MONITORING OF CADMIUM CONTENT IN AGROECOSYSTEMS OF CENTRAL CHERNOZEM REGION OF RUSSIA

Abstract

As part of the implementation of the state program of agroecological monitoring, the content of Cd in the main components of the agroecosystems of the forest-steppe zone of the Belgorod region, which is located in the south-west of the Central Black Earth region, was studied. The soil cover was mainly represented by leached and typical chernozems. During the studies, it was found that in the layer of 0–20 cm of arable black soil leached, the average gross content of Cd is 0.32, the concentration of mobile forms is 0.08 mg/kg, which corresponds to background values and significantly below the level of APC. The excess of background concentrations of this element was found in the soils of roadside ecosystems at a distance of up to 60 m from the roadbed. The main amount of Cd enters the agroecosystems of the Belgorod region with organic fertilizers, but this does not pose a danger to soil contamination and crop production. Of the crops studied, the minimum amount of this element is contained in the white lupine grain (0.011 mg/kg), and the maximum amount is contained in sunflower seeds (0.086 mg/kg). The average Cd content of corn, barley and winter wheat grains did not differ significantly and ranged from 0.037 to 0.042 mg/kg. In clover and alfalfa hay, the average content of this metal was almost the same as 0.012–0.013 mg/kg, which is significantly lower than in natural forbs (0.045 mg/kg). In the studied crop production, there was no excess of MAC Cd levels for food grains and MAL for feed.