Zoogenic mechanisms of ecological rehabilitation of urban soils of the park zone of megapolis: Earthworms and Soil Buffer Capacity

Abstract

Earthworms (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) are typical representatives of the functional group of ecosystem engineers. They actively participate in formation and stabilisation of soil fertility through their effect on its buffer capacity. Buffer capacity defines in many aspects soil potential, supports immobilisation and mobilisation of certain elements of fertility, and first of all mineral elements essential for plants, productive moisture, heat energy of soil, gas composition of soil air, etc. Park soils within megapolises territory are megapolises' integral components, and this feature defines conditions of growth and development for green plants. To evaluate the contribution of earthworm coprolites into acidic-base (pH) buffer capacity of two categories of soil within the city, i.e., urban soils and urban grounds (urbanozems) of the park zones within the plots planted with Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.) trees on the territory of two parks Zeleny Gai and Pisarzhevsky Park (city Environmental Research, Engineering and Management 2019/75/1Dnipro, Ukraine), soil and coprolites samples were collected. Buffer capacity of coprolites and anthropogenically transformed soils (urban soils) was evaluated according to the Arrhenius method after "a buffer area". It was established that acid-base buffer capacity of coprolites (earthworm excretes), which are new formations of zoogenic origin in soil, was statistically significantly higher than for the initial type soil within city parks. For urban soil with the upper humified layer of calcic chernozem within the acidic diapason of external load, it was 22.9% higher, which, on average, accordingly was 22.9 and 18.7 convectional units; within alkaline, it was 18.4% higher and was, accordingly, 24.2 and 20.4 convectional units; and in sum (acidic-alkaline), it was 20.6% higher and was 47.1 and 39.1 convectional units. For urban ground (urbanozem) within the acidic diapason of external load, it was 44.9% higher and acidic-alkaline buffering capacity, on average, accordingly, was 25.5 and 17.6 convectional units; in sum (acidic-alkaline), it was 20.6% higher and was 42.8 and 35.4 convectional units, accordingly. Thus, soil saprophages, such as earthworms, in the conditions of magapolises in the recreation zones within the territories of city parks' green plantations are one of the natural factors of ecological rehabilitation of urban soils. This, in general, improves the ecological state of green plantations on urban soils within park areas and recreation zone edaphotope revitalisation as well as supports optimisation of human living and recreation environment.

Biodiversity of the Regional Landscape Park Samara Plavni within the first large reservoir in Europe Biodiversity of the Regional Landscape Park Samara Plavni within the first large reservoir in Europe

“…In addition to the leading hydrological factor, the state of forests is influenced by the recreational load, which can be estimated as average. Also it is important that green zones near the megapolis are able to absorb pollutants and keep them from entering groundwater (buffer tank for heavy metals) (Didur et al, 2019) this is important in the manifestation of human health potential.…”

“…The examined water area was the Samara Bay, located at the confluence of the Samara River and the Dnieper River, where near-water flooded territories developed as a result of the flooding of the estuarine part of the floodplain of the Samara River during the creation of the first large reservoir in Europe -the Dnieper (Zaporozhye). The floodplain complex of the Samara River, like the floodplain landscapes of Europe in general (Schindler et al, 2016), is characterized by a high species diversity (Brygadyrenko, 2015(Brygadyrenko, , 2016Didur et al, 2019). The Zaporozhye Reservoir was created in 1931-1934. The flooding of the Samara River floodplain led to the development of floodplains in the area of about 5 thousand hectares.…”

Earthworm as eco treatment tool for removing organic matter pollutant: A synergy between L. rubellus vermiculture farmer and traditional tofu maker in the effort for making zero waste in tofu production

“…Several studies also described another role of earthworms which works for nitrogen fixation and phosphorous solubilizing of composting process (Hoang et al 2016;Aira, Monroy, and Domínguez 2007). Study has mentioned also that earthworm casts have been proven experimentally to have a higher acid-base buffering capacity in comparison with that of the initial soil (Kul'bachko et al 2015;Didur et al 2019). pH environment in this reactor might was regulated by L rubellus, since many reports have proven that during vermifiltration process pH environment changed become neutral, even though in these reports do not show the calcium www.scirj.org © 2021, Scientific Research Journal http://dx.doi.org/10.31364/SCIRJ/v9.i10.2021.P1021983 This publication is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY.…”

Morphogenesis and vitality of seedlings of Ginkgo biloba in outdoor conditions

“…The negative effect of abiotic and biotic environmental factors, against the background of climate changes, in the conditions of Ukraine is inevitably reflected in the condition of the soil (Savosko et al, 2018), vegetation (Lykholat et al, 2018a(Lykholat et al, , 2018bNazarenko et al, 2018), animals (Boyko & Brygadyrenko, 2016;Faly et al, 2017;Didur et al, 2019;Pokhylenko et al, 2019) and significantly affects the health of the population (Kotsariev et al, 2001;Pertseva et al, 2008Pertseva et al, , 2012Lykholat et al, 2016). Preservation of the existing biological diversity and enlargement of its range in Ukraine is possible using relic species, including Ginkgo biloba L. This plant is a relic tree which has been preserved in natural conditions only in China.…”