Status Quo of Soil Contamination with Inorganic and Organic Pollutants of the River Oka Floodplains (Russia)

The contamination status of rivers and their floodplains with inorganic and organic pollutants in central Russia is poorly known. We investigated the concentrations of inorganic (As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) and persistent organic pollutants (hexachlorocyclohexane, PCBs, cyclodienes, DDX and other pesticides) in floodplain soils of the Oka River catchment (Russia). The level of contamination was generally lower than in the Elbe River floodplain but in the same range as in other European river systems such as floodplains of the rivers Rhine, D?evnice and Yachroma. Only soil samples from the periphery of the city of Ryazan (200 km southeast of Moscow) had a higher anthropogenic enrichment of Cd, Cu and Zn which was comparable to the contaminated Elbe River floodplains. These soils also had the largest concentrations of persistent organic pollutants among all samples from the Oka River catchment. Therefore, the need for large-scale remediation seems to be less urgent than in Central European river catchments and mainly restricted to some “hot spot” areas.     

Morphological diagnostics of pedogenesis on the anthropogenically transformed floodplains in Moscow

At present, many parts of river valleys, including floodplains, are being actively used for urban construction. This leads to the disturbance of normal functioning of the valleys; alluvial deposits and soils become buried under the thickness of various anthropogenic materials. Four profiles of typical urban soils (urbanozems) developed on the floodplain of the Moskva River and its small tributaries have been studied. The macro- and micromorphological characteristics (including data of submicroscopic studies) and the chemical and physicochemical properties of these soils are analyzed. It is shown that the influence of ground-water on the anthropogenically transformed soils of floodplains and low terraces is preserved even upon the cessation of regular flooding. The substitution of urban pedosedimentogenesis for alluvial pedosedimentogenesis has a gradual character with a transitional stage of simultaneous occurrence of both processes. Clayey and clayey-calcareous infillings in the middle-profile horizons and newly formed phosphates of iron and calcium in the lower horizons affected by the groundwater can be considered typical diagnostic features of the urban-alluvial pedogenesis.     

Vertical distribution of <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs in alluvial soils of the Lokna River floodplain (Tula oblast) long after the Chernobyl accident and its simulation

Profiles of vertical ¹³⁷Cs distribution in alluvial meadow soils on the low and medium levels of the Lokna River floodplain (central part of the Plavsk radioactive spot in Tula oblast) 28 years after the Chernobyl fallout have been studied. A significant increase in the ¹³⁷Cs pool is revealed on the low floodplain areas compared to the soils of interfluves due to the accumulation of alluvium, which hampers the reduction of the total radionuclide pool in alluvial soils because of radioactive decay. The rate of alluvium accumulation in the soil on the medium floodplain level is lower by three times on average. An imitation prognostic model has been developed, which considers the flooding and climatic conditions in the region under study. Numerical experiments have quantitatively confirmed the deciding role of low-mobile forms in the migration of maximum ¹³⁷Cs content along the soil profile in the absence of manifested erosion–accumulation processes.     

Soils of floodplains in arid regions of Inner Asia (the Zavkhan River,Mongolia)

The environmental conditions of soil formation and the diversity and classification position of soils developing on the Zavkhan River floodplain are considered, and the morphogenetic and agrochemical properties of these soils are characterized. It is shown that the conditions of soil formation on the floodplain of the Zavkhan River are specified by the mountainous topography, the effect of the large Mongol Els sand massif, the character of the alluviation processes, the groundwater level and salinity, and the regime of floods. The position of the floodplain in the system of altitudinal zones largely dictates the character of the soil cover pattern. In terms of the new Russian soil classification system, the soils studied belong to three trunks, four orders, and seven types: stratified humus alluvial soils, light-humus alluvial soils, light-humus quasigley alluvial soils, light-humus stratozems, and solonchaks. The soils of floodplain ecosystems in arid regions are characterized by low fertility. For their efficient use for pasturing and crop growing, the ecologically balanced differentiated application of manure, mineral fertilizers (NPK), and some microelements is required.     

Anthropogenic Soils on the Territory of the New Jerusalem Monastery,Moscow Region

The soil cover inside the walls of the New Jerusalem Monastery (in the city of Istra, Moscow region) has been completely transformed during the long history of anthropogenic loads on the local landscape. Specific anthropogenic soils have been formed from the technogenic deposits on the top and slopes of the monastery hill. These soils contain numerous artifacts; in their upper part, horizons with characteristic features of the modern humus-accumulative process have been developed. The major types of anthropogenic soils on the territory of the monastery—urbiagrostratozems, soddy urbistratozems, and soddy-calcareous urbistratified soils—have been described. The composition of technogenic deposits determines the shift of pH values towards the alkaline reaction, the high content of available phosphorus compounds, and the soil contamination with heavy metals. The post-alluvial gray-humus soils close in their morphology and chemical properties to the natural soils of the floodplain predominate in the soil cover of the park zone adjacent to the walls of the monastery in the Istra River valley.     

The soil cover of the Selenga delta area in the Baikal region

The main regularities of soil development in the Selenga delta area of the Baikal region have been studied. The terraces of Lake Baikal and the Selenga River are occupied by soddy forest and gray forest soils. Intrazonal saturated and calcareous alluvial soils are formed on the Selenga floodplain and delta. Soddy soils of pine forests occur on natural levees along the streams; hollows and depressions are occupied by swampy soils.     

Holocene evolution of floodplain soils and landscapes in the Kulikovo field area

The lithostratigraphic, radiocarbon, macro- and micromorphological, particle-size, and other analyses have been applied to reconstruct the Holocene evolution of soils and landscapes on the high- and mediumlevel floodplains of the Nepryadva River in the Kulikovo field area. It is shown that the soils buried within the thickness of alluvial sediments on the high- and medium-level floodplains were formed in different times and had their own evolution patterns; the polygenetic nature of these soils is demonstrated. The development of floodplain landscapes in the Holocene was affected by the long-term climatic fluctuations. The bed of the high floodplain was formed during the Late Valdai glacial stage. The beginning of the development of an intricate sequence of buried soils and sediments of the floodplain dates back to the Boreal period. This pedosedimentary sequence in the studied area can be referred to as the Kulikovo sequence. In the course of its formation, the pedogenic stages with a predominant development of soils alternated with the lithogenic stages of active alluviation and deposition of colluvial deposits from adjacent slopes on the floodplain.     

Genesis and evolution of soils in the Selenga River delta

Five types of soils representing an evolutionary sequence have been distinguished within the Selenga River delta. At the first stage. alluvial meadow-swampy, swampy, and stratified soddy alluvial soils are formed. At the second stage, meadow calcareous alluvial soils are developed. At the third stage of evolution, leached meadow soils are widespread. This soil sequence is related to changes in the hydrological regime of delta areas upon gradual aggradation of the surface with corresponding changes in the character of vegetation.     

Distribution of earthworms in soils of Yakutia

The distribution of earthworms in 18 types of tundra, middle-taiga, alas, and floodplain soils of Yakutia has been studied. The species Eisenia nordenskioldi is typical of Yakutian soils. The area, population density, and seasonal dynamics of earthworms in permafrost-affected soils have been determined. It is shown that earthworms are absent in excessively moist peat-muck permafrost-affected soils, excessively dry soddy soils of alases (thermokarst depressions), and soddy alluvial soils under steppe communities. The best living conditions for earthworms are associated with meadow floodplain, meadow alas, and mucky calcareous soils.     

Specific features of bacterial communities in floodplain agrocenoses

The analysis of the taxonomic structure of the bacterial complexes in the alluvial soils of the Oka River valley allowed revealing the distinct differences in the spectrum of the bacterial dominants in the virgin and cultivated soils. Arthrobacter and pigment coryneform bacteria are shown to predominate in the virgin soil; bacilli and pseudomonades are common in the soil under vegetables. On cabbage leaves and carrot roots (both healthy and rotten), the spectrum of dominants is composed of two genera of enterobacteria: Pantoea and Erwinia. As a result of the plowing in of vegetables into the soil, enterobacteria accumulate; among them, phytopathogenic species are present. Within a year after this plowing in and the new yield, the enterobacteria practically disappeared, but myxobacteria and cytophages developed. Since these bacteria belong to the cellulose-destroying prokaryotes, the increase in their contents in the soil testified to their participation in the decomposition of the buried vegetable residues. Weeds are known to concentrate various bacterial forms in the phylloplane; they enter from different ecological niches: soil, water, meadow, and agricultural plants. Representatives of phytopathogenic bacteria as minor components were found on weeds.     

Floodplain soils in the lower reaches of the Khovd River in the Great Lakes Basin of Mongolia

The ecologic-geographic conditions of the pedogenesis and the diversity and classification position of the floodplain soils in the lower reaches of the Khovd River have been studied. The soil cover is composed of alluvial soils of the synlithogenic trunk and solonchaks of the postlithogenic trunk. The major properties of these soils are characterized. The dominant role in the soil genesis is played by gleyzation and salinization processes. Data on the contents of the macro- and microelements in the soils are given, and their agrochemical effect is assessed. Potential destructive agrogenic processes in the soils of floodplain ecosystems upon their use for haymaking and pasturing and upon their use for arable farming are discussed. A grouping of the major soil types in the studied area with respect to their use is proposed.     

Stages of the development of alluvial soils in the Bikin River valley (the Amur River basin) in the Middle and Late Holocene

The evolution of alluvial soils in the Bikin River basin in the Middle and the Late Holocene is discussed. On the basis of biostratigraphic data, four pollen zones have been identified in the soils: Pinus koraiensis-Picea, Pinus koraiensis-Quercus-Sphagnum, Betula-Alnus-Alnaster, and Quercus. A set of soil characteristics (texture, acid-base properties, and the organic matter content and group composition) have also been determined. These data allow us to distinguish between four stages of alluvial soil formation in the Bikin River basin. They characterize humus-forming conditions in the Middle and the Late Holocene. Reconstruction of ancient vegetation conditions makes it possible to conclude that climatic fluctuations were synchronous with changes in the soil characteristics. During the Holocene climatic optimum, humus was formed in a slightly acid medium, and humic acids predominated. In cold periods with increased precipitation, fulvic acids predominated in the composition of humus, and the portion of insoluble residue was high because of the more acid medium. The stages of alluvial pedogenesis in the Bikin River valley follow the sedimentation model of soil evolution. Alluvial gray humus soils evolved from typical gray humus soils under meadow communities during warm periods to gleyic and gleyed soils under birch shrubs and alder groves in colder and wetter periods.     

Carbonates in some soils of the Kamennaya Steppe

A comparative analysis of the conditions of formation and distribution of carbonates in the profiles of ordinary chernozems and meadow-chernozemic soils within the Kamennaya Steppe (Voronezh oblast) is given. On this basis, the approximate duration of the meadow stage of soil development is estimated. It is shown that the upper boundary of soil carbonates changes under the impact of forest shelterbelts.     

Evaluation of organic carbon stocks and СО<Subscript>2</Subscript> fluxes in grasslands of Western Transbaikalia

The stocks of organic carbon and mean rates of the CO₂ emission during the growing season (May–September) and the entire year were estimated in a sequence of grass ecosystems along the transect encompassing chestnut and meadow-chestnut steppe soils, marsh and meadow alluvial soils, and a haloxerophytic community on a typical solonchak. The total stocks of organic carbon comprised 6.17–9.70 kg С/m² in steppe, 7.41–10.04 kg С/m² in floodplain, and 4.74 kg С/m² in haloxerophytic ecosystems. The portion of humus carbon in the upper 50-cm-thick soil layer comprised 79–92% of the total carbon stock. The mean daily CO₂ emission (С–CO₂/(m² day)) from alluvial soils was moderate (3.3–4.9) or low (1.5–2.5). The dependence of the CO₂ emission on the moistening of steppe soils, temperature of alluvial soils, and temperature and moistening of solonchak was revealed. In comparison with the CO₂ emission from the zonal chestnut soil, its mean values during the growing season and the entire year were 1.2 times higher for the meadowchestnut soil, 3.3 times higher for the marsh alluvial soil, 2.3 times higher for the meadow alluvial soil, and 1.7 times higher for the solonchak. The portion of the CO₂ emission beyond the growing season in the mean annual emission averaged 19.8–24.2% and depended on the type of grass ecosystem and on weather conditions of particular years. The sink of carbon in the grass ecosystems exceeded carbon emission, especially in the steppe ecosystems.     

川西北高寒地区土壤有机碳含量垂直分布特征

本论文研究了川西北高寒地区三种典型土壤(亚高山草甸土、泥炭草甸土和冲积土)在不同土壤深度有机碳含量、全氮含量、全磷含量、C/N以及C/P的变化,探讨了有机碳含量和全氮含量、全磷含量、C/N以及C/P之间的相关关系。试验结果表明:冲积土和亚高山草甸土有机碳含量、全氮含量和全磷含量随土壤深度的增加都有下降的趋势;但是泥炭草甸土有机碳含量和全氮含量都是随土壤深度增加先下降后升高,在20~40 cm土壤深度时含量最低,而全磷含量随土壤深度的增加而下降。亚高山草甸土、泥炭草甸土和冲积土的有机碳含量都与全氮含量显著相关,其相关系数分别为0.999、0.965和0.992;而冲积土的有机碳含量还与全磷含量和C/P显著相关,相关系数分别为0.902和0.982。     

Use geopedological methods for the evaluation of sedimentation rates on river floodplains, southern Québec, Canada

This article pertains to the fluvial dynamics of rivers in southern Québec, in particular to the aggradation and pedogenetic processes observed in floodplains affected by periodic floods. The frequency of flood events, notably along the Saint-François River and its main tributaries, leads to fine materials being frequently deposited on floodplains and affected development of alluvial soils. Particle size and physical and chemical analyses have led to a better understanding of the dynamics involved in the formation of floodplains and the development of soils related to this fluvial environment. Also, sedimentological analyses (layer texture and thickness, microstructure) combined with radiocarbon dating (¹⁴C) and isotopic methods (²¹⁰Pb, ²²⁶Rd) enabled the determination of sedimentation rates along the floodplains. The radiocarbon dating results obtained from the organic layers buried in alluvial soils show relatively variable ages, i.e. between 2210 ± 60 and 30 ± 70 years BP. The data gathered reveal an active overbank deposition, which shows evidence of the high flood recurrence in many rivers of the basin. It is estimated that the annual floodplain aggradation ranges from 1.0 to 7.6 mm yr^− 1 on average, which causes increases in floodplain elevations (vertical accretion). The sedimentation rates obtained using the constant rate supply dating model (²¹⁰Pb) show average values that range from 2.1 to 10.7 mm yr^− 1. Also, the presence of contaminated layers at the lower level (> 100 cm) of the floodplains suggested an active sedimentation rates along the rivers affected by floods.     

新疆三工河流域土壤类型复杂性研究

运用分形理论,选取斑块形状指数,在对三工河流域土壤斑块的标度-频度分形关系进行定量分析的基础上,结合土壤斑块面积-周长分维数,讨论了流域内土壤斑块空间分布的复杂性。结果表明:三工河流域内土壤斑块标度-频度分形关系及土壤类型斑块面积-周长分形关系客观存在;流域内土壤类型分维值具有一定差异,其中潮土的分维数最大,硫酸盐草甸盐土最小。复杂性指数与分维数和形状指数之间具有很好的相关性,能较客观地反映土壤类型斑块在空间分布上的复杂性;流域内高山寒漠土的复杂性指数最大,空间分布最复杂(K=2.403),半固定风沙土的复杂性指数最小,空间分布最简单(K=1.259)。     

Free and bound air in soil aggregates

The total content of air entrapped, adsorbed, dissolved, and occurring as bubbles in soil water is termed “bound soil air.” The content of free soil air is determined from the difference between the total and bound soil air. Data on the content of free and bound air in different-sized aggregates of calcareous coarse silty-clayey meadow alluvial soil in the Dnestr River floodplain are presented. The effect of density, aeration, and sand and straw addition on the content of the free and bound air in soil aggregates was shown. A classification of aggregates based on their density and the content of the free, bound, and total soil air was proposed.     

Impact of cattle grazing on temperate coastal salt marsh soils

Over the last two decades, grazing intensity has increased in the temperate salt marshes of Samborombón Bay (Argentina) due to agricultural expansion and the displacement of domestic livestock to these areas. We investigated the effect of cattle grazing on soil chemical and physical properties in the higher (HE), medium (ME) and lower (LE) elevation levels of this temperate salt marsh. Soil data were collected from both a National Park, where cattle grazing has been excluded for more than 35 yrs, and an adjacent commercial livestock farm continuously grazed by cattle. We found that soil salinity was greater on the grazed than on the ungrazed sites, especially those in the ME and LE. This could be related to the upward flow of salts from the saline groundwater, driven by the increase in the proportion of bare soil on grazed sites. The increase in soil salinity changed the plant community structure through the increase of salt‐tolerant and non‐palatable species and the decrease of palatable species. Soil physical variables (soil bulk density and soil bearing capacity) were also higher on the grazed than on the ungrazed sites, which can be related to the decrease in soil organic matter (SOM), and suggest an incipient compaction process; however, the values were still lower than those considered critical for plant growth in clay soils. These results suggest that continuous grazing management in this temperate salt marsh might have negative consequences for animal production and ecosystem conservation, mainly related to the increased soil salinity. Further research will be necessary to evaluate the suitability of switching to intermittent grazing management.     

潮土和潮褐土中重金属形态与土壤酶活性的关系

采用大田取样 ,运用连续提取方法 ,研究了河北平原潮土、潮褐土两种土壤中Cd、Pb的化学形态特征与四种土壤酶 (脲酶、H2 O2 酶、转化酶、碱性磷酸酶 )活性间的关系。结果表明 :大田两种土壤中交换态Cd、Pb对脲酶活性有显著抑制作用。因此 ,在石灰性土壤中 ,把交换态Cd、Pb和脲酶活性共同作为评价土壤Cd、Pb污染程度的主要生化指标是可行的