abstract: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SOIL MONITORING IN THE EVALUATION OF FOREST SYSTEM STABILITY
Elżbieta Jolanta Bielińska, Henryk Domżał
Institute of Soil Science and Environmental Management, Agricultural University
ul. Leszczyńskiego 7, 20-069 Lublin
e-mail: elzbieta.bielinska@ar.lublin.pl

Abstract. The long-term monitoring of the condition of forest soils in the area of influence of Zakłady Azotowe "Puławy" S.A. (Nitrogen Plant) has a direct consequence for the maintenance of the stability of forest ecosystems, since it allows the tracking of the cause-and-effect relationships between changes in soil parameters and those in components of the forest ecosystem.
Keywords: forest soil, monitoring
pp. 5-9

THE PEDOSPHERE OF THE RESEARCH AREA
Jacek Pranagal, Anna Słowińska-Jurkiewicz
Institute of Soil Science and Environmental Management, Agricultural University
ul. Leszczyńskiego 7, 20-069 Lublin
e-mail: jacek.pranagal@ar.lublin.pl

Abstract. The soils occurring in the impact zone of Zakłady Azotowe "Puławy" S.A. have been formed from eolian and fluvioglacial sands as well as from glacial clays. No adverse impact of the Nitric Works on the structure of the soils existing in the area was found. Keywords: soils, genetic classification, structure
pp.11-28

VEGETATION COVER
Tadeusz Węgorek
Department of Land Reclamation and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural University
ul. Leszczyńskiego 7, 20-069 Lublin
e-mail: tadeusz.wegorek@ar.lublin.pl

Abstract. The nature of vegetation at research plots is strongly diversified. Concurrently, the species composition of particular vegetation patches is very poor. The ZA1 plot represents reed grass communities dominant in the deforested area. The reed grass dominated the deforested area after the disappearance of artificial sodding when sprinkling irrigation had been discontinued. The creeping fescue, the remnant of the artificial sodding, is dominant at the ZA2 plot. It should be concluded that the reason for the differences in the nature of plant coverage is the location in the relief (ZA1 is located at a dune slope, while ZA2 is located in a depression shielded by dunes) and the differences resulting from the location such as different microclimate conditions, soil humidity and erosion hazard. The ZA3 and ZA4 plots, i.e. "bald patches" in birch-stands, are the poorest communities. Only the grey hairgrass, the corn spurrey and two species of mosses occurred at those plots. The single seedlings of the common oak found at the ZA3 plot do not prove the succession of trees in that area, but rather are episodic occurrences related to the close neighbourhood of fruit bearing trees. The tree stands surrounding the ZA3 and ZA4 plots include birches growing in small biogroups-clumps. The ground cover lacks forest herb species. Although the birch stand at the ZA5 plot is very loose, the lower vegetation strata are very weakly developed. The ground cover plants occur in small clumps.
In the case of the ZA1 - ZA5 plots the reasons for the degradation of vegetation is the "direct" impact of the Nitrogen Plant causing damage to plants and relatively permanent changes in biotope, while the processes observed at the WR and WO plots (the dieback of Scotch pines and common oaks in ripening stands and sawtimber stands) should rather be called the "forest dieback disease" That is an effect of a multidirectional synergistic influence of a complex of stress factors, including pollution resulting with ambient concentration, and generated by Puławy Nitrogen Plant.
Keywords: vegetation cover, industrial pollution
pp. 29-48

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS
Jan Hodara, Mariusz Świca
Insitute of Soil Science and Environmental Management, Agricultural University
ul. Leszczyńskiego 7, 20-069 Lublin
e-mail: jan.hodara@ar.lublin.pl

Abstract. The soils in the immediate neighbourhood of Puławy Nitrogen Plant feature the granulometric composition of loose sand. Strongly dusty clay sand occurs at a larger distance from the emitter (around 9 km). They are soils of high general porosity, most frequently exceeding 0.50 m3 m-3 at the humus level, and high air capacity (0.30 m3 m-3). They feature a relatively low production water content and are strongly permeable. Generally, they are soils exposed to water deficit, particularly in the years of low precipitation. The measurement analysis of soil consolidation, water capacity and air capacity do not show that those soil properties are related to the distance from the main source of emission. The factor, which most strongly influenced the physical state of the soils studied was soil granulometric composition.
Keywords: soils, physical properties
pp. 49-64

PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL
Henryk Domżał, Elżbieta Jolanta Bielińska
Institute of Soil Science and Environmental Management, Agricultural University
ul. Leszczyńskiego 7, 20-069 Lublin
e-mail: elzbieta.bielinska@ar.lublin.pl

Abstract. The physico-chemical, and chemical properties of the soils studied were clearly different depending on the distance from the source of emission. An increase of the distance from the Nitrogen Plant was favourable for the soil parameters directly related to the maintenance of the stability of forest ecosystems, including: sorption properties and humus content. The significant reduction of the C:N ratio in soils along with the increase in the distance from the emitter proves the increase of mineralization and humification rate of the organic matter. The assessment of the soil condition in the impact area of "Puławy" S.A. Nitrogen Plant based on the monitoring of physical and chemical, and chemical properties proves that the soil's self-adjustment capacity is maintained.
Keywords: soils, physicochemical and chemical properties, nitrogen pollution
pp. 65-77

ENZYMATIC ACTIVITY OF SOILS
Elżbieta Jolanta Bielińska
Institute of Soil Science and Environmental Management, Agricultural University
ul. Leszczyńskiego 7, 20-069 Lublin
e-mail: elzbieta.bielinska@ar.lublin.pl

Abstract. The enzymatic activity of soils was different depending on the distance from the source of emission. The intensity and direction of the changes observed depended on the individual properties of the enzyme studied. Although the activity of dehydrogenases, phosphatases and protea- sis in the soils studied widely oscillated, but it was clearly dependant on the intensity of anthropo- genic pressure. Such regularity was not found in urease. The successive increase of the enzymatic activity of the soils along with the increasing distance from the source of emission indicates that the self-adjusting capacity of the soils increases. Among the enzymes studied the largest sensitivity to anthropo- genic stress factors was found in dehydrogenases. The biomonitoring of soils conducted in the impact area of "Puławy" S.A. Nitrogen Plant shows that the definition of the activity of selected enzymes in soils in respect of the complex relationships with environmental factors provides information on the envi- ronment condition, and also on the nature of environmental changes, and allows to identify trends.
Keywords: soils, enzymatic activity, industrial pollution
pp. 79-90