Zonal features of Al-Fe-humus pedogenesis on moraine deposits in the Kola Peninsula

Zonal differences in the genetic features of Al-Fe-humus podzols developed from moraine deposits in the tundra, forest-tundra, and northern taiga zones are revealed. The coefficient of profile differentiation of podzols with respect to the bulk content of aluminum increases from the tundra (1.16) to northern taiga (1.33); the analogous coefficient calculated with respect to the bulk content of iron increases in the same direction from 1.63 to 3.73. The zonal differences related to the contents of the amorphous forms of aluminum and iron are more contrasting: the coefficients of the profile differentiation increase from 4–6 in the tundra to 20–39 in the taiga. Differences in the humus contents of podzols developed in different natural zones are mainly seen in the podzolic horizon.     

Hydromorphism and Al-Fe-humus pedogenesis on sandy parent materials in the Kola Peninsula

Al-Fe-humus podzols developed from sandy materials of continental and marine origins can be arranged into the following sequence with respect to the degree of soil hydromorphism: iron-illuvial podzols—humus-illuvial podzols—dark (high-humus) humus-illuvial podzols—peat podzols. These soils do not differ much in their particle-size distribution and bulk elemental composition. The most informative indices reflecting the effect of soil hydromorphism are the contents of oxalate-extractable iron and aluminum compounds and the contents and composition of the soil organic matter.     

Effects of acid deposition on acidity and exchangeable cations in podzols of the Kola Peninsula

Response of soil and soil water of podzols in the Kola Peninsula to acid deposition was estimated under both field and laboratory conditions. A significant increasing trend of exchangeable acidity in organic (O) horizons and exchangeable Al in podzolic (E) horizons of podzols with distance from the nickel smelter was observed. The simulated rain at pH 4.5 did not alter chemical properties of soils and soil solutions. As much as 95–99% of the applied H⁺ ions were retained by soils and appeared in the percolates after a treatment period that depended on acid load and soil thickness. Ca and Mg in soil solutions were highly sensitive to acid loading. Simulated acid rain enhanced the leaching of exchangeable base cations out of root zone. Acid inputs resulted in decreased pH, amount of exchangeable base cations and base saturation, in elevated exchangeable acidity and it's Al fraction in soil solid phase. The most significant changes occurred in O and E horizons. Substantial amounts of both Ca and Mg can be lost from the root zone of podzols in the north-western Kola, subjected to acid deposition, thus leading to forest productivity damage.     

Genetic features of soils on sorted sand deposits of different origins in the Kola Peninsula

Differences in the chemical composition of soils developed from sorted sands of different origins are revealed. The iron-illuvial podzols on rich glaciofluvial and marine sands are characterized by well-pronounced Al-Fe-humus differentiation of the Si, Al, and Fe in the soil profile. These soils are relatively similar in their bulk elemental composition. The difference between them is seen in the degree of differentiation of the soil profiles; it is stronger in the soils developed from glaciofluvial deposits. This is particularly true with respect to the oxalate-soluble iron and aluminum hydroxides. The deposits derived from the red-colored Tersk sandstone and processed by the sea (in the coastal zone of the White Sea) have the poorest chemical composition. In the soils developed from them, the differentiation of oxalate-soluble compounds is slightly pronounced (for Fe) or completely absent (for Si and Al). These soils can be classified as podzolized ferruginous red-colored psammozems (within the order of poorly developed soils) with the following horizons: O-Ce-Cf-C. The Ce horizon has the features of podzolization, and the Cf horizon has some features attesting to the illuvial accumulation of Fe. The profile of these soils inherits a reddish tint from the parent material.     

Communities of microscopic fungi in contaminated and reference Al-Fe-humus podzols and their influence on copper mobility

The transformation of microscopic fungi communities under the impact of contamination, the influence of environmental conditions (soil temperature and moisture) on the development of fungal communities in the course of model successions and on the copper mobility in soil, and the most favorable conditions for copper mobilization were studied in Al-Fe-humus podzols of the Kola peninsula contaminated with heavy metals (Cu and Ni). The long-term aerotechnogenic contamination affects the structure of the microbial communities; the species diversity of the communities can somewhat increase at the expense of the increasing diversity of rare, atypical, and “weed” species and decreasing numbers of dominants. The dynamics of fungal communities are less expressed in the contaminated soils as compared with the reference soils. The conditions of rather low temperature (5°C) and an increased moisture content (120% of the field water capacity) are the most favorable for mycelium growth and copper mobilization. Such conditions are typical of the soils in the studied region. Hence, there is a possibility for the soil self-purification due to gradual mobilization of the copper and its subsequent leaching.     

Primary pedogenesis in the tailings of apatite-nepheline ores on the Kola Peninsula

Primary signs of pedogenesis and soil profile formation on nepheline sands were revealed: the formation of a shallow litter layer, the accumulation of humus substances and oxalate-soluble Si and Al in the mineral horizon below the litter, and the acidification of the upper sand layer.     

Critical loads of acid deposition for forest ecosystems in the Kola Peninsula

We assessed critical loads of acid deposition and their exceedance for soils in the Kola Peninsula using a simple balance method and mapped them within 1.0° × 0.5° longitude/latitude grid cells. Critical loads of acidity vary from 200 to 800 mol_c/ha/y with the type of soil, parent rock, vegetation and climatic conditions. The critical deposition values are dominated by S contribution. Present sulphur depositions are higher than critical values in the large part of the Kola Peninsula (about 40% of total area). The greatest excess (800–1200 mol_c/ha/y) occur in north-western and western parts, especially in surroundings of nickel smelter in Nickel. Terrestrial ecosystems in the north-western Kola Peninsula are particularly susceptible to acid deposition damage due to relatively high soil sensitivity and heavy sulphur deposition.     

comparison of sulphur and heavy metal contents and their regional distribution in humus and moss samples from the vicinity of Nikel and Zapoljarnij,Kola Peninsula,Russia

Terrestrial moss and humus (the O-horizon) are often used separately for determining and monitoring airborne heavy metal pollution. Here, we directly compare the results of analyses of moss and humus samples taken at a density of one site per 300 km² in a 12 000 km² area (45 samples) around the nickel smelter in Nikel, the nickel ore roasting plant in Zapoljarnij, both in Russia, and the iron ore mine and mill near Kirkenes in Norway. The samples were air dried, digested in conc. HNO₃ and analysed for more than 30 elements by ICP-MS and ICP-AES at the laboratory of the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK). For most elements, observed levels and variations are considerably greater in soil than in moss. The main contaminants, Ni and Cu, reach equally high median levels in the moss and soil, but maximum values are far higher in soil. Both media show comparable regional distribution patterns for the heavy metals, but not for sulphur. Cu and Ni can be used to delineate the limits of contamination in the survey area. Both media show the same picture, with a generally very steep gradient from east to west and background levels being reached 30–50 km from the nickel smelter. When moss is used, Cu/Ni, Cu/S and Ni/S ratios can be used to separate input from the smelting and roasting proccesses in Russia. Both media are well suited to use separately to detect airborne pollution in this heavily contaminated area. The moss data are generally easier to interpret, but moss is not available at the most polluted sites. Levels for many elements other than Cu and Ni are close to the detection levels in moss samples, but not in humus samples. Information gathered from both media thus complement each other in a regional multi-element survey.     

Eco-Geochemical Assessment of the Content of Pollutants in Hummocky Bogs of the Kola Peninsula

Eurasian Soil Science - The results of eco-geochemical survey of hummocky bogs of the Kola Peninsula at the southern border of their area showed that the climate changes in the recent 60–80...     

Genetic features of soils on marine sands and their windblown derivatives on the White Sea coast (the Kola Peninsula)

The Quaternary deposits on the Tersk coast of the White Sea are represented by marine deposits (the Tersk sands) enriched in the sea-sorted eluvium of the red Tersk sandstone. These deposits and the soils developed from them are characterized by the predominance of the fine sand fraction and the absence of gravel and the coarser fractions. The sediments derived from the red Tersk sandstone have an impoverished chemical composition (the silica content reaches 75–80%). The iron-illuvial podzols developed from them are characterized by the slightly pronounced differentiation of the main oxides and by the eluvial-illuvial redistribution of the amorphous Al and Fe compounds. Sandy soils—psammozems—with undifferentiated soil profiles are developed from windblown sands subjected to afforestation and from coastal marine sands under a relatively thin natural plant cover. Iron-illuvial podzols buried under a thin sand layer preserve the Al-Fe-humus type of the profile differentiation. In the recently deposited sand layer, the eluvial-illuvial redistribution of the chemical elements is absent.     

The humus formation and humus in forest-steppe and steppe chernozems of the southern Cisural region

The ecological features of the humus formation in typical, ordinary, and southern chernozems of the Orenburg Cisural region were considered. The fractional-group composition and amphiphilic properties of the forest-steppe and steppe chernozem subtypes were studied in relation to the dynamics of the hydrothermal regime, the vegetation, and the biological (enzymatic) activity of these zonal soils. The particular properties of the humus in virgin and arable landscapes were established. Arguments were presented for the probable existence of a genetically controlled relationship between the fractional-group composition of the humus and its amphiphilic properties     

sulphur isotope composition of stream water,moss and humus from eight arctic catchments in the Kola Peninsula region (NW Russia,N Finland,NE Norway)

In summer 1994, stream water, moss and humus samples were collected for sulphur isotopic analysis from eight catchments located in the western Kola Peninsula region, where several industrial centres emit high loads of SO₂ and other elements to the atmosphere. Three potential sources of sulphur and their isotopic signatures were identified: (1) marine (δ ³⁴S+20 to +21‰ CDT), (2) anthropogenic emissions (<+10‰), and (3) geogenic (variableδ ³⁴S, mostly <+10‰). Averaged per catchment, the sulphur isotopic composition varies between +6.0 and +16.3‰ for stream water sulphate, +6.0 and +8.4‰ for moss sulphur, and +5.2 and +12.2‰ for humus sulphur. Theδ ³⁴S composition of stream water from the more remote catchments is quite variable, reflecting several natural (geogenic) sources, but it becomes restricted to the range +8 to +10‰ near the pollution sources. A plot ofδ ³⁴S vs. 1:SO₄ in stream water suggests that sulphate originating from the smelters has aδ ³⁴S value ≈+9.5‰, and is a dominant source. Sulphur isotope values for moss and humus are consistent with the deduced composition for the emitted sulphur, though for humus a component of geogenic sulphur incorporated via vegetation uptake may play a role. Further isotopic characterisation of atmospheric emissions, together with environmental samples, is needed to better understand sulphur sources and sinks in the area.     

Composition and pools of humus in natural and agrogenic soils of the Kamchatka Peninsula

Differentiation of Kamchatka soils with respect to the composition and pools of humus is discussed. Very low and low pools of humus of the fulvate type are typical of the ocherous and stratified ocherous volcanic soils of the eastern coastal zone and the Central Kamchatka Depression. Ocherous volcanic soils of the Western Kamchatka Lowland are characterized by the low and moderate pools of the humate–fulvate humus. Agrogenic soils are characterized by the higher pools of humus in the upper 20 cm in comparison with their natural analogues, which is largely related to changes in the physical properties of the soils under the impact of tillage.     

Specific features of the humus status in soils of Buryatia

The humus content in soils of Buryatia varies significantly in dependence on the local hydrothermic conditions. All the studied soils are characterized by a relatively short humus profile, a sharp drop in the humus content down the soil profile, considerable amounts of the humin fraction and the fraction of humic acids bound with sesquioxides, and a moderate humus enrichment with nitrogen.     

Soil catenas on denudation plains in the forest-tundra and northern taiga zones of the Kola Peninsula

Morphogenetic features of soils of two catenas developed on sandy to loamy sandy moraine deposits in the forest-tundra and northern taiga zones on denudation plains of the Kola Peninsula are discussed. It is shown that these catenas are similar with respect to the major directions of soil formation, regularities of soil distribution by the elements of mesotopography, and the factors of the soil cover differentiation. The differences between the catenas are of quantitative character and are related to the intensities of manifestation of the particular processes and features. Both catenas are characterized by the pronounced differentiation of soils with respect to their moistening with hydromorphic peat bog soils in the subordinate positions and Al–Fe-humus podzols in the automorphic positions.     

The formation of the humus profile of chernozems in the Azov province

The regularities of the formation of the humus profiles in chernozems of the Azov province (“priazovskii chernozems”) were revealed from studying the paleosols of burial mounds (archeological monuments) of the Bronze Age, Early Iron Age, and Middle Ages. The principal differences in the geneses of different parts of the humus profiles were revealed. From 40 to 70% of the current humus reserves in the 1-m-thick layer were shown to be accumulated by the late 3rd and early 2nd millennia BC. In the following 4000 thousand years, the development of the upper soil layers was cyclic. In favorable climatic periods, the humus content increased and accumulation processes predominated. Under aridization, the humus mineralization was intensified, the humus content decreased to 3%, and its reserves did not exceed 18 kg/m². The fluctuations in the humus reserves in the past were not higher than 30% as compared to the recent reference soils. They were most actively replenished from the 1st to the 8th centuries A.D., and the rate of this process reached 0.5 kg/m² for 100 years. In the same period, the thickness of the layer with the humus content above 1% drastically increased. The illuviation of peptized organic matter and its further bioturbation upon the development of the solonetzic process had the greatest importance in the formation of the lower part of the humus profiles.     

Changes in the Spruce Forest Communities Along a Heavy Metal Deposition Gradient on Kola Peninsula

We investigated changes in the community structure of spruce (Picea obovata and P. fennica) forests in the Northern Taiga Region of Russia along a point-source atmospheric deposition gradient of heavy metals on the Kola Peninsula. Study sites were selected in ecologically analogous forest stands at increasing distances from the nickel smelter in Monchegorsk. The heavy metal load at each site was estimated by quantifying metal concentrations in the snow cower. Concentrations of heavy metals in soil, litter and vegetation increased along the gradient of increasing atmospheric deposition. All measured indexes of forest vitality, including species richness and abundance, vertical distribution, and understory structure were adversely affected by pollution.     

Application of humic substances in the remediation of heavy-metal-polluted soils of the Subarctic Zone of the Kola Peninsula

The effect of humic substances of various origin on the behavior of heavy metals was investigated in a field model experiment on remediation of technogenic wastelands near the mining-metallurgical compplex Severonickel in the Subarctic Zone of the Kola Peninsula. Two distinct types of humates, coal and peat, were applied to the experimental sites in various doses and combinations with NPK fertilizer and lime. The combination of peat humates with lime proved the most effective for stabilizing heavy metals in a sixweek experiment. The application of coal humates in conditions of prolonged contamination, accompanied by suppression of vegetation and biota, is effective in small doses (0.5%) and, conversely, causes the mobilization of metals with an increase in humate concentration (1%).     

Sulphur and Heavy Metal Concentrations in Scots Pine Bark in Northern Finland and the Kola Peninsula

Sulphur and heavy metal deposition in northern Finland (= in Lapland) and the Kola Peninsula were surveyed using Scots pine bark samples. Sulphur concentrations in bark close to the Kola smelters were on an average twice as high as on the Finnish side of the border. The Cu and Ni concentrations near the smelters were almost 100-fold the mean values in northern Finland. There was a marked decrease in the sulphur and heavy metal concentrations with increasing distance from the emission sources. The effects of emission from the Kola Peninsula were evident in Finland only close to the border, especially in the eastern parts of Inari (NE corner of Lapland) where the Cu and Ni concentrations were 2- to 6-fold those in western Lapland. The sulphur and heavy metal concentrations in most of northern Finland were low. However were the concentrations of Cr in bark in the SW corner of Lapland considerably high, due to the emissions from the Tornio refined steel plants.     

Monitoring of Soil Contamination by Heavy Metals in the Impact Zone of Copper-Nickel Smelter on the Kola Peninsula

The results of landscape monitoring of the concentrations of acid-extractable Ni, Cu, Co, Mn, and Zn in soils of the local impact zone of the Severonikel industrial complex on the Kola Peninsula are discussed. The aim of monitoring studies was to reveal the spatial and temporal regularities of variation in the degree of soil contamination by heavy metals. In 2001–2011, the concentrations of acid-extractable compounds of the elements in the upper part of organic soil horizons around this plant exceeded their background concentrations by two orders of magnitude for Cu and Co and by three orders of magnitude for Ni. The degree of topsoil contamination with Ni, Cu, and Co generally corresponded to the distance of the plots from the contamination source and to the modern technogenic load. However, because of the long period of the emissions, their extreme amounts, and complex composition, indirect factors—the degree of technogenic soil degradation, the loss of soil organic matter, saturation of the surface soil layers by the contaminating metals, and competitive relationships between the elements—also affect soil contamination level. The concentrations of all the studied metals in the topsoil are characterized by considerable (1.5 to 7 times) variability in their long-term dynamics. The most important factors of this variability for Ni, Cu, and Co are the organic matter content of the samples and the amount of atmospheric precipitation in the year preceding the sampling. An inverse relationship between element concentrations in the soils and the amount of atmospheric precipitation attests to the dynamic nature and reversible character of the accumulation of heavy metals in the soils.