Ecological and microbiological monitoring of soils in places of mass recreation

Abstract

Introduction. There are presented results of a comprehensive ecological and microbiological assessment of soils located in the central part of the recreational zone of the city of Petrozavodsk, located in the middle taiga area. The study of chemical and microbiological properties of the soils of the park zone in the spatio-temporal aspect is of great importance for assessing the current state of soils and the trend of their development in conditions of anthropogenic impact, and can be the basis for urban ecological monitoring also. 
 The aim of the study is ecological and microbiological monitoring of soils in places of mass recreation of the urban population (Petrozavodsk).
 Materials and methods. The object of the study was the soils of the plots located in the central part of the city. The soils located on the territory of the Kivach Nature Reserve were selected as a control. The acid-base properties of soils, the content of heavy metals, as well as the state of the microbiotic component of soils were evaluated. Based on the data on the content of heavy metals, the degree of soil contamination with heavy metals was determined. 
 Results. Based on the data of a comprehensive study, the current state of the soils of the recreational zone of Petrozavodsk has been established. The comparative analysis of changes in chemical and microbiological properties, as well as data on the soil pollution coefficient in the space-time interval revealed a decrease in anthropogenic impact on soils. Changing the category of soil pollution is an important tool of environmental protection measures carried out on the territory of the city.
 Limitations. Work in the field of urban-ecological research is complicated by the lack of local regulatory documents that substantiate the hygienic standards for chemicals polluting the soil; limited monitoring points and work with mixed soil samples, which creates a problem of representativeness of the obtained data. 
 Conclusion. The favourable conditions for the formation of soils in the park zone affect on their soil properties, which generally meet the hygienic requirements imposed on them. The established higher indicators of the soil pollution coefficient in certain areas indicate a high anthropogenic pressure in the past, are the basis for continuing research, the need for periodic work, as well as expanding the range of soil indicators used for early diagnosis of their degradation.