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Vol 281 Iss. 1
Pages:
120-135
In press
Article
Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

The search for effective solutions to recover soil and vegetation cover in contaminated areas of the town of Karabash

Authors:
Vera A. Matveeva1
Dmitrii O. Nagornov2
Yuliya M. Salnikova3
About authors
  • 1 — Ph.D. Director of the Scientific Center Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University ▪ Orcid
  • 2 — Ph.D. Associate Professor Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University ▪ Orcid ▪ Scopus
  • 3 — Engineer of the Educational and Research Laboratory Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University ▪ Orcid
Date submitted:
2026-04-13
Date accepted:
2026-06-25
Online publication date:
2026-10-02

Abstract

The operations of non-ferrous metallurgy industries lead to the formation of persistent polymetallic contamination in the soil cover of the surrounding areas, which leads to the degradation of the soil and vegetation cover following prolonged negative exposure. Given the scale of the problem, the authors conducted a series of experimental studies to model plant growth on highly contaminated acidic soils to find a comprehensive solution for recovering the soil and vegetation cover. The experiment involved identifying the most effective soil additives for restoring the acidic soils of the town of Karabash in the Chelyabinsk Region, which are characterized by high levels of heavy metal contamination. Based on the results of theoretical studies, lime, low-moor peat, vermiculite, biochar, and melatonin were selected as soil-improving additives for the experiment. The results of laboratory studies on the soil composition and properties before and after the experiment are presented, as well as the results of visual, quantitative, and chemical assessments of plant biomass. Based on the experimental studies, the most effective soil amendments were identified, which not only reduce the impact of heavy metals on plants but also increase their biomass. The best results were obtained by neutralizing the soil with lime, improving its physical and mechanical properties through the addition of vermiculite, increasing the organic matter content using low-moor peat, and adding broad-spectrum soil-improving additives such as biochar and melatonin. The combination of soil additives made it possible to neutralize highly acidic soils to a pH of 6.6-7.5, reduce the concentration of mobile copper – the primary contaminant – by a factor of four or more, and grow sustainable root and above-ground plant parts.

Область исследования:
Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
Keywords:
remediation soil and vegetation cover acidic soils heavy metal soil additive lime application biochar melatonin low-moor peat vermiculite
Funding:

This work was completed as part of the State assignment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation “Study of processes involved in the integrated development of the Earth’s subsoil and the deep processing of geological resources” (FSRW-2026-0003).

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