Agroecosystems ecological state assessment (on the example of the field experiment)

Abstract

The ecological state of agroecosystems can be estimated using the following criteria: 1) changes of the morphological features during soil development; 2) level of the soil cultivation; 3) content of ecotoxicants in the soil; 4) agricultural products compliance with sanitary standards; 5) health risk resulting from the usage of the gathered products. It is determined that the major changes in the soil profile configuration occur in the upper 40 cm layer during the cultivation of sod-podzolic light-loamy soil. The variational-statistical values, characterizing the chemical constitution differences of agricultural and native soils, are presented. It is shown that in some samples of potato can be observed excess of nitrate nitrogen, cadmium and lead, even if the content of these elements in soil is significantly below acceptable standards.

Keywords:

agroecosystems, soil, agrochemical parameters, heavy metals, health risk