Annotation

Environmental studies defined that the anthropogenically disturbed lands of the Podorozhne sulfur deposit with the field area of 15 km2 are completely unsuitable for agricultural use. Termination of mining operations evoked the gradual overgrown by woody vegetation and turf grass on the anthropogenic disturbed territory, in particular dumps. That type of vegetation caused the soil of the anthropogenic disturbed lands is formed with the predominance of sod soil formation processes. Such types of soil, as well as vegetation cover, is heterogeneous and is characterized by the water-physical properties, being predominantly unfavorable for the plants, in particular high density and low aeration level.

The technogenic substrates consist of neogene clay sediments, which are characterized by the alkaline reaction, high content of organic matter, high concentration of water-soluble salts and high density. Soils of the deposit includes small quantities of mobile forms of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The content of mobile forms of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium decreases referring to the depth, as well as an increase in the specific gravity of the soil. The content of organic matter gradually decreases referring to the depth to 0.9–1.0 %, while the density of the transition horizon is 1.2–1.3 g/cm3.

In spite of the natural-technogenic character of ecosystem development on the investigating territory, the results of vegetation successions studies evidence the possibility of natural formation of vegetation cover.

Dumps, quarries and other disturbed areas are excluded from exploitation as erosion-hazard areas. On this territory, woody and grassy vegetation are completely destroyed, fertile surface layers of soil are hidden under industrial dumps, and as a result of hydromechanical processes are mixed with Quaternary loam.

Isolation of the bottom and lateral sections of tailings dams is practically absent, which results in the intensive contamination of surface and underground waters, due to filtration of industrial runoff from storage pools, sludges and dumps of phosphogypsum, as well as filtration breaks.

A complex of measures for elimination of the negative consequences of exploitation of the Podorozhny deposit, reclamation of anthropogenic disturbed lands and restoration of natural conditions of technogenically changed territories were developed on the basis of the obtained data of the ongoing research.