Carbon Dioxide Emission by Soils as a Criterion for Remediation Effectiveness of Industrial Barrens Near Copper-Nickel Plants in the Kola Subarctic

Abstract

Technogenic barren lands formed under the influence of sulfur dioxide and heavy metal emissions near nonferrous metallurgy enterprises on the Kola Peninsula are characterized by inhibited CO₂ emission from soils (10–30 mg C m^–2 h^–1, or 12–26 g C m^–2 summer^–1). Remediation of barrens promotes the growth of plant roots and microorganisms, the respiration of which accelerates the flow of CO₂ from the soil by half at chemophyto stabilization and five times at application of the fertile layer; at this, the proportion of root respiration increases from 0 to 40–60%. The intensity of CO₂ emissions by soils and the structure of its production can be used as criteria for remediation effectiveness of technogenic barren lands.