, because both at about zero and relatively high (4400 ppm) starting values of CO2 content the results of incubation were similar. It is critical to maintain the same incubation time interval, the same vial and sample volume while assessing the biological activity of soils using the BR method. The standard variant of BR determination during 24-hour incubation showed results that differed minimally depending on vial volumes and is probably preferable in this variant of experiments.

This article describes the experiment to study measures to combat Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden. The introduction provides a historical overview of the study of Heracleum sosnowskyi, the basis for its use in agriculture, the consequences of the large-scale spread of Heracleum sosnowskyi as an invasive species in the territory of modern Russia. Using the historical research method, the authors put forward a hypothesis about the causes of the invasive spread of Heracleum sosnowskyi in the territory of the Russian Federation. A brief analysis of the methods of combating Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden is presented, an ecological assessment of various approaches is given, which is a comparative research method. The article provides an analysis of weed infestation data, and soil and climatic indicators of the first growing season of the experiment are studied. The morphological method and the method of soil-regime observations were used in the process of sampling. As a result of the experiment, a large array of data was obtained, based on which, with statistical reliability, an agrochemical analysis of soils, weed infestation of plots was carried out, an economic assessment of control measures was made, which in total is a numerical-statistical research method. Keywords: Invasion of Sosnowsky's hogweed, control measures, mistakes in agriculture, harm of herbicides, methods of environmental control, soil indicators, climate data.

The article considers the elements of introduction of milk thistle in the zone of soddy-podzolic soils of the Moscow region. The article presents the results of studies on the efficiency of using the complex organo-mineral fertilizer Ideal and foliar feeding with Epin-Extra when growing milk thistle. Foliar feeding with Epin-Extra (24-epibrassinolide) resulted in the highest yield of milk thistle seeds (1.0 t/ha) due to improved yield structure indicators with their best biochemical indicators. It is shown that the studied Ideal and Epin-Extra preparations improved the yield structure: increased the number of heads per 1 plant, the number of seeds, the weight of seeds per head, and the weight of seeds per plant. They had a positive effect on the formation of the yield of milk thistle seeds. Foliar feeding with the preparation "Epin-Extra" (24-epibrassinolide) resulted in the highest yield of milk thistle seeds (1.18 t/ha) due to the improvement of the yield structure indicators with their best biochemical indicators. It was noted that double application of the organo-mineral preparation Ideal and the steroid phytohormone (Epin-extra) leads to stabilization of cell membranes and, as a result, to the optimal physiological state of the whole plant. Double application of the preparation Epin-extra (24-epibrassinolide) for foliar treatment can be considered the most optimal, since it, to a greater extent than the organo-mineral preparation Ideal, promotes stabilization of cell membranes, reduces the loss of electrolytes, potassium and sodium ions and, ultimately, increases the yield of seeds of this crop. When studying the dynamics of the taxonomic structure of bacterial complexes, it was found that 60% of epiphytic bacteria are represented by pigment forms. It has been established that in the phyllosphere and rhizosphere of milk thistle, significant changes in the ecological-trophic structure of the bacterial complex are observed. They are associated with the replacement of eccrisotrophic proteobacteria during the flowering period of plants by bacteria of the hydrolytic complex during the ripening of seeds. It has been revealed that proteobacteria were dominant on the flowers and seeds of milk thistle, their share is 50-70%. It has been established that the share of Rhodococcus is significantly higher on the leaves and roots of milk thistle.

It is shown that a significant amount of soil and environmental studies necessary for the economic assessment of damage/harm from pollution, degradation and clutter can be reduced through the use of express methods for assessing the ecological state of soils. Such methods include the determination of the volumetric magnetic susceptibility of soils (MV), which characterizes the degree of anthropogenic load on the territory — the so-called level of anthropogenic land pollution. For the territory of the Educational and Experimental Soil and Ecological Center of Lomonosov Moscow State University "Chashnikovo" (EE SEC "Chashnikovo"), the area with the highest soil moisture index and the magnitude of damage from "man-made" pollution is the "roadside strip" — the territory directly adjacent to the Leningradskoye Highway. In the "ditch" zone, the magnitudes of magnetic susceptibility and soil damage decrease compared to the "roadside strip", but still have significant values. In the "forest belt" zone, the values of soil moisture indicators decrease significantly compared to the "road strip" and "ditch", and the amount of damage from "man-made" pollution here is zero, just as for the "arable land/fallow land" zone. The obtained maximum amount of damage from technogenic pollution in the "roadside strip" — 17.37 rubles/m2 (at a cadastral value of 6.03 rubles/m2) — gives an approximate idea of the damage caused to lands by man-made load.