Disturbed Lands Research Articles

Important Crop Pollinators Respond Less Negatively to Anthropogenic Land Use Than Other Animals.

Animal-mediated pollination is a key ecosystem service required to some extent by almost three-quarters of the leading human food crops in global food production. Anthropogenic pressures such as habitat loss and land-use intensification are causing shifts in ecological community composition, potentially resulting in declines in pollination services and impacting crop production. Previous research has often overlooked interspecific differences in pollination contribution, yet such differences mean that biodiversity declines will not necessarily negatively impact pollination. Here, we use a novel species-level ecosystem service contribution matrix along with mixed-effects models to explore how groups of terrestrial species who contribute differently to crop pollination respond globally to land-use type, land-use intensity, and availability of natural habitats in the surrounding landscape. We find that the species whose contribution to crop pollination is higher generally respond less negatively (and in some cases positively) to human disturbance of land, compared to species that contribute less or not at all to pollination. This result may be due to these high-contribution species being less sensitive to anthropogenic land conversions, which has led humans to being more reliant on them for crop pollination. However, it also suggests that there is potential for crop pollination to be resilient in the face of anthropogenic land conversions. With such a high proportion of food crops requiring animal-mediated pollination to some extent, understanding how anthropogenic landscapes impact ecological communities and the consequences for pollination is critical for ensuring food security.

Potential and Investment Attractiveness of Implementing Climate Projects on Disturbed Lands

Forest restoration projects can be categorized as climate projects, investments in the implementation of which exceed the investment costs of forest-climate projects, which reduces their attractiveness to investors. An algorithm for assessing investment costs of climate reforestation projects on disturbed lands has been developed. The potential of territories for the implementation of such project initiatives is available in all regions of Russia and amounts to more than 381 thousand hectares. For five studied polygons of disturbed lands (Kuzbass basin, Moscow basin, Western Siberia basin, as well as basins of Chelyabinsk and Belgorod Regions), the aggregated costs for the implementation of measures to create carbon-depositing plantations and ground cover were calculated. Investment costs for restoration of 1 hectare of disturbed land under the climate project vary from 82.6 thousand rubles to 116.9 thousand rubles. Cost analysis shows that the carbon intensity of investment in such projects on disturbed lands is quite high (Ccii > 1.0). The highest investment potential is observed in the Kuzbass basin, where Ccii is 2.01. To organize and implement the afforestation project on disturbed lands of the Kemerovo Region, investments in the amount of 66.7 thousand rubles/ha for capital expenditures and 24.7 thousand rubles/ha for current expenses will be required. The payback period of such an investment project, taking into account the discount rate, is 13.1 years, and during the study period (20 years) the income from the project will cover 228% of the spent funds. These data confirm that the investment potential of forest-climatic projects on disturbed lands is quite high.

Comprehensive assessment of the earth’s surface state disturbed by mining and ways to improve the situation: case study of Kryvyi Rih Iron-ore Basin, Ukraine

IntroductionComplex mineral mining leads to critical earth’s surface disturbance and environmental pollution from industrial waste. This research aims to comprehensively study, assess and show the current scale of the earth’s surface disturbances in the largest mining region of Ukraine – the Kryvyi Rih. Iron-ore Basin and suggests ways to improve the situation based on backfill technologies for the earth’s surface rehabilitation and industrial waste utilization.MethodsTo identify the forms of surface disturbance, their parameters, and spatial location, satellite images of the region, government statistical data, and a geographic information system software suite were studied. An analysis of the effectiveness of existing reclamation measures for technogenic voids in the region was carried out, and a new concept of surface restoration was proposed using beneficiation tailings, which are difficult to utilize in the region.ResultsIt has been determined that the contribution of the Kryvyi Rih Iron-ore Basin to waste generation is 92.08% of the total volume of waste accumulations in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and 65.5% in Ukraine as a whole, amounting to 10.7 billion tons. It is determined that 65.25% of the total disturbed land area is industrial waste, 34.76% – quarry cavities and mine failure zones, occupying 49% of the Kryvyi Rih city area. An analysis of waste accumulation density in allotted areas shows that per 1 m2 of land area, on average, 183.5 tons of dump waste rocks and 73.5 tons of beneficiation tailings are placed. Disposal of beneficiation tailings is recognized as a priority, because their utilization is slower, occupy the largest area, creating a risk of dams breaching and intense dusting from tailings dams surface, threatening the environment and public health. For the first time in Ukraine, a concept for the earth’s surface rehabilitation for various industrial purposes has been developed based on paste backfill technologies.DiscussionPaste backfill technology implementation is prioritized in the central and northern parts of the city, which can dispose of at least 65–70 million tons of waste in cavities and reclaim about 200 ha of land. The research results are valuable for the development of strategies or programs to overcome the technogenic-ecological crisis in the city. The rehabilitated earth’s surface can be usefully involved in various infrastructure projects for the development of the industrial and economic potential of an industrial city such as Kryvyi Rih.

Wetland water quality in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region and its relationship to aquatic invertebrate communities: pilot phase monitoring results

Wetlands in the Oil Sands Region of Alberta are vulnerable to direct and indirect effects of human development including land disturbance, hydrologic alteration, and addition of contaminants. Nineteen wetlands in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region were monitored over a five-year period to evaluate differences in water quality and benthic invertebrate composition between sites near to and further afield from surface mining operations. Concentrations of dissolved sulphate, dissolved iron, total dibenzothiophenes and specific conductance were significantly higher in wetlands near to surface mining operations. In addition, beta diversity of wetland invertebrates was higher in wetlands further afield of the industrial centre. Drivers of benthic assemblage differences among sites include specific conductance and pH. Conductance was positively correlated with Caenidae (Ephemeroptera) abundance and pH was negatively correlated with abundance of Naididae (Annelida).

Approaches to reducing the carbon footprint of mines within the framework of planned biorecultivation of technogenically disturbed lands

Over the past decade, there has been a rapid increase in coal production and intensity of mining activities, primarily due to the use of the open-pit method. This has led to a corresponding increase in the negative impact on natural ecosystems, which are characterized by a unique biodiversity. Mining is an anthropogenic activity that can have a serious impact on natural components. It is known that active, inactive or abandoned mines can have a significant impact on the soils, flora, fauna, landscape, historical and archaeological heritage, aquatic and atmospheric environments surrounding these territories. To reduce their carbon footprint, it is possible not only to modernize mining technologies, but also to use plants with a high ability to phytoremediation, capable of absorbing carbon dioxide and other pollutants from the soil and air.

Temporal changes in soil physical properties following reclamation of underground natural gas pipeline rights-of-way on cropland

Underground oil and natural gas pipeline rights-of-way (ROWs) sometimes traverse croplands, leaving behind tracts of disturbed land characterized by poor productivity even after reclamation. This study investigated temporal post-reclamation changes in soil penetration resistance (PR), field saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs), near-saturated hydraulic conductivity (KΨ), soil pore indices, and wet aggregate stability (WAS) on natural gas pipeline ROWs on cropland. These attributes were measured in two fields in late summer of 2021 and 2022. Across the two fields, three ROWs that had been reclaimed four to thirteen years prior (i.e., time since reclamation (TSR) of 4 to 13 yr) were assessed along with adjacent undisturbed (off-ROW) transects located 50 m from the ROWs. Measurement locations on each ROW and on off-ROW were 25 m apart. Samples for WAS were collected from the 0–15 cm layer. The results showed a significant (p < 0.05) TSR by soil depth interaction for PR. Treatments were not significantly different in the 0- to 20-cm and 40- to 60-cm layers, but in the 20- to 40-cm depth interval, PR was 57.7–64.2 % greater on the 4.5-yr ROW than on off-ROW. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was three to four times lower on the 4.5- and 6.5-yr ROWs than on the off-ROW. Near-saturated hydraulic conductivity on the 4.5-yr ROW was 61.6 % lower than that on the off-ROW, while no significant differences were detected between the 6.5-yr and 12.5-yr ROWs and the off-ROW. Effective water conductive macroporosity was 72.5 % lower on the 4.5-yr ROW than on the off-ROW. All measured physical properties improved with increasing TSR. These results indicate a significant but slow recovery in soil physical attributes with increasing TSR of ROWs on cropland. This has implications on the productivity of these ROWs as crop yields, which depend on these soil physical properties, are also expected to recover slowly.

Preliminary Assessment of Selected Physico-chemical Properties of Peat Water in Relation to Land Use Conversion in Leyte Sab-a Basin Peatland, Philippines

Tropical peatlands are unique wetland ecosystems that provide various ecosystem services such as carbon and water storage. However, these ecosystems have been significantly altered by anthropogenic activities. In this study, the impact of land use conversion on the selected physico-chemical properties of surface water in the Leyte Sab-a Basin Peatland was investigated. Surface peat water was collected from peat swamp forest, peatland converted to grassland and peatland under cultivation. The surface peat water temperature was measured on-site and the collected water samples were analyzed for turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate (NO3-N), phosphate (PO4), and total dissolved solids (TDS). It was found that the physico-chemical properties of water such as temperature, pH, and TDS were significantly higher in disturbed land use (cultivation) areas. The direct relationship between the temperature of surface peat water to both phosphate and TDS suggests that increasing temperature brought by peatland conversion may directly lead to increasing phosphate and total dissolved solids concentration in water. Strong relationships were also found between TDS and phosphates as well as between pH and dissolved oxygen. Finally, the increasing trend of values of the examined peat water physico-chemical properties with land use disturbance (cultivation) indicates peatland degradation.

Soil water content and RubisCO activity control the carbon storage in soil under different land uses in Sanjiang Plain, China

Soil carbon storage plays a crucial role in mitigating the climate warming and is significantly impacted by the land use pattern. To better understand soil carbon stability and the underlying microbial mechanism, based on qPCR, ELISA, and fluorescence techniques, the effects of land use changes on soil microbial abundance, enzyme activity, and soil carbon storage were investigated in the complex ecosystems of cropland, forestland, and wetland along three typical river (Wolvlan river, Bielahong river, Wusuli river) basin in Sanjiang Plain, China. We hypothesised that croplands soil carbon storage is lower than forestlands and wetlands, which is regulated by soil water content, microbe and enzyme activity. Results showed that topsoil TC in wetlands (85.54 mg·g−1) was higher than those in croplands (33.46 mg·g−1) and forestlands (46.13 mg·g−1). Topsoil water content increased 73.90 % and 71.64 % in wetlands than in farmland and forestlands, respectively. Additionally, reclamation diminished topsoil carbon storage. In croplands, soil dissolved organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen, available nitrogen, bacterial abundance, and soil enzymes (i.e., RubisCO, β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, 1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase and acid phosphatase) activities were substantially lower than those in wetlands. Structural equation modeling showed that soil carbon storage was positively related to soil water content and RubisCO activity but negatively related to soil bacterial abundance. Soil water content had the largest standardised total positive effect coefficient and indirectly influenced soil carbon storage by affecting RubisCO activity. Soil depth had a greater effect on SMC, hydrolase and site had a greater effect on bacteria and fungi abundance. The results highlight that the alteration of carbon fixing enzyme activity by soil water content is a crucial mechanism for soil carbon sequestration in response to land-use change. Management strategies that conserve natural wetlands, increase soil water content and minimize land disturbance would be effective in maintaining soil carbon stocks.

SPECTRA OF TAXA ECOMORPHIC CAPACITY OF PLANT COMMUNITIES IN TECHNOGENIC ECOTOPES OF KRYVBAS DUMPS

The article refers to the relevance of conducting comprehensive studies of plant communities’ composition of dumps’ technogenic ecotopes as an initial stage in learning the structure, specifics of conditions and trends in developing vegetation of disturbed lands. The expediency of detailing the ecomorphic capacity of various taxa based on the theory of ecological and taxonomic spectra is noted to establish ecological, adaptive potential, inherent and realized by each taxon. Research conducted within the dumps «2-3» of PJSC «ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih» allowed to record 184 species of angiosperms belonging to 132 genera and 35 families. Analysis of the constructed ecomorphic capacity spectra of taxa (classes, families) indicates their unequal ecomorphic capacity.The ecomorphic capacity of Magnoliopsida is larger than that of Liliopsida. The predominant part of the Magnoliopsida ecomorphic capacity spectrabelongs to ruderants, ruderal stepants and stepants, xeromesophytes and mesoxerophytes, heliophytes, hemicryptophytes and therophytes, and mesotrophs.Stepants, ruderants, xeromesophytes, heliophytes, therophytes,cryptophytes, and mesotrophs dominate in the Liliopsida ecomorphic capacity spectra. The cenomorphic capacity spectra of the families Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Apiaceae are expanded and contain the most different cenomorphs when the spectra of the cenomorphic capacity of 15 families are narrowed and monotypic in terms of the composition of cenomorphs. The extended hygromorphic capacity spectra are characteristic of Poaceae, Asteraceae, Caryophyllaceae, Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Scrophulariaceae; heliomorphic capacity spectra – of Lamiaceae, Rosaceae, Apiaceae; climamorphic capacity spectra – of Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Brassicaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Poaceae, Caryophyllaceae; trophomorphic capacity spectra – of Asteraceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Euphorbiaceae. The approach of plant communities to a more or less stable state is accompanied by reduction and relative stabilization in the composition of ecomorphic spectra and taxa capacity. Identical changes in the ecomorphic capacity of taxa on dumps that have a certain similarity in ecological conditions, substrate characteristics,and storage age can be used as diagnostic indicators of the stages of zonal restoration of vegetation cover on disturbed lands.

Principles and methods of creating artificial vegetation cover on disturbed industrial lands

Biological reclamation is used to restore technogenically disturbed landscapes. Plant characteristics are important when choosing a plant assortment for the restoration of degraded areas. The purpose of this work was to study the principles and methods of creating artificial vegetation cover on disturbed industrial lands. Before carrying out biological reclamation, the surface was finished and a layer of potentially fertile soil layers with a capacity of at least 1 m and a fertile soil layer with a capacity of at least 0,5 m was applied. Before starting work, the quality of the seed material and its value were determined. Soil improvers (sapropel, latex, microorganisms, cellulose mulch) and biologics (TOP organic, complex of rhizospheric bacteria, hydrogel) were used for planting herbaceous and woody shrubby plants. After carrying out the hydraulic sowing activities, field germination of the seed was monitored every 10 days. Aerial photography was performed with an RGB camera using unmanned aerial vehicles of the DJI Phantom 4 Pro+ model with an on-board Global Navigation Satellite System receiver installed. It was found that the use of a biological product based on a complex of rhizospheric bacteria activated the processes of seed germination in experimental plots. Such activation made it possible to obtain productive bushiness of perennial crops in the early stages, due to which the area of vegetation covering the experimental site increased. The addition of hydrogel and TOP organic with a weight of 2 kg also had a positive effect on seed germination and plant survival. A comparative analysis of all experimental parameters revealed that the most effective projective coating of the site was obtained with the combined use of hydrogel and the preparation TOR-organic. At the same time, a further increase in the mass fraction of hydrogel in the substrate does not significantly affect the result of the creation of artificial vegetation cover on disturbed industrial lands.

Plant Community Hemeroby is a Reliable Indicator of the Dynamics of Reclamation of Lands Disturbed by Mining

Abstract Reliable indicators of success are needed to monitor the process of reclaiming disturbed land in order to understand the achievement of reclamation objectives. The formation of coherent dynamics of vegetation and soil development is ultimately a crucial condition for the success of reclaiming territory disturbed by surface mining and the possibility of using reclaimed land in agricultural production. The study revealed a relationship between the phytoindicator of vegetation hemeroby and the physical properties of technosols to prove its application as a measure of the restoration of the disturbed ecosystem in the reclamation process. The plant communities were classified into beta-, alpha-euhemerobic, polyhemerobic and metahemerobic levels of anthropogenic transformation. The technosols varied in the proportion of hemeroby levels of plant communities. The hemeroby level was consistent with the physical properties of technosols. A decrease in hemeroby level resulted in increased soil electrical conductivity, decreased soil penetration resistance and altered soil aggregate structure. The hemeroby of plant communities is a dependable phytoindicator of ecosystem restoration during reclamation.

РЕКУЛЬТИВАЦИЯ НАРУШЕННЫХ ЗЕМЕЛЬ ПРИ СТРОИТЕЛЬСТВЕ ОБЪЕКТОВ НЕФТЕГАЗОВОГО КОМПЛЕКСА

The article deals with topical issues of reclamation of disturbed lands during the construction of subsurface use facilities, lists the main trends in land restoration, reveals the main activities of the technical and biological stages of reclamation. The choice of the direction of land reclamation is carried out taking into account the nature of the disturbed areas, location in relation to the natural and climatic zone and assumes a technical and biological stage of reclamation. The paper presents specific measures for the reclamation of the land under consideration at the technical and biological stages. The biological stage of reclamation of disturbed lands is carried out by the method of creating forest crops of the main breed of economically valuable forest species, in this case, pine.

Short‐term effects of Kernza and alfalfa on microbial communities

AbstractContinuous land disturbance could negatively impact microbial community, but perennial crops can potentially reverse this negativity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Kernza (Thinopyrum intermedium) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) on soil microbial structure and stress condition using the phospholipid fatty acid profiling. The study was conducted at the Ross Jones Research Farm, University of Missouri and consisted of four treatments: Kernza fertilized, Kernza unfertilized, Kernza and alfalfa intercrop, and alfalfa monocrop with four replications. Treatments were established in September 2021 on 18.3 m × 18.3 m plots. Soils from 0‐ to 5‐cm and 5‐ to 15‐cm depths were sampled in September 2021 (before treatments were placed) and 2022 and analyzed for microbial communities. All microbial communities increased after 1 year with the perennial crops. Since differences were not significant among treatments in 2022, this may lead to positive impacts of perennial crops on microbial communities, irrespective of the crop species and management. Moreover, community structure modifications were also observed with the perennial crops, irrespective of the species and management, as evidenced with changes in bacterial community indices in 2022. While fungi/bacteria ratio increased, Gram‐positive/Gram‐negative bacteria ratio decreased in 2022, suggesting a reduction in microbial stress, which can be attributed to ecological functions of the perennial crops. The study showed improvements in soil microbial biomass and modifications in microbial community structure after 1 year of Kernza and alfalfa. As the system matures, relative benefits of management (fertilization and intercropping) and plant species may be realized.

ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕ ПЛОДОРОДНОГО СЛОЯ ПОЧВЫ ДЛЯ РЕКУЛЬТИВАЦИИ

The purpose of research is to study ways to use fertile soil layer for reclamation. Objectives: to study the requirements for the reclamation of lands disturbed during underground mining; to study ways to store fertile soil layer; to study methods of applying topsoil and potentially fertile rocks. The objects of this study were scientific publications and patents of Russian and foreign authors concerning the negative impact of the coal mining industry and ways to minimize this impact. Land reclamation includes preparatory, technical and biological stages. The preparatory stage includes surveying the territories and determining directions for reclamation. The technical stage includes the process of removing the fertile layer and forming a reclamation layer. The biological stage includes sowing herbs and planting trees and shrubs. The fertile layer of soil can be stored in piles for 20 years. Areas unsuitable for agriculture or unproductive land should be allocated for the piles, where flooding, salinization and pollution by industrial waste, solid objects, stone, crushed stone, pebbles, and construction waste are excluded. The application of a fertile or potentially fertile soil layer involves the use of hydraulic transport or other transportation methods with attachments that ensure the application of a soil layer of a given thickness without leveling work. The thickness of the applied fertile layer is differentiated depending on the degree of soil erosion. In order to return disturbed lands for use in various sectors of the national economy and eliminate their impact on the environment, it is necessary to carry out reclamation work by developing projects for reclamation work as part of land dumps for mining enterprises.

The use of Groasis Waterboxx devices to improve mineland reclamation efforts by increasing transplant survival and growth of five native woody species

The reclamation of disturbed lands worldwide is a difficult and increasing problem. In the Mountain West region of the United States, mining activities commonly occur in zones dominated by native woody plants. The restoration of woody plants in these areas is challenging, and direct seeding efforts result in poor seedling emergence and establishment. Therefore, seedling transplants are often used, but they frequently experience high mortality during the first year, particularly due to summer stresses. We evaluated if the Groasis Waterboxx device could be used to mitigate drought stress on seedling transplants and improve their establishment on a reclaimed waste rock dump. The Waterboxx device collects precipitation into a polypropylene reservoir and slowly dispenses water onto the soil next to the seedling. To test such a hypothesis, 400 seedlings from five native woody plants (Atriplex canescens, Cercocarpus ledifolius, Pinus edulis, Purshia tridentata, and Rhus glabra) were planted with and without a Waterboxx. The Waterboxx device improved soil water potential, at 40 cm, it took 1 month longer to go below −1 MPa under a Waterboxx. Survival increased 30–65% in four of the five species, and seedling vigor increased for three of the five species. Vigor was higher with all plant species at both planting times and was significantly better in 50% of comparisons. Results support the use of the Waterboxx for improving seedling establishment on mineland overburden sites in the semiarid mountain west. The effectiveness of the Waterboxx device provides merit for future testing where drought challenges seedling establishment.

Revegetation of disturbed land reclaimed with suboptimal topsoil replacement depth and organic amendments

AbstractSuccessful reclamation and revegetation of disturbed sites depends on the availability of sufficient topsoil. Current regulations in western Canada require the replacement of ≥80% of the original topsoil depth (TRD) to restore pre‐disturbance productivity. However, salvaged topsoil at many legacy and other disturbed sites is often insufficient to achieve the 80% TRD (TRD80). This 5‐year study examined vegetation responses to 50% TRD without organic amendment (TRD50) or amended with either peat (PTRD50) or biochar (BTRD50), relative to the TRD80 treatment, following borrow site reclamation in northeastern Alberta, Canada. Amendments were applied once at rates calculated to bring organic carbon in the topsoil to concentrations approximating those in the TRD80 treatment. Tree and shrub seedling mixes were transplanted following amendment application and vegetation attributes were measured annually thereafter. Results showed that PTRD50 performed as well as TRD80 and outperformed BTRD50 with respect to native species' canopy cover and tree seedling height. Canopy covers of forb and non‐native species decreased significantly whereas those of graminoid and native species increased over time for all treatments. Across treatments, native plant species richness increased by 5% per year while non‐native species richness decreased by 19% per year. Overall, peat showed a satisfactory rate of recovery and a trajectory toward the natural boreal forest, indicating its potential to improve reclamation success at disturbed boreal sites where salvaged soil is insufficient to attain equivalent land capability. This finding will provide an additional tool for regulators seeking to refine land reclamation guidelines for such sites in boreal forest regions.

Eco-efficient well planning: Engineering solutions for reduced environmental impact in hydrocarbon extraction

This paper explores the concept of eco-efficient well planning, aiming to minimize the environmental impact of hydrocarbon extraction through engineering solutions. Faced with increasing environmental concerns, the industry necessitates a shift towards sustainable practices. The paper analyzes technologies such as advanced drilling techniques, intelligent reservoir management, and real-time environmental monitoring. Key findings showcase the potential of eco-efficient well planning to significantly reduce the carbon footprint, water usage, and land disturbance associated with hydrocarbon extraction. Real-world examples demonstrate successful implementation in diverse contexts, highlighting economic viability, regulatory compliance, and improved stakeholder engagement. This research advocates for integrating eco-efficient well planning as a fundamental practice in the future of hydrocarbon extraction. The engineering solutions proposed offer a pathway to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious industry, contributing to a responsible energy landscape amidst global transitions to renewable sources.

Migration mechanisms of 90Sr and 137Cs on terraces

In order to investigate the impact of environmental conditions on the distribution and migration of 90Sr in the Longji terrace environment, the activity concentrations of 90Sr and 137Cs were determined. The activity concentration ranges of 90Sr and 137Cs in surface soil were 0.15–1.04 Bq/kg and 2.16–6.94 Bq/kg, respectively. These results showed that there was a similar trend between the activity concentration of 90Sr and 137Cs in the surface soil along the runoff path and their activity concentration were influenced by the slope of the terraced terrain. On the other hand, the activity ranges of 90Sr and 137Cs in soil cores were 0.01–2.74 Bq/kg and 0.43–7.19 Bq/kg, respectively. These results indicate that the migration mechanism of 90Sr is different from that of 137Cs. As compared with 137Cs, 90Sr is significantly influenced by the moisture content. In addition, high span of 137Cs/90Sr activity ratios were found in this study, which were attributed to the characteristics of cultivated land and frequent artificial disturbances that intensified the migration of 90Sr.

ДИКОПЛОДОВЫЕ ПОРОДЫ НА НАРУШЕННЫХ ЗЕМЛЯХ СЕВЕРНОГО КАВКАЗА

Wild fruit species on disturbed lands grow in degraded areas and have the ability to quickly restore the ecosystem. Restoration of disturbed lands in mountain and piedmont areas plays a big role and is a significant resource in the national economic potential of the region, an important reserve for agricultural production. The article provides an overview of the disturbed lands of the North Caucasus as a result of mining. For the purpose of biological rehabilitation, a classification of technogenic landscapes has been developed. The state of wild fruit and berry plants in disturbed areas has been revealed, which depends on the types of substrate, topography, climate, parts of the slopes and their steepness. Eleven wild fruit species grow naturally in quarries in the study region. Among them, sea buckthorn and dog rose stand out. They tolerate drought well and are resistant to low soil fertility. Cherry plum, common hazel and hawthorn prefer better moisture conditions. The degree of root growth in different parts of the slope has been established, which makes it possible to determine the suitability of soil and hydrological conditions for wild fruit species and to plan appropriate measures. It has been confirmed that the moist parts of the lower slopes are the most favorable for the growth and development of plants. The individuality of the formation of wild fruit and berry plantings according to the exposures at each deposit separately is noted. The prospects of wild fruit breeds capable of producing root shoots are substantiated. It was revealed that the spread of root suckers occurs more intensively on light soils, despite the fact that moisture is better on clay; this is not the main criterion for the spread of suckers. An assortment of wild fruit plants has been developed to create protective plantings in various environmental conditions. Measures are proposed to restore disturbed lands. Key words: WILD FRUIT SPECIES, DISTURBED LANDS, SLOPE, QUARRY, REHABILITATION, ROOT OFFSPRING, ASSORTMENT

Ecological problems of technogenically disturbed lands on the Absheron Peninsula

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; The study area occupies an important place in our republic’s economic, political, and agricultural development. It is very important to properly use the land of an area with such an advantageous position. In addition to rich deposits of oil, gas, and gas condensate, the Absheron Peninsula has widespread mineral deposits (limestone, gypsum, crushed stone, bentonite, sand, etc.). Currently, the accumulation of waste in the territory of quarries and dumps after the extraction of non-metallic minerals on a large scale has led to the formation of technogenically disturbed areas. On the territory of the quarries themselves and adjacent lands, well-developed soils are widespread (irrigated ordinary gray soils with different granulometric composition and thickness, semi-desert gray-brown soils). During the extraction of deposits, as a result of the use of multiton machines and mechanisms, these lands were subjected to varying degrees of technogenic degradation, lost their fertility, and have not yet been studied either genetically or economically. Therefore, when writing this article, the main goal was a large-scale study of these lands and the development of recommendations for their restoration. Various scientists have conducted research on the geochronology of the formation of the soil and vegetation cover of the Absheron Peninsula, the degree of exposure to technogenic impacts, the development of a typological classification, mapping and modeling them to a fertile state in order to evaluate them in terms of biological productivity. However, it has not been possible to fully study the land and use it in different economic sectors. For this reason, an important topic of our time is touched upon in the presented article and is chosen again due to its relevance. As an object of study, the soil and vegetation cover of the territory where organic and non-metallic resources of the peninsula were mined, as well as lands that remained outside the scope of large-scale research, spread over the deformed areas of the Absheron Peninsula, were chosen. In order to give the research a greater scientific-theoretical and scientific-practical orientation, we laid soil-vegetation sections, described natural vegetation, and took sam- ples for laboratory analysis from reference places in the study area,. According to the analysis in the studied soils, it can be said that the amount of dry residue, which is considered the main indicator of the degree of salinity, ranges from 0.172-2.312% in the upper reaches of the accumulative-humus layers, which indicates that a small part of these soils has a predominantly weak medium, strong and very strong salinity.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;