Soil Pollution Patterns in Terrestrial Ecosystems of the Kola Peninsula, Russia

*Serguei V. Koptsik, and Faculty of Physics, Moscow State University, Moscow 119899, Russia; Galina N. Koptsik, Soil Science Faculty, Moscow State University, Moscow 119899, Russia. *Corresponding author:mailto:[email protected] ABSTRACT Soil chemistry is analysed in terrestrial ecosystems subjected to airborne pollution in the fragile boreal environment in the industrial part of the Kola Peninsula, northwestern Russia. The organic horizon of soils appeared to be the important accumulator of heavy metals and the barrier against transport of pollution to underlying mineral horizons. The concentrations of Ni and Cu in soils near the smelter are approximately one to two orders of magnitude higher than the background levels in the region. Based on pH values, air pollution has not resulted in a detectable topsoil acidification near the smelter. However, exchangeable K tends to be lower towards the smelter most likely due to replacement by air pollutants and leaching, thus confirming an early stage of ongoing acidification. Near the smelter heavy metals contribute significantly to cation exchange occupying up to 1⁄4 fraction of exchangeable sites. The survey of pollution and basic soil properties is presented as conjugated ordination diagrams that give a concise graphical rendition of soil chemistry state. Based only on analyses of spatial changes in soil properties, ordination revealed quite a natural, expected grouping of exchangeable cations as being divided into three groups: nutrients, heavy metals and acidity. Principal component analysis appeared to be a useful tool for evaluation of soil chemistry data in its unreduced, inherent uncertainty – natural spatial variation – and in its interrelations and changes under the influence of airborne pollution. Sensitivity analysis showed that the ordination was characteristic for the studied region, reflecting both natural and pollution induced soil variability.