RESEARCH INTO THE DISTRIBUTION OF RADIOCARBON IN THE SOIL OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

This paper presents research into the distribution of radiocarbon in the soils of forest ecosystems of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The forest compartments of the Beskaragai area of the Abai region and the Burabai area of the Akmola region were selected as research objects. For research, samples of forest litter and soil were collected layerwise, in which the content of 14 C was determined by liquid scintillation spectrometry. The research findings showed that the soils of the Beskaragai area exhibit an elevated content of 14 C gradually decreasing from top to bottom. This is due to radioactive contamination caused by the tests conducted at the Semipalatinsk Test Site. The content of 14 C in the soils of the Burabai area is below the detection limit.