Research on Some Physicochemical Parameters of Artificially Created Soil Mixtures

Abstract

Compositions of artificial soil mixtures, including sand, clay, defecation mud, waste from wet magnetic separation and plant residues in different proportions have been developed. The components were preliminarily comminuted by an auger-drill in order to obtain a homogeneous composition with subsequent granulation, stored in natural conditions in the autumn-winter period, followed by filling in experimental vessels. No any phytotoxic effect for the initial components and for all analyzed samples of the obtained artificial soil mixtures was detected. The chemical composition and some physicochemical properties of artificial soil mixtures, such as density, deposit of moisture and humus content, were determined. It was shown that the samples of the obtained soil mixtures are close to the control (dark gray forest soil of the Belgorod region) and can be recommended for further use in creating cultural landscapes as a substitute for natural soil. The developed type of artificial soil mixtures is suitable for the cultivation of bulbous crops; moreover, a large increase in yield in comparison with the control for some compositions was found. Artificially created soil mixtures reduce the harmful effect on the environment by eliminating the storage of industrial waste such as iron ore and food, plant residues used in the composition of the artificial soil mixture. Artificial soil mixture can be used for remediation of technologically disrupted areas, which will allow restoring disturbed lands and reducing man-caused impact on solid waste landfills. The addition of industrial waste allows them to be re-involved in the technological cycle, which contributes to the development of low-waste and waste-free technologies. The results obtained indicate the possibility of using the studied soil mixtures for cultivation of the decorative bulbous plants. To recommend the developed compositions for the use in agriculture, it is necessary to assess the possibility of impurity translocation from soil samples into cultivated crops.