Journal of Environmental Biology

Soil quality changes in response to their pollution by

heavy metals, Georgia

Lia Matchavariani¹*, Besik Kalandadze¹, Lamzira Lagidze², Nino Gokhelashvili³, Nino Sulkhanishvili⁴,

Nino Paichadze⁵ and Giorgi Dvalashvili⁶

¹Department of Soil Geography, Faculty of Exact & Natural Sciences, Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, 0179, Georgia

²Department of Hydrometeorology, Faculty of Exact & Natural Sciences, Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, 0179, Georgia

³Department of Environmental Relations, Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources Protection, Tbilisi, 0114, Georgia

⁴Environmental NGO - Union for Sustainable Development Ecovision, 0102, Tbilisi, Georgia

⁵Department of Nature Management, Faculty of Exact & Natural Sciences, Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, 0179, Georgia

⁶Department of Geomorphology, Faculty of Exact & Natural Sciences, Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, 0179, Georgia

*Corresponding Author E-mail: likageotsu@hotmail.com

 Publication Data

Paper received:

25 July 2013

Revised received:

30 October 2013

Re-revised received:

18 June 2014

Accepted:

22 September 2014

Abstract

The present study deals with the composition, migration and accumulation of heavy metals in irrigated soils, plants and partially natural waters; and also, establishing the possible sources of pollution and their impact on environmental situation. The content of toxic elements in the irrigated soils adjacent to ore mining and processing enterprise were studied. Content of toxic elements in the irrigated soils adjacent to ore mining, showed that more than half of territory was seriously polluted by copper and zinc. Some part of the area were considered catastrophically polluted. Expressed technogenesis taking place influenced irrigation. Heavy metals like copper, zinc and manganese negative by effected the properties of soil, thus composition and soil-forming processes taking place in the soil. It was especially well represented in the deterioration of hydro-physical potential of the soil. Irrigation of agricultural land plots by water, polluted with heavy metals changed the pH. Balanced correlation among solid, liquid and gas phases was disrupted. In highly polluted soil, the cementing processes took place that sharply increased the bulk density of the soil, deteriorated the porosity of soil and reduced water permeability critically. ? 

 Key words

Georgia, Heavy metals, Soil quality, Technogenesis

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