Estimation of the content of trace metals in Ukrainian military-affected soils

The study assessed the impact of military activities on Ukraine's soil resources, particularly heavy metal contamination. As a primary resource for agricultural production, soil undergoes significant influence from military activities, posing environmental challenges for the rational use of la...

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Main Authors: Oksana DATSKO, Olena MELNYK, Ihor KOVALENKO, Andrii BUTENKO, Elina ZAKHARCHENKO, Volodymyr ILCHENKO, Viktor ONYCHKO, Maksym SOLOKHA
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AcademicPres 2025-03-01
Series:Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca
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Online Access:https://www.notulaebotanicae.ro/index.php/nbha/article/view/14328
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author Oksana DATSKO
Olena MELNYK
Ihor KOVALENKO
Andrii BUTENKO
Elina ZAKHARCHENKO
Volodymyr ILCHENKO
Viktor ONYCHKO
Maksym SOLOKHA
author_facet Oksana DATSKO
Olena MELNYK
Ihor KOVALENKO
Andrii BUTENKO
Elina ZAKHARCHENKO
Volodymyr ILCHENKO
Viktor ONYCHKO
Maksym SOLOKHA
author_sort Oksana DATSKO
collection DOAJ
description The study assessed the impact of military activities on Ukraine's soil resources, particularly heavy metal contamination. As a primary resource for agricultural production, soil undergoes significant influence from military activities, posing environmental challenges for the rational use of land. Special attention was paid to evaluating the content of chemical elements in combat zones.  The research methodology included soil sampling from ten locations in the Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv regions. Samples were collected from craters, slopes, and control areas located 20 meters away. The analysis was performed using a portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer (pXRF), enabling the determination of 27 chemical elements. The results showed significant variability in the concentrations of heavy metals such as barium, zirconium, manganese, strontium, rubidium, and zinc. In many cases, the concentration of metals in crater samples was lower or comparable to control areas, indicating the influence of local anthropogenic factors, such as the application of mineral fertilizers, but not always military actions. This indicates that while military activities contribute to environmental disruption, non-military factors also play a role in shaping soil composition. Therefore, a comprehensive approach to land restoration should consider both the direct impacts of military actions and broader environmental influences, with strategies tailored to the specific conditions of each affected region.
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spelling doaj-art-bc697148efab42d193fdbfcbd09002fe2025-08-20T03:09:58ZengAcademicPresNotulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca0255-965X1842-43092025-03-0153110.15835/nbha53114328Estimation of the content of trace metals in Ukrainian military-affected soilsOksana DATSKO0Olena MELNYK1Ihor KOVALENKO2Andrii BUTENKO3Elina ZAKHARCHENKO4Volodymyr ILCHENKO5Viktor ONYCHKO6Maksym SOLOKHA7Sumy National Agrarian University, Faculty of Agrotechnologies and Natural Resource Management, 160 H. Kondratieva str, 40021, SumySumy National Agrarian University, Faculty of Agrotechnologies and Natural Resource Management, 160 H. Kondratieva str, 40021, Sumy; Bern University of Applied Sciences, School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Länggasse 85, 3052 ZollikofenSumy National Agrarian University, Faculty of Agrotechnologies and Natural Resource Management, 160 H. Kondratieva str, 40021, SumySumy National Agrarian University, Faculty of Agrotechnologies and Natural Resource Management, 160 H. Kondratieva str, 40021, SumySumy National Agrarian University, Faculty of Agrotechnologies and Natural Resource Management, 160 H. Kondratieva str, 40021, SumySumy National Agrarian University, Faculty of Agrotechnologies and Natural Resource Management, 160 H. Kondratieva str, 40021, SumySumy National Agrarian University, Faculty of Agrotechnologies and Natural Resource Management, 160 H. Kondratieva str, 40021, SumyNational Scientific Center “Institute for Soil Science and Agrochemistry Research Named after O.N. Sokolovsky”, Chaykovska str., 4, 61024, Kharkiv The study assessed the impact of military activities on Ukraine's soil resources, particularly heavy metal contamination. As a primary resource for agricultural production, soil undergoes significant influence from military activities, posing environmental challenges for the rational use of land. Special attention was paid to evaluating the content of chemical elements in combat zones.  The research methodology included soil sampling from ten locations in the Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv regions. Samples were collected from craters, slopes, and control areas located 20 meters away. The analysis was performed using a portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer (pXRF), enabling the determination of 27 chemical elements. The results showed significant variability in the concentrations of heavy metals such as barium, zirconium, manganese, strontium, rubidium, and zinc. In many cases, the concentration of metals in crater samples was lower or comparable to control areas, indicating the influence of local anthropogenic factors, such as the application of mineral fertilizers, but not always military actions. This indicates that while military activities contribute to environmental disruption, non-military factors also play a role in shaping soil composition. Therefore, a comprehensive approach to land restoration should consider both the direct impacts of military actions and broader environmental influences, with strategies tailored to the specific conditions of each affected region. https://www.notulaebotanicae.ro/index.php/nbha/article/view/14328contaminationheavy metalspXRFreclamationsoil
spellingShingle Oksana DATSKO
Olena MELNYK
Ihor KOVALENKO
Andrii BUTENKO
Elina ZAKHARCHENKO
Volodymyr ILCHENKO
Viktor ONYCHKO
Maksym SOLOKHA
Estimation of the content of trace metals in Ukrainian military-affected soils
Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca
contamination
heavy metals
pXRF
reclamation
soil
title Estimation of the content of trace metals in Ukrainian military-affected soils
title_full Estimation of the content of trace metals in Ukrainian military-affected soils
title_fullStr Estimation of the content of trace metals in Ukrainian military-affected soils
title_full_unstemmed Estimation of the content of trace metals in Ukrainian military-affected soils
title_short Estimation of the content of trace metals in Ukrainian military-affected soils
title_sort estimation of the content of trace metals in ukrainian military affected soils
topic contamination
heavy metals
pXRF
reclamation
soil
url https://www.notulaebotanicae.ro/index.php/nbha/article/view/14328
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AT ihorkovalenko estimationofthecontentoftracemetalsinukrainianmilitaryaffectedsoils
AT andriibutenko estimationofthecontentoftracemetalsinukrainianmilitaryaffectedsoils
AT elinazakharchenko estimationofthecontentoftracemetalsinukrainianmilitaryaffectedsoils
AT volodymyrilchenko estimationofthecontentoftracemetalsinukrainianmilitaryaffectedsoils
AT viktoronychko estimationofthecontentoftracemetalsinukrainianmilitaryaffectedsoils
AT maksymsolokha estimationofthecontentoftracemetalsinukrainianmilitaryaffectedsoils