USE OF AGRICULTURAL LAND CONTAMINATED WITH RADIONUCLIDES BASED ON ECOLOGICAL AND LANDSCAPE APPROACH

Abstract

The authors analyse current international literary sources addressing the issues of radioecology. We have concluded that radionuclide hazards are diminishing, while the process of self-decontamination of the surface soil layer is ongoing, although at a low pace; however, radionuclide contamination of agricultural produce remains high. It is found that radioecological findings are mainly related to certain specific aspects of radionuclide behaviour in an ecosystem. At the same time, the issue of consolidating the findings of scientific studies conducted on agricultural land contaminated with radionuclides in various countries worldwide in order to formulate a development strategy for such areas remains relevant. The study whose findings are presented in this article has been conducted within land use area formed through lease of land plots (shares) located within the jurisdiction of Synhayi village council in Korosten District, Zhytomyr Oblast, in the voluntary evacuation zone. Its contamination density levels are as high as those in the mandatory evacuation zone. The study has examined topsoil properties and its contamination density with regard to agricultural land. It is established that topsoil is composed mainly of sod-podzol gley and soddy deep gley soil types. It is found that topsoil structure in the area is highly varied. The total number of soil contours is 226. Soil contour area ranges from 0.4 to 72.7 ha. Soil contour boundaries exhibit a rather complex elongated gently undulating pattern. Contamination levels in the area also vary. It is shown that the nature of contamination and contamination density of agricultural land pose a challenge to organizing land use areas which allow growing agricultural produce with permissible radionuclide content. It is also established that arable and forage lands with Cs137 contamination level exceeding 15 Cu/km2 are in intensive agricultural use. Thus, we have concluded that management of land areas contaminated with radionuclides should take into account topsoil properties and its contamination density.