Technogenic soils – soils of the year 2020 in Poland. Concept, properties and classification of technogenic soils in Poland

The Soil Science Society of Poland has elected technogenic soils to be the Soils of the Year 2020 to highlight the growing understanding of the functions of human-created or signifi cantly human-transformed soils in urban and industrial agglomerations, inhabited by the majority of the human population. Technogenic soils differ greatly in their morphology and physicochemical properties, depending on the kind/way of human intervention and the anthropogenic parent material. Thus, technogenic soils may either form highly productive horticular or park habitats, or unproductive or even toxic sites, which urgently require remediation. This introductory paper presents (a) a history of defi ning and classifi cation of technogenic soils in Poland, (b) present concept of technogenic soils in the Polish Soil Classifi cation and crucial diagnostics, and (c) a brief review of the subtypes and varieties of technogenic soils, including their recognition in formerly published research reports and correlations with the FAO-WRB classifi cation. The Polish Soil Classifi cation has extended the soil defi nition to allow classifying soils on buildings and other constructions, and has defi ned artefacts, geomembrane, hard technogenic layer, thick dumped material and deep soil mixing - new diagnostic properties important for distinguishing and classifi cation of technogenic soils. The type of Technogenic soils includes seven principal subtypes, i.e., Ekranosols, Urbisols, Industriosols, Edifi sols, Constructosols, Aggerosols, and Turbisols, as well as three supplementary subtypes, i.e., humus, gleyed and stagno-gleyed

SORPTION OF NICKEL IN SOIL S OF AN AREA AFFECTED BY THE METAL INDUSTRY

The analysed area was used for industrial activity for over 130 years. During that time many pollutants (including heavy metals) have been emitted by industrial plants and infiltrated into the soil. This article presents the properties of the soil from industrial sites located in Zielona Góra and analysis of its physical and chemical characteristics

Classification of technogenic soils according to WRB system in the light of Polish experiences

Technosols are relatively young soil group in WRB soil system, and there is still a lot of to do to better understand processes taking place in these soils and to classify them in a proper way. The objectives of this paper were to (1) evaluate Technosol and 'technogenic' qualifiers for other Reference Soil Groups, and (2) propose new solutions which would improve the classification of technogenic soils in WRB. New qualifiers – Edific, Nekric, Misceric, Artefactic, Radioactivic and new specifier – Technic – are proposed to be added to keys to Technosols. Moreover, Salic and Sodic qualifiers should be also available for Technosols. Furthermore, the supplementation of definitions of thionic horizon and sulphidic material with reference to Technosols is also suggested.Technolose są młodą jednostką glebową w klasyfikacji WRB. Konieczne są dalsze badania naukowe, ukierunko wane na zrozumienie procesów zachodzących w tych glebach oraz na prawidłową ich klasyfikację. Celem artykułu jest (1) ocena kwalifikatorów używanych w stosunku do technosoli oraz związanych z technogeniczną naturą gleb, jak również (2) zaproponowanie nowych rozwiązań, które ulepszyłyby WRB w kontekście klasyfikacji gleb Technosols. Proponuje się wprowadzenie nowych kwalifikatorów (Edific, Nekric, Misceric, Artefactic, Radioactivic) oraz przedrostka uściślającego Technic do klucza dla grupy Tech nosols. Proponuje się również dodanie do tego klucza kwalifikatorów Salic i Sodic. Ponadto potrzebne jest uzupełnienie definicji poziomu thionic i materiału sulphidic oraz dopuszczenie stosowania kwalifikatora thionic w Technosolach

THE STATE OF SOIL CONTAMINATED WITH NICKEL IN THE FORMER SANITARY ZONE OF THE GŁOGÓW COPPER SMELTER

Substances present in soils are of natural or anthropogenic origin. As a result of industrial activity, large quantities of potentially hazardous elements such as heavy metals are deposited in the environment. They may occur as unavailable (similar to the total form), or available for plants. The content of nickel in the soil from the former sanitary zone of the Głogów Copper Smelter does not exceed the Polish threshold values for industrial areas; however, its content may be influenced by other factors such as content of organic matter and soil reaction. In this article we present the results of the nickel pollution in the former sanitary zone of the Głogów Copper Smelter. Obecne w glebie związki chemiczne mają pochodzenie naturalne lub antropogeniczne. Jako efekt działalności przemysłowej, do atmosfery emitowane są znaczne ilości zanieczyszczeń, w tym metali ciężkich. Zanieczyszczenia obecne w środowisku mogą być związane trwale z materiałem glebowym, część z nich jest jednak dostępna dla roślin. W artykule przedstawiono wyniki zanieczyszczenia niklem terenów strefy ochronnej Huty Miedzi Głogów. Badania wykazały, że zawartość niklu nie przekraczała wartości granicznych, wg obowiązujących w Polsce standardów dla gleb stref przemysłowych. Zawartość niklu może być jednak modyfikowana przez zawartość materii organicznej oraz pH

THE CONTENT OF LEAD IN SOILS OF ALLOTMENT GARDENS IN ZIELONA GÓRA, POLAND

Lead, as a heavy metal, is harmful to living organisms (both plants and animals) and it is relatively mobile in the environment. In this article we present the results of the monitoring of the lead content in local allotment gardens (Zielona Góra, Poland). We examined both the total and the phytoavailable form. Soil samples were collected in eight places in the allotment gardens, and two places in the neighbourhood of the allotment gardens. The lead content in the soil met the Polish soil ground standards (Regulation by the Minister of the Environment of 9.09.2002). The total content of lead varied from 21 to 39 mg kg-1, (12–14 mg kg-1 at reference point) and the form potentially available for plants from 10 to 19 mg kg-1 (6–7 mg kg-1 at reference point). The content of lead does not exceed the threshold values according to Polish law. Ołów, jako metal ciężki, jest szkodliwy dla organizmów żywych (zarówno roślin jak i zwierząt) I jest względnie ruchliwy w środowisku. W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań monitoringowych dot. zawartości ołowiu ogólnego oraz przyswajalnego w glebach ogródków działkowych Zielonej Góry. Próbki glebowe pobrano z 8 miejsc w obrębie ogrodów oraz z 2 miejsc referencyjnych zlokalizowanych w sąsiedztwie ogrodów. Zawartość ołowiu w glebach nie przekraczała wartości progowych wyznaczonych wg prawa polskiego, przyjętego w zarządzeniu Ministra Środowiska z dnia 9 września 2002 r. Zawartość ołowiu całkowitego wahała się od 21 do 39 mg kg-1, (12–14 mg kg-1 w punkcie referencyjnym) a ołowiu w formie potencjalnie dostępnej dla roślin od 10 do 19 mg kg-1 (6–7 mg kg-1 w punkcie referencyjnym)

Wykorzystanie gruntów rodzimych do budowy dróg lokalnych na terenach wiejskich

Virgin soils as a result of geotechnical processes are element of road’s solid bottom. The bottom ought to have enough capacity and durability which is provided by proper virgin sub-grade’s enhancement. The sub-grade is road’s base course right bottom. It is possible to improve virgin soil’s parameters by road’s hydraulic binding agent. The agent is a mineral frame’s micro-particle extender or enhancement. The researches were focused to define main soil-cement compound’s mechanical parameter called CBR. Compounds consisted of rural virgin soils (five grain-size types) and two hydraulic agent types (endurance rates 3 MPa and 9 MPa). Hydraulic agent’s main component was activated fly ash and white cement (CEM I 42,5 MPa). The ash is from Pątnów Power Plant and is a result of brown coal burning. The researches answered that it is possible to exploit virgin soils in rural service road’s construction thanks to innovative road cements with binding qualities.Grunty rodzime, powstałe w wyniku procesów geologicznych w miejscu zalegania, stanowią fundamentalny element konstrukcji drogowej. Fundament ten powinien charakteryzować się odpowiednią nośnością i trwałością, osiąganą dzięki prawidłowo ulepszonemu naturalnemu podłożu gruntowemu. Ulepszone podłoże gruntowe to mocny fundament dla podbudowy nawierzchni drogowej. Polepszenie właściwości gruntów rodzimych można uzyskać poprzez zastosowanie w nich hydraulicznych spoiw drogowych, spełniających rolę wypełniacza drobnych cząstek (bądź doraźnego wzmocnienia) szkieletu mineralnego gruntu. W niniejszej pracy skupiono się na określeniu podstawowego parametru mechanicznego mieszanek gruntowo-spoiwowych, a mianowicie wskaźnika nośności CBR. Mieszanki gruntowo-spoiwowe składały się z gruntów rodzimych, pobranych na terenach wiejskich (pięć rodzajów o zróżnicowanym uziarnieniu) oraz z dwóch rodzajów spoiwa hydraulicznego (o klasie wytrzymałości 3 MPa i 9 MPa). Głównym składnikiem spoiw hydraulicznych był aktywowany popiół lotny, pochodzący ze spalania węgla brunatnego w Elektrowni Pątnów, oraz cement portlandzki (CEM I 42,5 MPa). Wyniki badań wykazały, że przy zastosowaniu innowacyjnych spoiw drogowych o właściwościach wiążących, możliwe jest wykorzystanie gruntów rodzimych do budowy dróg lokalnych na terenach wiejskich

Studies of technogenic soils in Poland: past, present, and future perspectives

For a long time, the soils covering areas strongly transformed by human were ignored in scientifi c discourse. Also, practice did not care much about these soils because of their unproductivity. Only the large post-mining areas reclaimed and transformed into a forest or agricultural land were more interesting both for science and practice. In the case of post-mining areas the term “soilless land” was used for a long time, especially in relation to areas which were not reclaimed. In this paper, the past studies (until the end of 20th century) of technogenic soils in Poland were described. Technogenic soils of urban and industrial areas appeared in scientifi c considerations in Poland in the second half of the 20th century. In those times, soil properties on disposal sites were mainly investigated as a basic information for further design of technical and biological reclamation on disposal sites. Two Polish scientists should be emphasised as the world pioneers in concepts and studies of technogenic soils: (1) Michał Strzemski, who proposed a classifi cation scheme for soils in urban and industrial areas, as well as listed the tasks for future studies of these soils, and (2) Tadeusz Skawina, who focused on the dynamic and directions of the soil-forming processes on the mine spoils in the context of their reclamation. Moreover, studies of technogenic soils in the last two decades were also shown in the paper. From the beginning of the 21st century the scientifi c research gained momentum. Nowadays, Polish researchers have great achievements in studying technogenic soils, including investigation of their properties, genesis, evolution, classifi cation, biological features etc. Furthermore, we drew some outlines for future studies of Technosols

Urban nitrogen budgets: flows and stock changes of potentially polluting nitrogen compounds in cities and their surroundings–a review

Concepts of material flow and mass consistency of nitrogen compounds have been used to elucidate nitrogen’s fate in an urban environment. While reactive nitrogen commonly is associated to agriculture and hence to large areas, here we have compiled scientific literature on nitrogen budget approaches in cities, following the central role cities have in anthropogenic activities generally. This included studies that specifically dealt with individual sectors as well as budgets covering all inputs and outputs to and from a city across all sectors and media. In the available data set, a clear focus on Asian cities was noted, making full use of limited information and thus enable to quantitatively describe a local pollution situation. Time series comparisons helped to identify trends, but comparison between cities was hampered by a lack of harmonized methodologies. Some standardization, or at least improved reference to relevant standardized data collection along international norms was considered helpful. Analysis of results available pointed to the following aspects that would reveal additional benchmarks for urban nitrogen budgets: analysing the share of nitrogen that is recycled or reused, separating largely independent sets of nitrogen flows specifically between food nitrogen streams and fossil fuel combustion-related flows, and estimating the stock changes for the whole domain or within individual pools