Application of Macrokinetic Model of Biological Growth for Developing Soil Quality Standards

Abstract— The objective of the study was to provide the scientific basis for elaborating soil quality standards for soils affected by the impact of a waste disposal facility produced by tin-containing ore processing. The standards should be based on a macrokinetic model of biological growth and on an integrated indicator of soil condition. The parameters of the function of this indicator were determined by approximating the experimental “dose-effect” relationships obtained using a set of bioindication methods. The following indicators of soil response to pollution were used: soil respiration intensity, soil microbial biomass, and the vegetation index. The entire range of variation in the soil condition indicator was subdivided into five categories of soil quality, with boundaries between them corresponded to threshold values identified by analyzing these dose-dependent responses. The threshold values were identified by recording the specific points in the macrokinetic model of biological growth. Boundary values for chemical indicators (Cu, As, and S) in podzols under different land uses were also specified, along with acceptable deviation ranges from their natural background levels. The proposed schedule and scores will enable the assessment of ecological conditions in contaminated soils when re-measuring analytical values of chemical indicators in the soil. Practically, the developed approach can be applied to establish soil quality standards for major soil types, which is necessary for the efficient functioning of regulatory organizations and for internal ecological control and prevention of adverse environmental impacts caused by economic activities. The development of Russia’s Federal state information system regarding the environment is expected to include data on soil quality standards and reference parameters for key areas on the soil map of Russia, enabling subsequent ecological assessments and predictions concerning the condition of the environment components.