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THE IMPACT OF THE POLLUTION BY ZINK ON THE ENZYMATIC ACTIVITY OF THE SOIL OF ARID ECOSYSTEMS IN THE SOUTH OF RUSSIA

С. И. Колесников

Abstract

Arid ecosystems occupy large areas in the world and perform important ecological functions to maintain the biodiversity and stability of natural ecosystems. In this article, we present the results of the research on the change in the activity of catalase and dehydrogenases when the soils of the arid ecosystems of the Southern Russia are polluted by zinc: dark chestnut, chestnut, light chestnut, brown semidesert and sandy soil. Zinc was added to the soil in the amount of 300, 3,000 and 30,000 mg/kg (1, 10 and 100 maximum permissible concentrations, respectively). The condition of the soil was determined 30 days after the pollution. The study of the impact of chemical contamination on the enzymatic activity showed that the soil pollution of arid ecosystems by zinc in the South of Russia led to a decrease in the activity of catalase and dehydrogenases. The degree of the decrease in the enzymatic activity was directly dependent on the amount of zinc in the soil. The following sequence can be formed, based on the resistance of the enzymatic activity to the pollution of the soil of arid ecosystems by zinc in the South of Russia: ordinary chernozems ? dark chestnut soils ? chestnut soils ? light chestnut soils ? brown semidesert soils = sandy soils. If the additional amount of zinc is added to the sandy soil, which is lacking zinc due to pollution, it may possibly offset its toxic effect. The indicators of the biological state of soils, such as the activity of catalase and dehydrogenases, should be used for monitoring, diagnostics, indication and regulation of the zinc pollution of the arid soils.

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