Alluvial soils of the Gulf of Finland. Composition, properties, and suitability for creating green spaces

Abstract

In Saint-Petersburg and its surroundings land reclamation works by hydraulic filling have been performed for several decades. For the hydraulic filling fine-grained slightly silted and clayed sands from the bottom of the Gulf of Finland are used. We have examined the properties of alluvial soils as substrate for planting, figured out unfavorable hydrophysical features of the soils related to soil fractionation caused by water flows while hydraulic filling, which, in their turn, have negative impact on preservation and growth of vegetation. We have given examples of measures on melioration of soils, at the same time having taken into consideration their features while the design performance and working on creation green spaces on the alluvial soils.