Humus Index as an indicator of the topsoil response to the impacts of industrial pollution

Abstract

Industrial pollution by heavy metal has negative consequences for soil biota that, in turn, result in a change in the topsoil morphology. The Humus Index, which is based on the morphological description of topsoil horizons and classification of humus forms, can be used as a quantitative score to assess the biological activity of polluted soils. In our study, we examined the advantages and shortcomings of the Humus Index as an indicator of the biological activity of soils compared with other indicators when analysing the impact of industrial pollution. We analysed index changes in response to industrial pollution and estimated the variability of the index values at differing spatial scales.The effect of air pollution from the Middle Urals Copper Smelter (Russia) on the spectrum of humus forms was examined in the southern taiga spruce-fir forests. Twenty-three study plots were located in background (30–20km from the MUCS), buffer (7km and 4–5km) and impact (3–0.5) zones. At each study plot, 5–7 round miniplots were examined. Diagnosis of humus forms were performed in the field according to the European Humus Forms Reference Base (Zanella et al., 2011a, 2017a). The replacement of zoogenic Mull humus forms by nonzoogenic Mor humus forms (Humus Index increase) with increased pollution has been shown. Humus Index correlated with heavy metal concentrations and thickness of forest litter. The humus form spectra of background and impact areas did not overlap. The diversity of humus forms and the range of Humus Index values were low in the impact and background zones and were wide in the buffer zones at all investigated spatial scales: within a single miniplot (0.5–2m scale), within study plots (tens of meters scale), and within the pollution zone (kilometre scale). The high informative value, reliability and low work input, compared with other methods of assessment of soil biological activity, allow the Humus Index to be an effective indicator of the impacts of industrial pollution on the soil biota and a useful tool for environmental monitoring.