Environmental safety assessment of soils in Khmelnytskyi region based on chemical composition and acidity analysis
Authors: Shchesniak A. O , Bosak P. V , Kovalchuk N. P , Sokolov S. O 
Published: February 2025

Purpose. Environmental safety assessment of Khmelnytskyi region based on a comprehensive analysis of soil chemical composition and acidity for identifying potential environmental risks.

Methodology. For soil quality assessment, soil samples were collected and analyzed in accordance with established and approved methods. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) was used to determine the chemical content of the soil. The acidity of the soil was determined by measuring the actual acidity in the water extract and the potential acidity in the salt extract. Sampling was carried out on the territory of Derazhnyanska ATC, considering different types of land use. The pollution index (PI) was calculated to assess the level of soil pollution, which compares the actual concentration of chemical elements with the reference values. The spatial variability of chemical element concentrations and acidity indicators was investigated, and appropriate cartographic models of these parameters distribution were created within the study area.

Findings. The research of light gray podzolized soils of the Derazhnyanska ATC of Khmelnytskyi region was used to determine the chemical content and acidity of the selected samples. The analysis of the chemical composition of the soil using XRF analysis revealed significant spatial variability in the concentrations of elements, but their content did not exceed the maximum permissible limits. Measurements of the actual acidity in the water extract showed a predominantly neutral or close to neutral reaction of the medium (pH 6.9‒7.9), which is favorable for most crops. However, the determination of potential acidity in the salt extract revealed a wider range of pH values (4.5‒7.2), including samples with an acidic reaction, which may indicate the need for liming of some areas. The calculation of the pollution index showed that most of the studied elements are in the moderate pollution category (1 < PI  3), with the highest values for Ti, V and Pb, indicating potential environmental risks and further monitoring is required.

Originality. The first comprehensive assessment of the environmental safety of soils in the Derazhnyanska ATC of Khmelnytskyi region was conducted on the basis of a complex analysis of chemical composition and acidity. A methodology for assessing environmental risk, which takes into account the correlation between the concentration of chemical elements, soil acidity, and environmental safety, was developed and tested.

Practical value. The investigation of environmental safety based on the analysis of the chemical composition and acidity of soils in Khmelnytskyi region is important for the sustainable development of the region and environmental protection. The obtained data provide an opportunity to assess the level of anthropogenic pressure on the ecosystem and develop effective measures to improve the ecological state of soils. Identification of areas with high content of pollutants and abnormal acidity allows for targeted environmental protection measures and optimization of agricultural activities, considering environmental risks.