In 2002 the study of the impact of coal mine methane leakage (in November 2000) due to the damage of underground gaspipe (63 PE) was undertaken. The properties of soils, plant cover conditions and the composition of groundwater on the area of allotment garden in Włocławek was studied. For the investigation soils were sampled from the following depths: 0-20, 20-40, 60-80 and 100-120 cm of 8 bore-holes; groundwater and plant material (thuja needles) from these sites were sampled, too. The present state of the soil environment was estimated on the base of indirect indices, which reflect two year impact of the excess of methane: the pH of soils, total sulphur contents, redox properties of soils and the activity of dehydrogenase. It was observed that methane leaking unsettled the dynamic equilibrium in gaseous phase of soil. The increase of methane content caused the reductive condition in soil and disturbed its microbial and enzymatic activities. The deficit of oxygen caused negative effect on thuja plants and their complete damage in extreme sites. The study showed also still high content of methane and tetrahydrothiophene in groundwater.

Celem pracy było poznanie zawartości Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, Cd w glebach leśnych Parku Krajobrazowego "Podlaski Przełom Bugu". Badania pierwiastków śladowych w glebach były prowadzone na obszarze rezerwatu "Lęg Dębowy" oraz "Stary Las". Zawartość pierwiastków śladowych oznaczono metodą ASA w roztworze uzyskanym po mineralizacji prób glebowych w mineralizatorze mikrofalowym w stężonym kwasic azotowym oraz 30% nadtlenku wodoru. Badane gleby nic są zanieczyszczone metalami ciężkimi. Średnia geometryczna zawartość pierwiastków w badanych glebach tworzyła następujący szereg: Mn (229) > Zn (23, I) > Pb ( 15,0) > Cr ( 11,6) > Cu (7,4) > Ni (6,4) > Cd (0, 11) mg-kg:' s.m. Stwierdzono, że pierwiastki śladowe kumulowały się głównie w poziomach organicznych i mineralno-organicznych. Analiza statystyczna wykazała wysoce istotne korelacje pomiędzy badanymi metalami a zawartością części splawialnych i iłu koloidalnego oraz pomiędzy zawartością Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd a węglem organicznym.

The paper presents characterisation of the eco-chemical condition and potential threats to soils of goose farms on the basis of recent monitoring of a 15-year measuring cycle. It was demonstrated that the observed soil enzymatic inactivation progressing with years of investigations on the examined farms was significantly associated with a very high content of mineral nitrogen and available forms of phosphorus. A distinct tendency towards increased content of heavy metals in soils derived from these farms as well as in their direct neighbourhood observed with the passage of time poses a serious hazard to the environment

Serpentine soils from 16 sample points in Serbia as well as the roots and shoots of eight Brassicaceae family species: Aethionema saxatile, Alyssum montanum, Alyssum repens, Cardamine plumieri, Erysimum linariifolium, Erysimum carniolicum, Isatis tinctoria, Rorippa lippizensis, were analyzed with regard to their concentrations of P, K, Fe, Ca, Mg, Ni, Zn, Mn, Cu, Cr, Cd, and Pb. Most of the soil samples were typical of ultramafic sites with low concentrations of P, K and Ca and high concentrations of Mg, Fe, Ni and Zn. Ca/Mg ratio was <1 in most soil samples and Brassicaceae plants. Only in A. montanum, A. repens, E. linariifolium and R. lippizensis was the Ca/Mg ratio >1. The levels of P, K, Fe and Zn were high, Mn and Cu occurred in low amounts, whereas Cr, Cd, Co and Pb were only traceable. In the roots and shoots of A. montanum and A. repens the measured concentrations of Ni were 657 mg kg-1 and 676 mg kg-1 respectively, which is the first instance that such high concentrations of Ni were detected in these two species.

The phytoremediation effectiveness of heavy metals contaminated soils in the area of Upper Silesia was assessed on the basis of its real quantity in biomass harvest per 1 ha. The content of each heavy metal was compared with its quantity in the fraction of mobile and total value in horizon till 20 cm depth. The content of Zn uptake in carrot or parsley harvest (leaves and root) did not exceed 2.5% of its quantity in mobile fraction and 0.05% of its total content. The Cd and Pb values amount: 2.41%, 0.1% and 1.47%, 0.01 6%, respectively.

The effects of using three different biopreparations (one natural N2 and two commercial Kl and K2) in petroleum hydrocarbons age-polluted clay soil were studied. The samples of soil were taken from refinery in Czechowice-Dziedzice and classified as heavily degraded in proportion C:N = 100:0,7. Changes after introducing biopreparations into soil (bioaugmentation), their influence on microflora development and effects of removing polluting substances were studied. Bioaugmentation did not result in intensive growth of bacterial number, which was on the control sample's level during experiment. Soil's biodegradation activity also increased in level smaller than expected.

The research aimed to use chemical, geochemical, and ecotoxicity indices to assess the heavy metals content in soils with different degrees of exposure to human pressure. The research was conducted in southern Poland, in the Malopolska (Little Poland) province. All metal contents exceeded geochemical background levels. The highest values of the Igeo index were found for cadmium and were 10.05 (grasslands), 9.31 (forest), and 5.54 (arable lands), indicating extreme soil pollution (class 6) with this metal. Mean integrated pollution index (IPI) values, depending on the kind of use, amounted to 3.4 for arable lands, 4.9 for forests, and 6.6 for grasslands. These values are indicative of a high level of soil pollution in arable lands and an extremely high level of soil pollution in grasslands and forests. Depending on the type of soil use, Vibrio fischeri luminescence inhibition was from -33 to 59% (arable lands), from -48 to 78% (grasslands), and from 0 to 88% (forest). Significantly the highest toxicity was found in soils collected from forest grounds.

Soils of Russian European North were investigated in terms of stability and quality of organic matter as well as in terms of soils organic matter elemental composi-tion. Therefore, soil humic acids (HAs), extracted from soils of different natural zones of Russian North-East were studied to characterize the degree of soil organic matter stabilization along a zonal gradient. HAs were extracted from soil of different zonal environments of the Komi Republic: south, middle and north taiga as well as south tundra. Data on elemental composition of humic acids and fulvic acids (FAs) extracted from different soil types were obtained to assess humus formation mechanisms in the soils of taiga and tundra of the European North-East of Russia. The specificity of HAs elemental composition are discussed in relation to environmental conditions. The higher moisture degree of taiga soils results in the higher H/C ratio in humic substances. This reflects the reduced microbiologic activity in Albeluvisols sods and subsequent conser-vation of carbohydrate and amino acid fragments in HAs. HAs of tundra soils, shows the H/C values decreasing within the depth of the soils, which reflects increasing of aromatic compounds in HA structure of mineral soil horizons. FAs were more oxidized and contains less carbon while compared with the HAs. Humic acids, extracted from soil of different polar and boreal environments differ in terms of elemental composition winch reflects the climatic and hydrological regimes of humification.

A total of 212 soil profiles were described and assessed for physical and chemical properties during July 2006 as part of an Ecological Land Classification study along the Churchill River in central Labrador. Two major soil types were found in the study area along the Churchill River: Podzols and Organic soils. Podzolic soils covered approximately 60% and Organic soils occurred in 24% of the study area. Approximately 15% of the study area was classified as rock and other unconsolidated material. Summary results and a sub−set of the following soil units (from 10 soil profiles) are presented here and were distinguished according to the Canadian System of Soil Classification (CSSC) (Soil Classification Working Group 1998): Orthic Humo−Ferric Podzol, Placic Ferro−Humic Podzol, Gleyed Humo−Ferric Podzol, Sombric Humo−Ferric Podzol, Gleyed Regosol and Orthic Luvic Gleysol. The basic properties of the soil units identified above included: (i) morpho− logical descriptions of soil profiles with differentiated horizons; (ii) field−texture tests were used to determine classes and physical properties of sands, silts, loams and occurrence of mottles; and (iii) a range of soil chemical composition of different horizons ( e.g. , pH, total organic carbon [TOC] and select metal concentrations) which indicated no anthropogenic contamination above background concentrations in the area.

The research system of soils for evaluation of the ecological state of farm-land soils in Poland is presented in this paper. Granulometrie composition, pH, organic matter content and the content of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) in soils were determined. On the basis of existing criteria (tab. 1) the state of soil pollution with heavy metals for separate provinces and whole country was estimated. The average heavy metal contents (mg/kg) in surface layer of soils in Poland are as follows: Cd-0.21, Cu-6.5, Ni-6.2, Pb-13.6, and Zn-32.4. The farm-land soils of Poland generally contain natural and slightly elevated level of the investigated heavy metals. This allows to produce high quality of agricultural materials appropriate for consumption and feeding of animals.

The aim of this study was to assess soil contamination with toxic metals in the area of Piekary Śląskie (Silesian Voivodeship), taking into consideration various land use patterns. The scope of research covered the determination of lead and cadmium concentration in soil in the following areas: allotment gardens, fallow lands and kindergarten playgrounds. The lead and cadmium concentrations in soil samples were determined using a flame atomic absorption spectrometry technique, after the aqua regia extraction in a MDS 2000 microwave digestion system. The metal contents in the analyzed soil samples varied remarkably, depending on the sampling location and its distance from the main emitter of toxic metals in Piekary Śląskie, i.e. "Orzel Bialy" Non-Ferrous Metal Smelter. Metal concentrations determined in all soil samples significantly exceeded the concentration levels accepted in Poland for arable lands and residential areas. The lead and cadmium concentrations in soil should become the basis for stopping edible plants cultivation in the area of Piekary Śląskie. The contaminated soil in kindergarten playgrounds can be an important source of lead and cadmium contamination, posing hazard to the children's health. Contamination of playgrounds with toxic metals should stimulate undertaking actions aimed at modernization of playgrounds and reduction of the children's contact with soil. In the context of the applied result assessment criteria the soil concentrations of these metals observed in the region of Piekary Śląskie should arouse great concern among its users and local authorities.

Estimation and application of water retention curves in heavy soils have own specifics. The reason for these specific properties is the composition of the high clay texture. This is manifested by volume changes of soil depending on moisture. Up to 40% change in the volume compared to the saturated state was recorded in the conditions of the East Slovakian Lowland. The results described in this work are based on research work carried out in the East Slovakian Lowland and represent an analysis of selected 42 samples out of a total of 250 samples in which laboratory measurements of soil water retention curves and volume changes were performed. Selected samples represent the localities Senné and Poľany. Volumetric changes were measured in a laboratory by measuring the dimensions of soil samples. Appropriate changes in the volume of soil samples should be measured when determining moisture retention curves. Neglecting this physical effect leads to a distorted determination of the water retention curves in heavy soils. In the laboratory measurement of water retention curves points, changes in the volume of the sample were measured in the range of 0.24–43.67% depending on the soil moisture potential during drainage. In the case of neglecting the effect of shrinkage during the drainage of samples, a certain error is occurring in the calculation of the volumetric moisture. The range of this error was 1–13% of volumetric moisture.

Soil Erodibility Factor (K-factor) is a crucial component of a widely used equation for soil erosion assessment known as the USLE (Universal Soil Loss Equation) or its revised version – RUSLE. It reflects the potential of the soil of being detached due to rainfalls or runoffs. So far, an extensive number of researches provide different approaches and techniques in the evaluation of K-factor. This study applies soil erodibility estimation in the soils of the South Caucasian region using soil data prepared by the International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC) with 250 m resolution, whereas the recent K-factor estimation implemented in the EU scale was with 500 m resolution. Soil erodibility was assessed using an equation involving soil pH levels. The study utilises Trapesoidal equation of soil data processing and preparation, as suggested by ISRIC, for various layers of surface soil data with up to 0-30 cm depth. Both usage of SoilGrids data and its processing as well as estimation of K-factor applying soil pH levels have demonstrated sufficient capacity and accuracy in soil erodibility assessment. The final output result has revealed the K-factor values varying from 0.037 and more than 0.060 t ha h/MJ mm within the study area.

On the basis of elemental composition, optical properties in the visible region, infrared spectra and thermal analysis (TG, DTG, DTA), humic acids of tundra soils in Spitsbergen are found to be more similar to fulvic acids than to humic acids of soils from other soil-climatic zones. The authors claim that it results from climatic conditions (low temperature, considerable humidity, alternation of freezing and thawing) and specific biochemical composition of tundra plants (predominance of plants devoid of lignin) which constitute substratum of the studied humic acids.

Research in Hornsund (SW Spitsbergen) aimed to determine time distribution of heat flux in various soils of Arctic periglacial zone in spring and summer. Typical soils were analysed: tundra gleyey cryogenic soil (Pergelic Cryaquent), tundra peaty soil (Pergelic Histosot) and arctic desert soil (Pergelic Cryorthent). Research sites were located in low plains not covered with ice, near a sea, at 7—13 m a.s.l. Heat flux in soils was measured and recorded automatically every 60 s throughout a whole observation period and concurrently at three sites. In spring and summer intensive heat accumulation was observed in all examined soils. Independently on the weather, a cryogenic gleyey soil received greatest heat throughout a day. Environmental conditions have distinct influence on heat resources in soils.

The paper deals with Recent and relic phosphatic soils of ornithogenic origin which occur in ice free oasis of the maritime Antarctic Zone (Antarctic Peninsula and King George Island regions). These soils form on rocky and clay weathering covers within and around of penguin rookeries. Their morphology strongly depends on penological character of a substrate and climatic differentiation of a region. They are built of a surface layer of guano and underlying zone of a phosphatized rock. Except organic matter and unstable urates, the guano contains calcium phosphates (fluorapatite somtimes brushite) and magnesium-amonium phosphate (struvite). The phosphatized zone consists of phosphatic- silicate clays in which occur diversified aluminium-iron phosphates bearing potassium and ammonium ions (leucophosphite, minyulite, taranakite, amorphous aluminium phosphate). The guano layer is strongly reduced by erosion and weathering in ornithogenic relic soils left by penguins in areas abandoned by them during Holocene. Formation of a humus horizon of a plant origin may be observed under a vegetation cover in the relic soils. Clays of the phosphatized zone in these areas are transformed in the processes of chemical and mechanical weathering, by mass movements and frost processes.

To investigate and assess the effects of land use and its changes on concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Fe) in the tributary of drinking water reservoir catchment, soils of different land use types (forest, arable land, meadows and pastures, residential areas), suspended sediment and bottom sediment were collected. Heavy metals were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The metal distribution pattern was observed, where Zn and Cd could be considered as main metal contaminants. The variation in the concentration level of Zn and Cd in studied soils showed the impact of pollution from anthropogenic activities. Also some seasonal variations were visible among the suspended sediment and bottom sediment samples which could be associated with land agricultural practices or meteorological conditions. The sediment fingerprints approach used for determining sources of the suspension in the catchment showed (Kruskal-Wallis H test, p<0.05), that only Mn and Ni were not able to be distinguished among the potential sediment sources. A multiple linear regression model described the relationship between suspended sediment and 4 types of soil samples. The results related suspended composition mostly to the samples from the residential land use. Considering the contemporary trend of observed changes in land use resulting in conversion of agricultural areas into residential and service structures these changes can be essential for the contamination of aquatic environment. This situation is a warning sign due to the rapid industrialization, urbanization and intensive agriculture in this region what can significantly affect the drinking water quality.

Soils in the Chamberlindalen area (Bellsund, Spitsbergen ) have been formed under polar climatic conditions, influenced by many years of permafrost, and chemical and physical weathering. The type of bedrock and local water conditions are considered to be significant soil-forming factors. The following soil units were distinguished according to the FAO-UNESCO Revised Legend (1997): Gelic Leptosols, Gelic Regosols, Gelic Gleysols, and Gelic Cambisols. The basic properties of the soils studied are (i) shallow soil profile with poorly differentiated genetic horizons, (ii) the particle size distribution of sands and loams, (iii) a considerable content of the silt fraction, (iv) different pH, and a considerable organic carbon content.

Oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production in some Arctic soils were measured in different thermic and humidity conditions. Testing temperatures was following: 4, 8 and 12°C. The rate of metabolic processes was temperature and humidity dependent. In the temperature of 4°C the metabolic processes intensity was negatively correlated with humidity, however in higher temperatures the higher was the humidity the higher was also the intensity of metabolic processes. The interaction of humidity and temperature is probably to great extent responsible for low rate of decomposition processes of organic matter in polar conditions.

Average duration of a thermal winter in Hornsund has been determined for 216 days. Average soil temperature at depth of 5 cm in winter is equal —9.8°C. During a spring that lasts 35 days only, soil temperatures at depth of 5 cm indicate distribution nearest to a normal one. Soil temperature distribution in winter substantially differs from the one in spring.

Mountain soils derived from massive rocks were studied in the northwestern Wedel Jarlsberg Land. Main soil properties were examined for collected samples. Soils were classified as lithosols with common loamy and silty composition, and small amount of colloidal fraction. Soils were mostly alkaline due to high content of CaCO3. Much more organic substance occurred at westerly- than easterly-exposed hills and located close to a sea. Examined soils contained much soluble forms of Ca, Mg and occasionally Na, little of P and K. Density of plant cover corresponded to contents of organic substance.