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Soil standing may be studied indirectly using remote sensing through an assessment of state of the plants growing on it. The ability to evaluate the physiological state of plants using the hyperspectral survey data also provides a tool to characterize vegetation cover and individual samples of woody plants. In the present work the hyperspectral imaging was applied to identify the species of the woody plants evaluating the differences in their physiological state. Samples of Quercus macrocarpa Michx., Q. robur L. and Q. rubra L. were studied using Cubert UHD-185 hyperspectral camera over five periods with an interval of 7-10 days. In total, 80 vegetation indices (VIs) were calculated. Sample sets of values of VIs were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA), decision tree (DT), random forest (RF) methods. It was shown using the ANOVA, that the following VIs are the most dependent on the species affiliation of the samples: Carter2, Carter3, Carter4, CI, CI2, CRI4, Datt, Datt2, GMI2, Maccioni, mSR2, MTCI, NDVI2, OSAVI2, PRI, REP_Li, SR1, SR2, SR6, Vogelmann, Vogelmann2, Vogelmann4. VIs that are effective for the separation of oak species, were also revealed using the DT method – these are Boochs, Boochs2, CARI, CRI1, CRI3, D1, D2, Datt, Datt3; Datt4, Datt5, DD, DDn, EGFN, Gitelson, MCARI2, MTCI, MTVI, NDVI3, PRI, PSND, PSRI, RDVI, REP_Li, SPVI, SR4, Vogelmann, Vogelmann2, Vogelmann3. PCA and RF methods reliably differentiated Q. rubra from Q. robur and Q. macrocarpa. Q. rubra, unlike other species, was under stress from the impact of soil pH against the background of drought. This was manifested in leaf chlorosis. Influence of the environmental stress factors on the reliability and efficiency of species identification was demonstrated. Q. robur and Q. macrocarpawere were poorly separated by PCA and RF methods all over the five periods of the experiment.

It was evaluated the impact of biochar on the petroleum hydrocarbons degradation intensity and the ecological condition of Haplic Chernozem. The study was conducted in the model experiment conditions with Haplic Chernozem contaminated with 5% of petroleum hydrocarbons with application of 10 and 20% biochar. The number of soil bacteria, the activity of catalase and dehydrogenases, germination ability and radish root and shoot length, soil respiration considered to evaluate biological activity. It has been established that 10% biochar application led to intensification of petroleum hydrocarbons degradation up to 17% compare to contaminated soil. Upon adding 10% biochar the СО2 emission increased up to 70-85% on the 18-19th days, then reduced by the 28-30th days till soil emission with the application of biochar in the amount of 20% from soil mass. Activity of dehydrogenases of Haplic Chernozem were stimulated after application of 10% biochar up to 49% compared to control. Biochar application in the doses of 10 and 20% increased the number of soil bacteria up to 209 and 203%, respectively. Application of 20% biochar intensified the germination and early growth of radish seeds. The germination ability, length of radish shoots and roots increased to 44, 66 and 44%, respectively, compare to control. The biochar application in petroleum contaminated soil increased the activity of catalase, dehydrogenases and the number of soil bacteria. Biochar using in doses 10% and 20% contributes to acceleration of petroleum hydrocarbons degradation and improvement of the soil ecological condition.

Актуальность. Несмотря на значительное количество работ по исследованию загрязнения объектов окружающей среды полиаренами, недостаточно сведений о накоплении полициклических ароматических углеводородов и, в частности, наиболее токсичного бенз[а]пирена разными видами травянистых растений, что обусловливает актуальность исследований в данном направлении. Проведено изучение распределения бенз[а]пирена по органам растений и органогенным горизонтам почв зоны воздействия Новочеркасской ГРЭС. Цель: выявить закономерности накопления бенз[а]пирена в растениях разных видов и органогенном горизонте почв степных фитоценозов в зависимости от удаления от Новочеркасской ГРЭС. Объекты. В зоне действия Новочеркасской ГРЭС был проведен отбор проб надземной и корневой частей растений и подстилающих их органогенных горизонтов почв на глубину 0-20 см. Для исследования на мониторинговых площадках нами были выбраны доминантные виды травянистых растений: амброзия полыннолистная (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), полынь австрийская (Artemisia austriaca Jack.), тысячелистник благородный (Achillea nobilis L), цикорий обыкновенный (Cichorium intybus L.), пижма обыкновенная (Tanacetum vulgare L.), пырей ползучий (Elytrigia repens (L.) Nevski.). Также были исследованы злаковые культуры: овсюг (Avena fatua), пшеница (Triticum aestivum L.), овес (Avena sativa L.), овсяница валлисская, или типчак (Festuca valesiaca L.), тростник обыкновенный (Phragmites australis L.), мятлик луговой (Poap retense L.). Методы. Содержание бенз[а]пирена в образцах растений определяли модифицированным методом омыления. Модификация предполагает замену трехразовой экстракции этоксиэтаном, являющимся прекурсором, на н-гексан. Извлечение поллютанта растворителем проводили после удаления мешающих липидных макрокомпонентов растений, предварительно подвергая кипячению образец в 2-% растворе гидрооксида калия. Определение концентрации бенз[а]пирена осуществляли на хроматографе Agilent 1260 с флуориметрическим детектором. Результаты. На основании кластерного анализа выявлены три группы травянистых растений по уровню содержания бенз[а]пирена: слабого, среднего и активного накопления. Максимальные уровни накопления бенз[а]пирена выявлены для типчака, минимальные для амброзии. Установлено, что массовая доля бенз[а]пирена в почвах и растениях закономерно снижалась по мере удаления от предприятия. Максимальное загрязнение было выявлено по трансекте генерального направления, в 1,6 км от источника. Наименее загрязненными были площадки, заложенные в восточном направлении. Исследование накопления бенз[а]пирена в разных органах растений показало, что наибольшим загрязнением отличались корни всех исследованных видов. Массовая доля бенз[а]пирена в органогенном горизонте почв значительно превышала его содержание в растениях разных видов. The relevance of the research. Despite a significant amount of research of environmental pollution by polyarenes, there is insufficient information on accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and in particular the most toxic benzo[a]pyrene, by various types of herbaceous plants, which determines the relevance of research in this direction. The distribution of benzo[a]pyrene over plant organs and organogenic horizons of soils in the Novocherkassk Power Station effect zone was studied. The main aim was to study the accumulation of benzo[a]pyrene in plants of different species and the organogenic soil horizon of steppe phytocenoses depending on the distance from Novocherkassk Power Station. Objects. In the coverage area of the Novocherkassk Power Station, the samples of the aerial and root parts of plants and the underlying soil horizons of the organogenic layers were taken to a depth of 0-20 cm. For the study on monitoring sites, dominant species of herbaceous plants: ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), Austrian wormwood (Artemisia austriaca Jack.), noble yarrow (Achillea nobilis L), common chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.), creeping wheatgrass (Elytrigia repens (L.) Nevski.) were selected. The cereals: oatmeal (Avena fatua), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), oats (Avena sativa L.), Wallis fescue or fescue (Festuca valesiaca L.), common reed (Phragmites australis L.), meadow bluegrass (Poap retense L.) were studied as well. Methods. The content of benzo[a]pyrene in plants was determined by the standard method RD 52.10.556-95 in a modification that allows removing interfering lipid macrocomponents of plants by saponification (saponification method). When benzo[a]pyrene was determined by the method of saponification, the saponifiable lipid fraction was initially removed in the samples by boiling the plant sample in an alcohol solution of alkali, followed by threefold extraction of benzo[a]pyrene with hexane. The basis for determination of benzo[a]pyrene in soils is the PND 16.1:2:2. 2:3. 39-03 technique. Quantitative determination of benzo[a]pyrene in the extract was carried out by high performance liquid chromatography. The results. Based on cluster analysis, three groups of herbaceous plants were identified by the level of benzo[a]pyrene content: weak, medium, and active accumulation. The maximum levels of benzo[a]pyrene accumulation were found for fescue, and the minimum for ragweed. It was found that the mass fraction of benzo[a]pyrene in soils and plants naturally decreased with distance from the enterprise. Maximum pollution was detected by the transect of the general direction, 1,6 km from the source. The least polluted sites were laid in the eastern direction. A study of polyarenes accumulation in different organs of plants showed that the roots of all the species studied differed the greatest pollution. The mass fraction of benzo[a]pyrene in the organogenic horizon of soils significantly exceeded its content in plants of various species.

Актуальность исследования обусловлена необходимостью оценить влияние многолетнего токсического загрязнения полициклическими ароматическими углеводородами с использованием ярового ячменя (Hordeum sativum distichum) на ферментативную активность черноземов и морфометрические показатели ячменя. Яровой ячмень использовали для оценки отрицательного влияния загрязнения чернозема бензо[а]пиреном как признанным канцерогеном и мутагеном среди полициклических ароматических углеводородов. Выбранные дозы были близки к уровню техногенного давления в исследуемой зоне – 0–800 мкг кг–1 бензо[а]пирена. Содержание бензо[а]пирена в почве в течение 4 лет эксперимента повлияло на морфометрические показатели ячменя и поглощение растениями, а также на ферментативную активность почв. Цель: оценить влияние бензо[а]пирена на биологическую активность чернозема Ростовской области. Объекты. Исследования проводились с образцом почвы, отобранным из верхнего (0–20 см) слоя чернозема обыкновенного карбонатного тяжелосуглинистого на территории Государственного почвенного заповедника «Персиановская заповедная степь», расположенного в Ростовской области (юг Российской Федерации), вдали от источников загрязнения. Данная почва имеет следующие характеристики: Corg – 3,4 %, pH – 7,3, емкость катионного обмена – 37,1 ммоль (+)/100 г; содержание CaCO3 – 0,1 %, содержание физической глины – 53,1 %. Методы. Модельные эксперименты проводили в естественных условиях. Два килограмма воздушно-сухой почвы просеивали через сито диаметром 1 мм и помещали в вегетационные сосуды объемом 4 литра. Раствор бензо[а]пирена в ацетонитриле перемешивали с почвой для создания концентраций бензо[а]пирена в образцах почвы, равных 20, 200, 400 и 800 мкг кг-1 (сухой вес), что соответствует 1, 10, 20 и 40 уровням предельно-допустимой концентрации бензо[а]пирена, соответственно. Незагрязненная почва использовалась в качестве контроля, фоновым образцом служил образец с внесением ацетонитрила аналогично образцам с бензо[а]пиреном. Результаты. Основным фактором, обуславливающим увеличение содержания бензо[а]пирена в черноземе обыкновенном и растениях модельного эксперимента, была доза внесения токсиканта в чернозем обыкновенный. Активность оксидоредуктаз (каталазы и дегидрогеназы) чернозема была ингибирована с ростом содержания бензо[а]пирена в почве. Наибольшее токсическое действие бензо[а]пирена оказал на активность дегидрогеназ. Тенденции выраженной фитотоксичности почв наблюдали для всех морфометрических показателей ярового ячменя, таких как энергия прорастания, длина побегов, вес растений и длина колоса. Количественные уровни поглощения бензо[а]пирена корнями ярового ячменя превышали уровнипоглощения в вегетативной части более чем в 2,5 раза во всех загрязненных вариантах. Таким образом, переход бензо[а]пирена в побеги и корни ярового ячменя из чернозема, сопровождающийся ингибированием активности дегидрогеназы и каталазы, демонстрирует оценку воздействия полютанта на живые организмы. The relevance of the research is caused by the importance in assessing the effect of long-term polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contamination using spring barley (Hordeum sativum distichum) on enzymatic activity of chernozems and the morphometric parameters of barley. Spring barley was used to assess the negative impact of chernozem soil pollution with benzo[a]pyrene as a well-known carcinogen and a mutagen among polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The selected doses were close to the level of technogenic pressure in the studied zone: 0-800 mg benzo[a]pyrene kg-1. Benzo[a]pyrene content in soils during 4 years of the experiment affected the morphometric parameters of barley and the absorption of benzo[a]pyrene by plants, as well as the enzymatic activity of soils. The main aim was to assess benzo[a]pyrene effect on the chernozem biological activity in the Rostov Region. Objects. The investigations were carried out with a sample of soil taken from the upper (0-20 cm) layer of carbonate heavy loamy chernozem on the territory of the State Soil Preserve «Persian Protected Steppe» located in the Rostov Region (south of the Russian FederaC tion), far from pollution sources. This soil has the following characteristics: organic - 3,4 %, pH - 7,3, exchange capacity cation - 37,1 mmol (+)/100 g-1; the content of CaCO3 is 0,1 %, the content of physical clay is 53,1 %. Methods. Model experiments were carried out under the natural conditions. Two kilograms of air-dry soil were sieved through a 1CmmC diameter sieve and placed into the 4 liters vegetative pots. The benzo[a]pyrene solution in acetonitrile was mixed with the soil to obtain final concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene in soil samples of 20, 200, 400 and 800 mg benzo[a]pyrene kg-1 (dry weight), which corresponds to 1, 10, 20 and 40 levels of maximum permissible concentration of benzo[a]pyrene. Clean soil was used as a control and, in addition, a background control was performed where acetonitrile was added similarly to the samples with benzo[a]pyrene. Results. The main factor influencing the increase in benzo[a]pyrene in soil and plants of model experiment was inoculation dose of toxicant in chernozem ordinary. The activity of oxidoreductase (catalase and dehydrogenases) of chernozem was inhibited with increasing benzo[a]pyrene content in the soil. The greatest toxic effect of benzo[a]pyrene was observed on the activity of dehydrogenases. Tendencies of pronounced phytotoxicity of soils were observed for all morphometric characteristics of spring barley, such as germination energy, length of shoots, plant weight and length of ears. The quantitative absorption levels of benzo[a]pyrene by the roots of spring barley exceeded the vegetative part by more than 2,5 times in all contaminated variants. Thus, the migration of benzo[a]pyrene to shoots and roots of spring barley from chernozem, accompanied by inhibition activity of dehydrogenases and catalase demonstrated the possibility of evaluating bioindication reactions during environmental monitoring to assess the effect of benzo[a]pyrene contamination.

The influence of heavy metal-tolerant bacteria, biochar, and their joint application on Hordeum vulgare L., grown in highly polluted soils was analysed for the first time. The high concentrations of heavy metals (HMs) (Zn, Mn, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cd) were determined in the polluted soil (Spolic Technosol) obtained from the Lake Atamanskoe. The effects of these HMs led to marked differences in H. vulgare L. growth. HMs toxicity slows down the development of the plant by changing morphometric parameters. Application of biochar and microbes reduced the HMs accumulation and enhanced H. vulgare L. growth compared with plants grown in polluted soil without amendments. However, all treatments showed high accumulation of HMs in above- and underground tissues as compared with plants grown in unpolluted soil. The application of biochar and HM-tolerant bacteria decreased the HM content 1.78–9.23 fold and 1.79–5.30 fold, respectively, while the addition of both bacteria and biochar has led to a 3.11–17 fold decrease in HMs content and was the most effective to decrease the translocation of all the studied metals. The metal-tolerant bacteria influenced the plant growth to a large extent. The most prominent impact of biochar + bacteria application was observed for leaves length and dry weight of plants: the parameters were significantly higher and reached those of unpolluted control. However, all of the tested amendments improved the growth performance of plants in polluted soil. The alleviation of metal toxicity by the addition of biochar may be beneficial for the introduced bacteria and increase their activity.

The study is aimed at analyze atomic and electronic structure of Cu (II) and Pb (II) ions in the artificially contaminated soil and its mineral components using X-ray absorption spectroscopy methods based on synchrotron radiation. Soil sampling was taken in the 0-20 cm topsoil of the Haplic Chernozem of the South Russia. In a model experiment the samples taken were artificially contaminated with higher portions (2000 and 10000 mg/kg) of nitrates and oxides of Cu and Pb. The experimental X-ray absorption (XANES and EXAFS) spectra at the K- edge of Cu and LIII-edge of Pb were performed at the Structural Materials Science beamline of the Kurchatov Center for Synchrotron Radiation (Moscow) in the fluorescence regime. The features of XANES spectra indicate different orbital transitions in the electron shells of Pb (II) and Cu (II) ions for monoxide and soluble salt, which affect the ion properties and determine the individual structure of the coordination sphere. Analysis of the EXAFS revealed that Cu (II) ions are incorporated in the octahedral and tetrahedral sites of minerals and bonded with humic materials at the expense of covalent bond and the formation of coordination humate copper complexes. Lead ions in soil are incorporated in the positions of the inner-sphere complex replacing some aluminum ions in the octahedral sites. This results in changes the Pb–O distances in Pb- bearing octahedrons. We may suggest that Pb (II) is also sorbed by dimer (Pb–Pb) silicate and/or aluminum groups.