CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF BOTTOM SILTS AS AN INDICATOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION IN A SMALL RIVER BASIN

Pollution of small river basins contributes to the deterioration of larger river systems, leading to the degradation of aquatic ecosystems and exerting a negative impact on the environment.Bottom sediments play an important role in the functioning of ponds and can serve as indicators for assessing the composition, intensity, and scale of environmental pollution.This study was conducted in the basin of the small river Tlumachyk, a right tributary of the Dniester River, within the Tlumach territorial community of Ivano-Frankivsk region (Ukraine).The research aimed to assess the impact of anthropogenic pressure on the qualitative composition of bottom sediments and evaluate their potential use as an agronomic resource for restoring soil fertility.The results revealed the influence of anthropogenic activities on the chemical state of bottom sediments in open ponds of the Tlumachyk River basin, including its tributaries, ponds, and lakes.The average content of total nitrogen in the bottom sediment samples ranged from 0.3% to 0.5%, phosphorus from 0.2% to 0.3%, and potassium from 0.7% to 0.8%, which is comparable to typical values found in farmyard manure.No exceedances of maximum permissible concentrations were detected for main micronutrients and heavy metals in the bottom sediments, indicating their suitability for use as an agronomically valuable resource.Therefore, these sediments may be considered for local use as fertilizers to aid in the restoration of soil fertility.