Scientists from the D.I. Ivanovsky Academy of Biology and Biotechnology (ABiB) of the Southern Federal University (SFU), using new approaches, assessed the soil condition in the city of Rostov-on-Don, including the territories of MSW landfills, abandoned fields and arable land. The results of the study will help to develop effective methods of soil monitoring and restoration.
In the course of the work, the authors determined key physical, chemical and biological parameters of soils, such as pH, humus content, concentration of heavy metals (chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, lead), as well as enzyme activity, phytotoxicity of soils and the number of microorganisms.
The researchers paid special attention to biological indicators, which are important indicators of soil health and also play a key role in the metabolism of living organisms. Among them, the activity indicators of enzymes such as catalase and invertase stand out.
Catalase is involved in protecting cells from oxidative stress caused by the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide. A decrease in catalase activity may indicate a violation of the redox balance in the soil, which is often associated with pollution or other stressful factors. The activity of invertase in the soil is an indicator of the intensity of decomposition of organic matter in the soil. A decrease in invertase activity under anthropogenic influence indicates a violation of the biogeochemical carbon cycle in the soil, and as a result, a decrease in soil fertility.
Catalase activity turned out to be the most sensitive marker of pollution, which, according to scientists, makes it a promising tool for environmental monitoring. The researchers emphasize that indicators such as catalase activity, radish root length, and the number of microorganisms can be effectively used to diagnose and monitor soil conditions in areas affected by man-made impacts.
"The results of our study should be used in the environmental assessment of municipal solid waste landfills, as well as in the development of recommendations to prevent and reduce the impact of waste on soil conditions," said one of the authors of the work, head of the youth laboratory "Ecobiotechnology for Diagnosis and Protection of Soil Health", a leading researcher at the laboratory "Agrobiotechnology to improve soil fertility and quality Agricultural Products" ABiB SFU, Candidate of Biological Sciences Tatiana Minnikova.
The study was carried out with financial support from the Priority 2030 program and the project of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.
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