Natural Resources, 2000, No.2

PRIRODNYE RESURSY (Natural Resources) Published by The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus & The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Protection of the Republic of Belarus, Minsk, Belarus

Number 2; 2000

CONTENTS

Biological Resources

Summary: The analysis of numerous data shows a great amplitude of productivity variations in overground phytomass of grass communities at a diverse syntaxonomic level. Grass stands of synanthropic (class Artemisietea vulgaris -- to 203.0 c/ha in subass. Heracleetum sosnowskyi typicum) and swamp meadow communities (class Phragmitetea -- to 187.3 c/ha in subass. Phalaridetum arundinaceae scolochloetosum festucaceae) are the most productive ones. The lowest productivity of overground phytomass is observed in rough meadow communities (class Sedo-Scleranthetea -- to 0.6 c/ha in subass. Corynephoretum canescentis hieracietosum pilosellae). From the whole complex of extermal factors edaphotope character and anthropogenic effects are determinant ones in the productivity of communities.

Water Resources

Summary: In this paper the technique of differenyiated evaluation of ground water resourses is given. Provided we know the rate of the ground water runoff into rivers as well as hydrogeological parameters and boundary conditions, this methodical approach allows us to determine area alimentation of ground water horizons, their evaporation losses and in-between-aquifers overflow. To assess fresh ground water resourses of the territory cut by the Dnieper, Pripyat, Ptych and Berezina rivers, the numerical geofiltration model was set up for the active water exchange zone. There is ground-water horizon, the Lower-Middle-Pleistocene aquifer, the Paleogene aquifer, the Turanian-Maastricht aquifer and the Jurassic-Lower-Senomanian aquifer as well as dividing aqitards and all surface reservoirs and streams, -- reproduced on the model. To calibrate this model, coordination was executed between both model's and actual characteristics of underground water thrusts and moduluses of the underground runoff into rivers. By results of the model simulation of geofilering the structure of water balance in the active water exchange zone was defined, maps for the ground water area alimentation as well as for the ground water horizons' losses for evaporation, for the intensity of water exchange between the aquifers -- were compiled -- and they are the parameters which characterize aggregately the territory's ground water resourses of the active water exchange zone by its minimal volume. The amount of ground water horizons infiltration alimentation, taken by the average weight on an area basis, is 69 mm/year. The ground water horizons loss into all surface reservoirs and streams is 32 mm/year while the loss by the way of evaporation through the aeration zone makes a runoff film of 37mm a year. The descending ground water filtering intensity on the relief ups (filtering accurs in aquifers' direction) and the equivalent aquifers discharge on the relief lowerings (filtering accurs in ground water horizon's direction), taken in the same terms, make up 48 mm/year. Wide-scale processes of ground water evaporation through the aeration zone have their reflection in building-up of lime-contained and ferriferous mineral formations in the mineralized/swamped soils of Belarusian Polesie.

Khvaley O.D., Datskevich P.I., Komissarov F.D., Levosechko S.I.
Assessment of Radioecological State of Surface Waters in the Gomel and Mogilev Regions. pp. 27--30

Summary: The processes of wash-out of radionuclides from surfaces of above-lying soils to local lowerings and further to reservoirs and waterflows, lowland bogs, are accompanied by simultaneous absorption of radionuclides by soilgrounds and their migration to ground waters. In the meantime, the processes of radionuclide accumulation take place in local lowerings in soil components, in grounds and water ecosystem components. In soils of water collection areas the processes of radionuclide absorption by grounds and their constituents take place, as well as by root systems of plants and -- in vegetation period -- by plants themselves. In autumn, as a result of vegetation death and natural destruction of the above-earth plants, the processes of desorption and deliverance of radionuclides lake place as well as their accumulation by dead organic matter and mineral components of soils. Water-soluble radionuclide compounds along with waterflows come to water environment in significant quantities. The article states that application of the Republican Admissible Levels (RAL-96) in practice and their juxtaposition with the obtained results of analyses are not always justified because water of the studied systems is excluded from economic water supply to population in resettlement zone. The radioecological criteria of quality of surface waters were developed in 1993 by Ukrainian hydrobiologists O. P. Oksiyuk, V. N. Zhukinsky and others contain six levels (classes) of radioecological pollution of water: 1 -- non-polluted, 2 -- lowly polluted, 3 -- moderately polluted, 4 -- highly polluted, 5 -- very high pollution, 6 -- utmost pollution; three classes of water quality and six categories of water quality. It is believed that according to this complex classification of quality of surface terrestrial waters, water of the studied systems of Gomel and Mogilev regions very often has exceeded the RAL-96 for ⁹⁰Sr. According to the proposed complex classification of quality of surface terrestrial waters, water of the studied systems belongs mainly -- for ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr -- to the quality categories: 3b "lowly polluted" and 4a "moderately polluted" independent on sampling period. On some sites of 30... 10 km zone, water qualify corresponds to categories 5a "very high pollution" and 5b "utmost pollution" for ⁹⁰Sr (rivers Slovechna, Nesvich and Pogonyansky channel). Thus, in the studied water systems, in radioecological relation, there is not a single one with water quality corresponding to indices 3а, i.e. sufficiently clean. ⁹⁰Sr has high migration ability and is able to participate in different migration cycles including biological (food chains). The cases of exceeding the RAL indices for ⁹⁰Sr in water indicate the necessity to study also other components of water systems of Belarus relating to this isotope.

Nature Management

Summary: Historical review is given of the term sustainable development and its main idea is presented. Nature and resource potential of Belarus was considered as the basis for sustainable development of the country. In general, nature conditions are favourable for people settling, agricultural production, industrial enterprise construction and for transport and engineering infrastructure. The renewable resources of fresh surface and underground wafers are sufficient for satisfaction of current and estimated demands: the average perennial outflow accounts for 57.9 km³. Operating stocks of underground waters are estimated in 18.1 km³ per year, 6...7 km³ of fresh water are accumulated in lakes, 3.1 km³ -- in reservoirs. The withdrawal of water for social and productional needs does not exceed 5... 7% of annually renewable water resources on the average. In the depths of the earth more than 4000 deposits and beds of raw materials of 30 kinds were prospected. Special place among them belongs to potassium salt, by prospected reserves of which our country takes the first place in Europe and in the world. They are practically unexhaustable -- the prospected reserves exceed 22 bln t. The country is rich in other minerals: granite, dolomite, marl and chalk, refractory and fusible clay, sand and gravel mixes, mineral water and sapropel. Deposits of brown coal, shale and iron ore are discovered. Biodiversity composition is rich. The role of Belarusian forests is quite important in the ecological stabilization of the whole Europe. Covering about 36% of the country area they annually absorb 30.7... 36.8 mln t of carbon dioxide and generate 22.5... 26.6 mln t of oxygen, thus executing global biosphere role. Thus, Belarus has sufficient nature and resource potential for promoting sustainable development.

Fedenya V.M., Romanova T.A., Matveyeva V.A., Ivahnenko N.N.
Soil Sensority lor the Norms of Technogen Chemical Loads. pp. 41--49

Summary: Nowadays critical concentrations for chemical pollutants are based on medical norms and principles. The available information can't be applied for soil protection, because it's incomplete. There are mainly dates about slightly-soluble forms not taking into consideration the particular soil features which cause the chemical interaction between a pollutant and absorbing complex. The soil sensority is an integral index for interaction of all the soil characteristics, from which the mobility and pollutants accumulations depend. The sensority demonstrates individual reaction of every soil type in response for different technogen contamination. The article is about the soil sensority estimation methods for nutrients (N, P, K), heavy metals, organically compounds, aside rains. There is also an information about sensority grades: very low (< 5), low (5.0...10.0), middle (10.0...15.0), high (15.1...19.0), very high (> 19). Low soil sensority is caused by such characteristics as automorphisch, light granulometric composition, poor mineralogical maternal rock composition, low cultivated, intensive erosion.

Chumakov L.S., Yurkova M.L.
Restoration of Biology Resourses in Pine Forest with Ledum palustre as Plant Surface After Forest Fire. pp. 50--61

Summary: The research was conducted in different-ages post fire areas in pine forests in the central part of Belarus. Agrochemical characteristics of soils, plant cover and fauna of invertebrates were studied. It was established that temperature regime of soils in post fire areas only in first two years is slightly different from that in natural plots. The restoration of plants begins from large development of Polytrichum sp., V. uliginosum, B. pubescens. The restoration of grass-shruberry phytocenoses is going in the first 6 years afterfire. The harvest of cranberries in some plots of post fire areas reaches the initial status already in 2 years after fire. The structure of soil fauna afterfire changes. For 60 years the number of invertebrates rises by two limes. Spiders and beetles have the advantage in the development. Forest fires are dangerous mainly for plant eating invertebrates. In the forming after fire communities the number of such animals as molluscs and larvae of Elateridae becomes less. In the first years the number of Blattoptera and some Coleoptera, which eat basis decreases. Especially this concerns the species, which are trofically connected with mushrooms. In this period in postfire area some forest pests can develop. On the whole, it can be said that phyto- and zoocenoses of pine forest with L. palustre as plant surface return to their initial status during the first ten years after fire.

Romanova M.L., Mavrishchev V.V.
The Content of Heavy Metals in Pine Phytocenoses on Al-Fe Humus Sand Soils. pp. 62--68

Summary: The content of heavy metals (HM -- Ni, Сu, Pb, Zn), as well as Al and Fe is considered in modem dynamics of wood phytocenoses. In Berezinsky Biosphere reserve (BBR) a series of objects -- catena from top of a hill up to a high bog was studied. Four permanent sampling plots (PSP) have a series of soil types on ancient alluvial sands: 1) lichen pine forest with Pleurozium, Dicranum, Hylocomium on gray-brown podzolic soil (dystric luvisol); 2) pine forest with Calluna vulgaris, Pleurouum, Dicranum, Hylocomium on the gray-brown gley podzolic soil (dystric podzoluvisol); 3) bilberry moss pine forest with Pleurozium, Dicranum, Hylocomium on alfegumic podzol soil (podzol); 4) moss-bildtrry pine forest with Pleurotium, Dicranum, Hylocomium, Vaccinium myrtillus on alfegumic gley-podzol soil (gley-podzol). As a model kind of species oligotrophic mesophyt Pleurozium schreberi is selected as most widespread in pine associations. It has been established that mosses and litters of pine forests of BBR can be reliable objects for monitoring and standards describing the content of heavy metals in uncontaminated biogeocenoses. The content of HM in litters both by seasons and by soils is a little bit higher than in mosses, that allows to consider litters as the main biogeochemical barrier impeding infiltration HM in soils and groundwaters. The soils with minimum rate of moisture most vividly show contamination of pine biogeocoenosis HM, arrested by mosses and litters. The gross content HM during the greatest anthropogenic press in Pleurovum shcreberi, litters and Al-Fe humus sand soils BBR did not exceed maximum permissible concentration (MPC). The exception was made by lead. This fact needs additional research.

Voznyachuk I.P.
Particular Featurs of Accumulation Microelements in Forest Soils Influenced by Pollutions of Novopolotsk Oil Industry Complecs. pp. 69--82

Summary: In this research we analyse condition of soddy podzolic forest soils influenced by the Novopolotsk Industrial Complex (NIC), one of the biggest in the North of Republic. Soil samples had been taken in the 500 m zone around NIC. We got 66 upper layer soil samples for the analysis of content and distribution of 24 microelements (Pb, Сu, Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, Mo, Mn, B, V, As, Ba, Ti, Ga, La, Li, Nb, Sc, Y, Yb, Zr, Sn, Ag, Sr). The samples were gathered on different distance of the pollution origin. The results of this research were the following: the content of the microelements in the soil is higher than in soddy podzolic forest soils not influenced by pollution (soils of national park), but does not exceeding the acceptable levels for this type of soil; as a result of action of the technogenic factor the upper layers of soil are enriched by some elements (Pb, Cr, V, As, Ti) included in pollution, this content depends on different facts such as the duration of influence of the NIC on the surrounding territory, the type and quantity of pollution and the distance from the pollution origin; the soils on the distance 350...500 m suffer from the influence of NIC more than rest area; the content of the microelements (Сu, Zn, Mo, Mn, B) important for plants on the most part of territory is lower, than in soils of national park. The research is confirmed notion that on accumulation and distribution of microelement in soil profile the important role is rendered by pedogenic processes.

Zaiko S.M., Glazkova L.N., Chertko N.K.
Dynamic Change of Calcium and Magnesium in Drained Peat Soils Under Perennial Grasses. pp. 83--88

Summary: Analysis of calcium and magnesium in soils of Belarusian Polesie in time and space under the influence of drainage amelioration has been made. As a result of 5-year long influence of agricultural land-use and of rapid evolution peat soils transfer into mineral soils and the soil cover structure becomes more variable. In connection with drainage amelioration and as a result of peat soils evolution, intensification of calcium and magnesium exchange takes place. The convert of exchange and exchangeable forms of calcium and magnesium are smaller in arable layer and they accumulate in the layer that is under the arable one. In the upper arable layers these elements are taken out with agricultural crops. Under Me influence of long agricultural land-use (more than 15 years) calcium exchange becomes smaller in middle thick and thick peat soils, but magnesium exchange becomes higher. Their main accumulation was found in arable, gumus and silt-gumus horizons.

Khomich S.A., Bakarasov V.A.
Optimization of Hydroeconomic Rehabilitation Objects. pp. 89--94

Summary: Creation of quarry water reservoirs is an efficient way of improving the natural and economic value of depleted mining territories. Artificial water reservoirs built in worked out flooded quarries must be designed so as to serve long-term biosphere and economic functions. Quarry reservoirs have a structure, water chemical composition and operation regime essentially similar to those of natural limnic systems. This enables to use limnological practice for water objects optimization when constructing quarry water reservoirs. It is known that lakes typically follow two ways of evolution: dominantly macrophytic and dominantly phytoplanktonic ones. The macrophyte type lakes are usually most tolerant to eutrophication and degradation factors. In view of the above mentioned, it is suggested when constructing quarry water reservoirs to set them mainly to macrophytic way of evolution. For this purpose and with regard to relationships characteristic of natural limnic systems two groups of measures are provided for. Firstly, formation of the future reservoir floor with morphometric parameters ensuring the macrophyte type bioproduction processes. Secondly, inclusion of the future quarry reservoir into the local hydrographic network and the arrangement of the catchment area so that to eliminate negative impacts of external pollution and eutrophication factors.

Ecologically Safe and Resource-Saving Technologies

Summary: Technological processes of galvanic production produce significant amounts of wastewater and slime. At the same time the level of galvanic slimes use in the Republic of Belarus is on the average 9%. Basic methods of sewage purification and galvanic slimes utilization are discussed in the article. Their advantages and drawbacks have been analyzed. Industrially tested technologies of slime processing are presented. The experience of regional centers creation for waste processing in Lithuania and Russia is considered. The possibility is considered of this experience use on the basis of the developments already existing in Belarus for the galvanic production slime purification, processing and utilization. This will enable to reduce the expenses related to the project implementation.

Tsekhanovich Yu.V., Shaidak L., Krasnoberskaya O.G., Ochkovskaya L.V., Matyushevska T.
Qualitative Differences of Organic Fertilizers of Different Genesis and their Influence on the Efficiency of Crop Rotation. pp. 100--103

Summary: The content and quality of soil humus is much influenced by organic fertilizers serving as a source of organic and mineral substances needed for nutrition of agricultural plants. They annually replace up to 40% of mineral fertilizers. The differences in quality of soil humus depend, in particular, on genesis of organic fertilizers but qualitative differences of these organic fertilizers were not examined yet. The ability of ground to fertility depends not only on quantity of humus, but also on its quality. Study of CO₂ isolation dependence on humidity and sapropel type has shown that for all sapropel types increase of intensity of CO₂ isolation was characteristic at composting. The greatest speed of its isolation was displayed at sapropel humidity above 50%. At humidity 82...92% the particles of sapropel are in the most friable condition and consequently in a greater degree on them influences the ferment apparatus of microorganismes. Drying of sapropels causes the coagulation of colloids, the particles are compressed and become accessible by microorganismes only from a surface. At dry of sapropel, thus, surface of interaction of particles with ferments, responsible for mineralization decreases. The second reason -- delay of mineralization at drying -- consists in a lack of a moisture for normal functioning of microcenosis. Thus natural structure of organic fertilizers shows, that the content of common nitrogen at sapropels changes in 1.5 time, at peat in a smaller degree (1.1 time). The lighthydrolising nitrogen of sapropels varied in 2.5 times, peat in 1.1 time. Ash content of sapropels differed in 3.5 times and exceeded ash of peat in 1.5...4.1 times. The efficiency of crop rotation depend on the contents of lighthydrolising nitrogen, that is connected with genesis of organic fertilizers. Spent analysis of the amino acids structure of organic fertilizers has enabled to differentiate their genetic peculiarities, has shown essential difference between kinds of peat and sapropel. By the content of irreplaceable amino acids was especially allocated mixed sapropel, contents of valine, izoleucine and hislidine in it was higher than in the other kinds of sapropel, thus, most of all irreplaceable amino acids was in mixed sapropel, then in siliceous and organic.

Protected Objects of Nature

Summary: According to 50-year studies there are great changes of hydrochemical and hydrobiological regime in Boloiso lake. Before 1972 there was low phosphorus load and mesotrophic status of the lake. After the input of sewage water real phosphorus load was exceeded by 20 times in comparison with the permissible one. There is high speed of eutrophication. The modem status of the Boloiso was determined as hypertrophic. There are great changes of temperature and gas regime. In stratified reservoir the hypolimnion size is increased. The hydrogen sulphide zone was formed in the hypolimnion and in some part of metalimnion. During last time the contant of nutrients, organic materials, sulphate, chloride, natrium increased. The alkalinity is growing. There are changes of hydrobiological parameters. The biomass of phytoplankton and zooplankton increased. The biomass and species quantity of benthos reduced and practically disappeared in the deeper parts of the lake. The changes of hydrobiological communities dominating complexes is observed.

Scientific Communications

Summary: When investigating the mire massive form the notion of fractional geometric dimensions is applied. The bed and surface relation has been revealed. A block structure of peat body has been presented. The similarity of a form is likely to display the one of field formation processes of mechanical tension and inner geophysical heterogeneity of peat deposit. The results show that peat body morphology is the result of gravitation and emergence forces interaction, it is conditioned by tree-stand as an active element of this interaction and its similarity indicator.

Sidorovich E.A., Chubanov K.D., Arabey N.M., Kozyr O.S., Zhdaneth S.F.
Accumulation of Common Sulfur in Assimilation Organs Foliceous Plants in Minsk Conditions. pp. 119--124

Summary: Monthly dynamics of common sulfur accumulation in assimilation organs of four most distributed in urban linear plantations of coniferous and foliaceous plants (Colorado spruce, small-leaved lime, Norway maple and chestnut) at 6 key stationary sites in Minsk has been investigated. Similar types of plants in the Priluky park (outside the city) were used as control ones. The content of sulfur in needles and leaves has been analyzed in samples from 10 plants at each key site by spectrometric method. Analysis results have shown that. Colorado spruce contains in its needles in the majority of cases considerably less of sulfur in comparison with foliaceous species. During 1998 the content of sulfur varied within 0.05...0.11% in needles of Colorado spruce, while in leaves of small-leaved lime it was 0.08...0.23% during May -- September, of Norway maple --0.08.. .0.24%, chestnut -- 0.06...0.21% of dry substance. Variation indices of sulfur content average factors for all investigated plant species were of low and average level. Seasonal variations of sulfur content in needles of Colorado spruce were mainly of random character, but there was a tendency to increase of this index from August to December in areas with increased air contamination (railway station area, Surganova street). Foliaceous plants in urban conditions were found to have evident sulfur accumulation decrease in June. In July -- September sulfur content variations in each analyzed species were ambiguous. Reliability of difference with control ones and between adjacent months was observed not in all cases. Variations in sulfur accumulations are due to nonuniform distribution of gaseous release, washing out of sulfur from assimilation organs in warm seasons.

Rupasova Zh.A., Ignatenko V.A., Vasilevskaya T.I., Varavina N.P., Rudakovskaya R.N.
Features of Biochemical Composition of Pyrethrum Balsamic when Introduced in Belarus. pp. 125--131

Summary: Accumulations dimensions and variation range have been established during a vegetation period and content of major fractions of soluble sugars, peclic substances, starch, cellulose, free organic acids, vitamin C, fat and ether oils, ursolic acid in some organs ofpyrethrum balsamic (Pyrethrum balsamifa (L) WiUd) when introduced in soil and climatic conditions of Belarus. If has been shown that plants of pyrethrum balsamic are characterised by low accumulation level of soluble sugars and ascorbic acid, but have improved ability to biosynthesis of pectic substances, free organic acids and terpenoids -- ursolic acid, fat and ether oils. Profiling tendencies have been established in seasonal dynamics of all investigated biologically active substances both in separate organs of plants and in overground phytomass on the whole. On the basis of comparison of dimensions of their biological output per unit of pyrethrum sowing area at the stage of vegetation, budding and flowering, optimal terms of medicinal material gathering were determined in relation to each type of acting substances.

Chizhikov Yu. A.
Use of the Factor Analysis Techniques for Evaluation of Factors Conditioning the Development of Erosion Processes Within the Belarus Territory. pp. 132--136

Summary: The factors (climatic, morphometric, geological, soil- and vegetation, technogenic and others) conditioning the development of erosion processes within the Belarus territory have been analyzed. Three major components were defined, which contribution to total dispersion of values of erosion intensity exceeds 72.5%. The first major component (contribution into dispersion 44.7%) is considered as integrated geomorphological factor. It explains the majority of values of sheet erosion and distribution of linear erosion landforms. The second major component (contribution 16.5%) is interpreted as climatic factor. It reflects differences in the value of total humidity of the region. The third component (contribution 11.3%) is identified with the human impact on landscapes.

Levitsky I.A., Pavlyukevich Yu.G., Aksamentova N.V.
Production of Ceramic Facing Materials which Possess Increased Abrasive Resistance on the Basis of Belorusian Mineral Raw Materials. pp. 137--140

Summary: The object of study is local mineral raw material and ceramic materials on ifs basis. The purpose of the work is to study the possibility of use metadiabases and natural kaolins as mineral raw materials for coloured ceramic bodies of high temperature firing (1150...1200°С). The study of raw materials of the Republic of Belarus has been conducted and the ceramic bodies of high temperature firing has been synthesised on its basis. The features of phase composition and properties of the obtained material, its technological and exploitation characteristics have been studied. Positive influence of metadiabases on the mechanical toughness and abrasive resistance of samples has been established. The influence of the ratio of batch constituent and chemical composition, as well as technological conditions on qualitative features of products has been studied. Investigations of high temperature annealed ceramic masses showed a possibility in principle to use diabases as mineral dyes. The obtained compositions of ceramic masses are characterized by reduced water absorption, high detrition stability and mechanical toughness and can be successfully used for the production effacing material of imitation granite type.