Soil Evolution in Overburden Dumps and Adjacent Areas

A comprehensive analysis of the results of theoretical generalisations, field surveys and laboratory experiments was carried out to assess the environmental risks from overburden dumps. Changes in the qualitative parameters of the edaphotope of adjacent territories, in particular agricultural land, were established through the study of granulometric composition, organic carbon content, mineral forms of nitrogen, acidity of water extract, etc. The samples show that the soils at the foot of the dump are characterised as low-humus, the soils in the adjacent field are also low-humus, while the soils on the side of the field far from the man-made object are medium-humus. This indicates degradation processes in chernozems caused by wind accumulation of erosion products from the surface of the dumps. Further accumulation of dust deposits in combination with anthropogenic load from motor vehicles can cause alkalisation of agricultural soils and reduce the bioavailability of trace elements for cultivated plants. The analysis of the dynamics of chemical indicators for 2022 and 2024 showed the need to integrate dust load parameters into environmental impact assessment procedures, taking into account its long-term effects. It is recommended to design protective forest belts or other measures to reduce the man-made dust pressure from overburden dumps.