MECHANICAL COMPOSITION AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF CALCOMELANOSOLS AND CALCOCAMBISOLS ON THE JABLANICA MOUNTAIN

Differences in mechanical composition of two soil types on hard limestone and its subtypes were investigated in order to get closer look on variability and dynamics of this soil property over long period of pedogenesis of these soils. Soils on hard limestones on Jablanica Mountain were select as a case study. During the field survey campaign on different locations 18 basic soil profiles of calcomelanosols were excavated, with the following subtypes: organogenic (5) organomineral (12) and brownized (1) and 4 soil profiles calcocambisols with a typical subtype. Field survey and laboraotry testing was implemented according standard methods adopted in our country and the Former Yugoslavia. Clay content is generally high and increases from organogenic subtype towards brownized calcomelanosols and calcocambisols subtypes. During the process of evolution of the calcomelanosols into brownized calcomelanosols and calcocambisols, the content of soil organic matter decreases. The fine earth of examined soil samples usually is non-carbonate, but in a limited number of soil samples a very small quantities of CaCO3 were detected. In terms of its soil reaction, the examined soils can be classified into three categories (very strongly acid, moderately acid and neutral). The content of total nitrogen in the examined soils is high and vary in the ranges of 0.211.95% in calcomelanosols and 0.31-0.56% for hor. A and 0.18-0.27 for hor. (B)rz of the calcocambisols. The examined soil samples are with low content of easy available phosphorus and optimal content of potassium

CONTENT OF HEAVY METALS IN RIGOSOLS FROM THE AREA OF VELES

The scope of the investigations was to determine the quantity of total forms (Cu, Mn and Zn) and available forms of heavy metals (Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) in rigosols from the area of Veles. Digestion of soil samples was performed with concentrated HCl and HNO3 in a 3:1 ratio. The available forms of heavy metals were extracted with the DTPA method. Determination of the content was performed on atomic absorption spectrophotometer Agilent 55. The results of the investigation showed that the total zinc contents in all soil samples were lower than the reference value. Total copper content in 3 soil samples is lower than the reference values, while in 5 soil samples had higher contents than reference value, but much lower than intervention value. Total manganese content is lower than the maximum allowed concentration for agricultural soils. The quantities of available copper are in the ranges of low to very high, of iron and zinc is between very low to medium, while of manganese between low to high

Copper monitoring in vineyard soils of the Tikvesh region, North Macedonia

This research studies the copper contents in vineyard soils under vineyards affected by the long-term use of copper-based fungicides and evaluates the extent of this influence on the super accumulation in the main viniculture growing regions in North Macedonia. The soil samples were taken from individual vineyards located in the Tikvesh region, from two depths: 0-30 and 30-60 cm. At the same time, control samples were collected from each of the visited sites. The control samples were taken from untreated nearby locations under natural conditions in order to determine the background concentrations. The available copper (Cu) contents were analysed on soil samples taken from 100 locations, 50 of which represent vineyard soils (organic and conventional farming) and 50 control samples from nearby forests and sites. The main finding is that the average available copper concentrations are significantly higher in soils under vineyards, compared to the background concentration in control samples, especially in these with organic farming where the use of coper-based fungicides is more intensive. A comparison of the copper contents in vineyards to the background concentrations of control samples clearly confirmed the anthropogenic influence. A significantly very high level of copper (10.70-18.77 mg/kg) was measured in the soil samples from organic farming. The control samples contained a significantly lower concentration of copper, between average 1.39-1.62 mg/kg (0-30 cm) and 0.68-0.88 mg/kg (30-60 cm). According to the micronutrient rating as related to a soil test with the DTPA extraction reagent (Jones, 2001) applied in this study, a significant potential ecological risk has been noticed in the agricultural soil samples (organic and conventional production)

Distribution of cobalt in soil from Kavadarci and the environs

The results of the study of spatial distribution of cobalt in surface soil and subsoil over of the Kavadarci region, Republic of Macedonia, are reported. From the investigated region (360 km2) in total 344 soil samples from 172 locations were collected. At each sampling point soil samples were collected at two depths, topsoil (0–5 cm) and subsoil soil (20–30 cm). Inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied for the determination of cobalt. Data analysis and construction of the map were per- formed using the Paradox (ver. 9), Statistica (ver. 6.1), AutoDesk Map (ver. 2008) and Surfer (ver. 8.09) software. It was found that for both topsoil and subsoil the median and average values are 15 mg/kg, ranges between 6.7 and 58 mg/kg. The highest content of cobalt is present in the soil from the area of Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks (Pz-Mz) on the western part of the investigated area and Flysch (E) – Eocene upper flysch zone (on the northern part) and the lowest in the soils from the Holocene alluvium of the rivers Crna Reka and Vardar. There are no significant differences between the surface and subsoil in terms of its average quan- tities. It was found that the critically high contents are related primarily to high contents of cobalt in the sam- pling points from the western part of the investigated region. The contents of cobalt are higher in subsoil than in topsoil from which it can be concluded that the occurrence is natural

Geochemical Atlas of Kavadarci and the Environs

The subject of this study is to present the results of a first systematic study of spatial distribution of different chemical elements in surface soil over of the Kavadarci region known for its ferro-nickel industrial activity in the nearest past.There were several investigation of soil, vegetables and fruits produced in this region known but they were mainly concerned with contamination by nickel, iron, cobalt and chromium. Other elements were not determined though it is known that the minerals of many other heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Sb, Se, etc.) are present in iron-nickel ores used for the production of nickel in the smelter plants. The study on the atmospheric deposition of trace metals over the entire territory of the Republic of Macedonia identified the most polluted areas and characterize different pollution sources. However, it was found that the most important sources of trace metal deposition are ferrous and non-ferrous smelters including the area of Kavadarci and its surroundings. For this reason, the goal of this work was to determine the content of 36 major and trace elements in the soil from the the town og Kavadarci and its surroundings and to assess the size of the ferronickel smelter plant situated near the town

Relationships between vegetation of Macedonian pine (Pinus peuce Griseb.) and different types of soils on which it develops

This paper deals with relationships between vegetation of Macedonian pine (Pinus peuce Griseb.) and soils developed on different parent materials on the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia. We analysed the floristic composition of its communities at localities on limestone, on scree of dolomite marble and on scree of silicate (glaciofluvial deposit). On limestone and scree of dolomite marble, rendzinas on hard limestone and dolomite have developed, and on silicate parent material brown forest soils – (cambisols). The vegetation was sampled according to the Braun-Blanquet approach. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and Ellenberg’s indicator values were used for ecological interpretation of the vegetation patterns. The mechanical and chemical properties of soil and textural classes were also processed. An evident increased presence of carbonates in the soil of scree of dolomite marble on Nidže Mountain was observed, unlike that on Shar Mountain which has formed on typical limestone. Although it is a forest community dominated by the same species, differences between the massifs, the precipitation regime, geology, differences in soil properties in relation to the appearance of carbonates and pH values, and other factors, result in differences in their floristic composition and are the reason for the distinction between the two groups. On silicate terrain on Nidže Mountain, Macedonian pine forests have also developed on brown forest soils (cambisols), with a different floristic composition to that of the other group on different parent material - carbonate (dolomite and limestone)

Distribution of Cobalt in Soil from Кavadarci and the Environs

The results of the study of spatial distribution of cobalt in surface soil and subsoil over of the Kavadarci region, Republic of Macedonia, are reported. From the investigated region (360 km2) in total 344 soil samples from 172 locations were collected. At each sampling point soil samples were collected at two depths, topsoil (0–5 cm) and subsoil soil (20–30 cm). Inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied for the determination of cobalt. Data analysis and construction of the map were performed using the Paradox (ver. 9), Statistica (ver. 6.1), AutoDesk Map (ver. 2008) and Surfer (ver. 8.09) software. It was found that for both topsoil and subsoil the median and average values are 15 mg/kg, ranges between 6.7 and 58 mg/kg. The highest content of cobalt is present in the soil from the area of Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks (Pz-Mz) on the western part of the investigated area and Flysch (E) – Eocene upper flysch zone (on the northern part) and the lowest in the soils from the Holocene alluvium of the rivers Crna Reka and Vardar. There are no significant differences between the surface and subsoil in terms of its average quantities. It was found that the critically high contents are related primarily to high contents of cobalt in the sampling points from the western part of the investigated region. The contents of cobalt are higher in subsoil than in topsoil from which it can be concluded that the occurrence is natural

Distribution of some elements in surface soil over the Kavadarci region, Republic of Macedonia

The results of a first systematic study of spatial distribution of different elements in surface soil over of the Kavadarci region, Republic of Macedonia, known for its nickel industrial activity are reported. The investigated region (360 km2) is covered by a sampling grid of 2 × 2 km2; whereas the sampling grid of 1 × 1 km2 was applied in the urban zone and around the ferronickel smelter plant (117 km2). In total 344 soil samples from 172 locations were collected. At each sampling point soil samples were collected at two depths, topsoil (0–5 cm) and bottom soil (20–30 cm). Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied for the determination of 36 elements (Ag, Al, As, Au, B, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, K, La, Mn, Na, Mg, Mo, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sr, Th, Tl, Ti, U, V, W and Zn). Data analysis and construction of maps were performed using the Paradox (ver. 9), Statistica (ver. 6.1), AutoDesk Map (ver. 2008) and Surfer (ver. 8.09) software. Four geogenic and three anthropogenic geochemical associations were established. Within the research, natural and anthropogenic enrichment with heavy metals was determined. Principally, the natural enrichment is related especially to Ni. Pollution by As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mo, Pb and Zn is basically insignificant