Features of the migration of heavy metals in the forest landscapes of the ’Kamennaya Steppe’

Abstract

Abstract The article examines the influence of woody vegetation on the change in some soil properties. Numerous studies have confirmed the change in the water regime under forest belts. Such dynamics entails the transformation of morphological characteristics and the following basic soil properties: pH of the soil solution, carbon of organic compounds. The evolution of properties causes changes in the total content of heavy metals: nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and their exchange compounds. The features of the profile distribution of Ni, Pb and Cd in the chernozems of the forest belt have been studied. Elements were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Carbon of organic compounds - by titrimetric method, pH of soil solution - by potentiometric method. Wood species affect the profile distribution of heavy metals. Correlation analysis revealed a close relationship in the profile distribution of carbon of organic compounds, pH, Ni, Pb. Variational analysis of spatial heterogeneity showed the differences in the studied indicators between arable land and forest belt. A decrease in the coefficient of variation from the forest belt to arable land is noted. The phenomenon is explained by plowing, mixing the soil mass and leveling out spatial differences in the content of carbon of organic compounds, pH, heavy metals.