Purpose The main aim of the study performed during 6 years was to determine the specific features of heavy metal contamination of soil cover in the city of Rostov-on-Don and its agglomeration. It was supposed to answer the question: Does soil inherit heavy metals mainly from the parent rocks, or they enter the soil mainly as a result of anthropogenes in the city condition. Materials and methods Seventeen soil profiles were established in different parts of the Rostov agglomeration, within the city and in the urbanized agricultural region. The following objects were studied: (1) calcareous ordinary chernozem under steppe vegetation (fallow) and under trees (parks): soils of natural structure insignificantly affected by urbanization processes; (2) urbostratozems: soils of natural structure overlain by loose anthropogenic deposits; (3) screened urbostratozems (or ecranozems): soils of natural structure overlain by asphalt and/or another impermeable surface. The contents of heavy metals were determined by X-ray fluorescence. The degree of soil contamination with heavy metals was assessed by comparing their content with the MPC values (danger coefficient method) or using the total contamination factor Zc. Results and discussion The comparison of chernozems under different plant covers shows that the woody plants capable of retaining moisture in the soil and more deeply wetting the soil layer decrease the accumulation of vanadium, chromium, cobalt, nickel, and copper in the surface layer. The accumulation coefficients of these metals in urbostratozems are still lower for some reason. At the same time, an increase in the accumulation of zinc and lead is observed in the surface layer of soils under the forest canopy, as well as in the urbostratozems. In the Urbostratozems, screened by dense surfaces, a high variation is observed, which is related to the different times of soil sealing with asphalt.Conclusions The results showed that the concentrations of most elements in the parent rock of Rostov-on-Don exceed the background values, and those of some elements exceed the MPC levels. The main source of accumulation of these elements in the soil profile is the parent rock. Additional input from anthropogenic sources is contributed by the accumulation of such elements as chromium, nickel, zinc, and lead.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

The paper discusses the necessity to apply the innovative irrigation technology when creating artificial landscapes in the South of the European part of Russia. The artificial green areas of the Rostov agglomeration significantly differ from the traditional steppe plant associations. They are presented, as a rule, by tree plantings or grassy introduced species which are used to create the city microclimate and also for protection from the eastern winds. Unfortunately climatic conditions and increasing anthropogenic load don‘t provide the stable rooting and development of plants without additional moistening, despite the Chernozem high agronomic value. The process of the soil cover replanting of its central part and the phenologically old trees replacing is actively under way. This process should be accompanied by compliance with the requirements for enhanced, both in frequency and volume, irrigation of young trees. But the use of automatic and semi-automatic irrigation systems is associated with the absence of a regulatory framework for the design, installation, and further operation of irrigation systems under the conditions of the Russian Federation. This issue requires the solving with the direct participation of specialists from various fields, both theorists and construction practitioners, land reclamation specialists, soil scientists, landscape designers.