Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of Soil Quality in Urban Green Areas of Two Russian Cities by Means of Chemical and Biological Methods

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Smart and Sustainable Urban Ecosystems: Challenges and Solutions (SSC 2022)

Part of the book series: Springer Geography ((SPRINGERGEOGR))

Included in the following conference series:

  • 209 Accesses

Abstract

The quality of urban soils in green zones is a result of combination of natural processes, anthropogenic pollution and management. The elevated presence of heavy metals in soils of the urban environment has been recognized as an important source of metal intake into the human body. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of heavy metals in soil of 24 parks and public gardens obtained in Kazan (with 1 Mio citizens) and its satellite city Zelenodolsk. The soil samples and two different herbaceous perennial plant Plantago major and Trifolium repens were analyzed for 5 metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn) using ICP-MS. We also determined the physiological profiles of microbial communities using the Biolog Ecoplate multisubstrate testing method and the diversity of plants in urban green zones. The results from the study showed that the heavy metal concentration in soil samples ranged between 0.06 to 0.70 mg/kg, 0.82 to 30.02 mg/kg, 0.06 to 66.42 mg/kg, 9.91 to 71.33 mg/kg and 4.41 to 24.51 mg/kg for Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, respectively.  In average, the concentrations of the metals in soils did not exceed the levels recommended by WHO. In plants, the concentration of Zn exceeded the recommended levels by 10–25 times. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index for plant communities varied from 2.32 to 2.96, and for microbial community (AWCD)—from 0.143 to 1.695. No significant differences between the diversity indices for large and satellite cities were found. No correlation between the level of metal contents and diversity indices was found.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ajmone-Marsan F, Biasioli M (2010) Trace elements in soils of urban areas. Water Air Soil Pollut 1–4(213):121–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aleksander-Kwaterczak U, Rajca A (2015) Urban soil contamination with lead and cadmium in the playgrounds located near busy streets in Cracow (South Poland). Geol Geophys Environ 1(41):7

    Google Scholar 

  • Alloway BJ (2013) Sources of heavy metals and metalloids in soils, pp 11–50

    Google Scholar 

  • American Society of Agronomy (1982) Methods of soil analysis part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties. American Society of Agronomy, pp 785–787

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrews SS, Karlen DL, Mitchell JP (2002) A comparison of soil quality indexing methods for vegetable production systems in Northern California. Agr Ecosyst Environ 1(90):25–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Argyraki A, Kelepertzis E (2014) Urban soil geochemistry in Athens, Greece: the importance of local geology in controlling the distribution of potentially harmful trace elements. Sci Total Environ 1(482–483):366–377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aronson MFJ et al (2017) Biodiversity in the city: key challenges for urban green space management. Front Ecol Environ 15(4):189–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Bae J, Ryu Y (2017) Spatial and temporal variations in soil respiration among different land cover types under wet and dry years in an urban park. Landsc Urban Plan 167:378–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bani A, Osmani M, Hoxha B (2015) Heavy metals and Ni phytoextractionin in the metallurgical area soils in Elbasan. Albanian J Agric Sci 4(14):414–419

    Google Scholar 

  • Brtnický M et al (2019) Assessment of phytotoxicity, environmental and health risks of historical urban park soils. Chemosphere 220:678–686

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Callender E, Rice KC (2000) The urban environmental gradient: anthropogenic influences on the spatial and temporal distributions of lead and zinc in sediments. Environ Sci Technol 2(34):232–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen X et al (2020) A review on remediation technologies for nickel-contaminated soil. Hum Ecol Risk Assess 3(26):571–585

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doan HN et al (2013) Analysis community level physiological profile of bacteria in Nha Trang Bay in dry season applying Biolog Ecoplates. Proceedings Of Vast - Ird Symposium On Marine Science: 403–410

    Google Scholar 

  • Ediene V, Umoetok S (2017) Concentration of heavy metals in soils at the municipal dumpsite in Calabar metropolis. Asian J Environ Ecol 2(3):1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eshaghi RJ, Manthey M, Mataji A (2009) Comparison of plant species diversity with different plant communities in deciduous forests. Int J Environ Sci Technol 3(6):389–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Francini G et al (2018) Soil biota in boreal urban greenspace: Responses to plant type and age. Soil Biol Biochem 118:145–155

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallego JLR, Ordóñez A, Loredo J (2002) Investigation of trace element sources from an industrialized area (Avilés, northern Spain) using multivariate statistical methods. Environ Int 7(27):589–596

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galušková I et al (2014) Lead isotope composition and risk elements distribution in urban soils of historically different cities Ostrava and Prague, the Czech Republic. J Geochem Explor PB 147:215–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Garland JL, Mills AL (1991) Classification and characterization of heterotrophic microbial communities on the basis of patterns of community-level sole-carbon-source utilization. Appl Environ Microbiol 8(57):2351–2359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert OL (1989) The ecology of urban habitats. O. L. Gilbert, London, p 450

    Google Scholar 

  • Gomez E, Ferreras L, Toresani S (2006) Soil bacterial functional diversity as influenced by organic amendment application. Biores Technol 13(97):1484–1489

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grimm NB et al (2008) Global change and the ecology of cities. Science 319(5864):756–760

    Google Scholar 

  • Gu YG, Gao YP, Lin Q (2016) Contamination, bioaccessibility and human health risk of heavy metals in exposed-lawn soils from 28 urban parks in southern China’s largest city, Guangzhou. Appl Geochem 67:52–58

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guala SD, Vega FA, Covelo EF (2010) The dynamics of heavy metals in plant-soil interactions. Ecol Model 8(221):1148–1152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haq SMA (2011) Urban green spaces and an integrative approach to sustainable environment. J Environ Prot 5(2):601–608

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hermy M, Cornelis J (2000) Towards a monitoring method and a number of multifaceted and hierarchical biodiversity indicators for urban and suburban parks. Landsc Urban Plan 3–4(49):149–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hutton EA et al (2004) Validation of bismuth film electrode for determination of cobalt and cadmium in soil extracts using ICP-MS. Talanta 4(63):849–855

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ji W et al (2012) Identifying the criteria of cadmium pollution in paddy soils based on a field survey. Energy Proc 16:27–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson CC, Demetriades A (2011) Urban geochemical mapping: a review of case studies in this volume, pp 7–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabata-Pendias A (2010) Trace elements in soils and plants, 4th edn. A. Kabata-Pendias, pp 1–520

    Google Scholar 

  • Karim Z, Qureshi BA (2014) Health risk assessment of heavy metals in urban soil of Karachi, Pakistan. Human Ecol Risk Assess 3(20):658–667

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar U et al (2017) Variation of functional diversity of soil microbial community in sub-humid tropical rice-rice cropping system under long-term organic and inorganic fertilization. Ecol Ind 73:536–543

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lacatusu R (2000) Appraising levels of soil contamination and pollution with heavy metals

    Google Scholar 

  • Li F et al (2013) Changes in soil microbial biomass and functional diversity with a nitrogen gradient in soil columns. Appl Soil Ecol 64:1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li L et al (2014a) Release of cadmium, copper and lead from urban soils of Copenhagen. Environ Pollut 187:90–97

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li P et al (2014b) Pollution evaluation and health risk assessment of heavy metals from atmospheric deposition in Lanzhou. Huanjing Kexue/environ Sci 3(35):1021–1028

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Wu X, Chen B (2007) Changes in transformation of soil organic c and functional diversity of soil microbial community under different land uses. Agric Sci China 10(6):1235–1245

    Google Scholar 

  • Li G et al (2018) Urban soil and human health: a review. Eur J Soil Sci 69(1):196–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu W et al (2012) Effect of veterinary oxytetracycline on functional diversity of soil microbial community. Plant Soil Environ 7(58):295–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ljung K, Selinus O, Otabbong E (2006) Metals in soils of children’s urban environments in the small northern European city of Uppsala. Sci Total Environ 2–3(366):749–759

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu Y et al (2007) Chemical fractionation of heavy metals in urban soils of Guangzhou, China. Environ Monit Assess 1–3(134):429–439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maddaloni M et al (1998) Bioavailability of soilborne lead in adults, by stable isotope dilution. Environ Health Perspect 6:1589–1594

    Google Scholar 

  • Madrid L, Díaz-Barrientos E, Madrid F (2002) Distribution of heavy metal contents of urban soils in parks of Seville. Chemosphere 10(49):1301–1308

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McIntyre NE (2000) Ecology of urban arthropods: a review and a call to action. Ann Entomol Soc Am 93(4):825–835

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mielke HW et al (2019) The concurrent decline of soil lead and children’s blood lead in New Orleans. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 44(116):22058–22064

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monard C et al (2016) Habitat generalists and specialists in microbial communities across a terrestrial-freshwater gradient. Sci Rep 6:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morel J-L, Heinrich AB (2008) SUITMA—soils in urban, industrial, traffic, mining and military areas. J Soils Sediments 4(8):206–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulligan CN, Yong RN, Gibbs BF (2001) Remediation technologies for metal-contaminated soils and groundwater: an evaluation. Eng Geol 1–4(60):193–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nazir R et al (2015) Accumulation of heavy metals (Ni, Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn, Fe) in the soil, water and plants and analysis of physico-chemical parameters of soil and water collected from Tanda Dam Kohat. J Pharm Sci Res 3(7):89–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Nganje TN et al (2020) The concentration, distribution and health risk from potentially toxic elements in the soil–plant–water system developed on black shales in SE Nigeria. J Afr Earth Sci 165:103806

    Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen AB et al (2014) Species richness in urban parks and its drivers: a review of empirical evidence. Urban Ecosyst 1(17):305–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Page-dumroese DS (2020) Forest and rangeland soils of the United States under changing conditions. D.S. Page-dumroese

    Google Scholar 

  • Penteado JO et al (2021) Health risk assessment in urban parks soils contaminated by metals, Rio Grande city (Brazil) case study. Ecotoxicol Environ Safety 208:111737

    Google Scholar 

  • Ricotta C (2005) Through the jungle of biological diversity. Acta Biotheor 1(53):29–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romic M, Romic D (2003) Heavy metals distribution in agricultural topsoils in urban area. Environ Geol 7(43):795–805

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Różański SŁ et al (2018) Heavy metal content and mobility in urban soils of public playgrounds and sport facility areas, Poland. Chemosphere 212:456–466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scharenbroch BC, Lloyd JE, Johnson-Maynard JL (2005) Distinguishing urban soils with physical, chemical, and biological properties. Pedobiologia 4(49):283–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson EH (1949) Measurement of diversity. Nature 163(4148):688

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sörme L, Bergbäck B, Lohm U (2001) Century perspective of metal use in urban areas—a case study of Stockholm. Water Air Soil Pollut Focus 1:197–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takada Y (1954) On the mathematical theory of communication. Jpn J Psychol 2(25):110–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tijhuis L, Brattli B, Sæther OM (2002) A geochemical survey of topsoil in the City of Oslo, Norway. Environ Geochem Health 1(24):67–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tomitaka M et al (2021) Species richness and flower color diversity determine aesthetic preferences of natural-park and urban-park visitors for plant communities. Environ Sustain Indic 11(2021):100130

    Google Scholar 

  • Tresch S et al (2018) Urban soil quality assessment-a comprehensive case study dataset of urban garden soils. Front Environ Sci 6(136)

    Google Scholar 

  • Uzu G et al (2009) Study of lead phytoavailability for atmospheric industrial micronic and sub-micronic particles in relation with lead speciation. Environ Pollut 4(157):1178–1185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vig K et al (2003) Bioavailability and toxicity of cadmium to microorganisms and their activities in soil: a review. Adv Environ Res 1(8):121–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang F et al (2020) Contamination characteristics, source apportionment, and health risk assessment of heavy metals in agricultural soil in the Hexi Corridor. CATENA 191:104573

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Z et al (2022) Legacy of anthropogenic lead in urban soils: Co-occurrence with metal(loids) and fallout radionuclides, isotopic fingerprinting, and in vitro bioaccessibility. Sci Total Environ 806:151276

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei X et al (2018) Expansion of rice enzymatic rhizosphere: temporal dynamics in response to phosphorus and cellulose application. Plant Soil 445:169–181

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (WHO) (1996) Permissible limits of heavy metals in soil and plants. Geneva, Switzerland

    Google Scholar 

  • Xue D et al (2008) Soil microbial community structure in diverse land use systems: a comparative study using biolog, DGGE, and PLFA Analyses. Pedosphere 5(18):653–663

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yan Z et al (2019) Impervious surface area is a key predictor for urban plant diversity in a city undergone rapid urbanization. Sci Total Environ 650:335–342

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Y et al (2006) Microbial indicators of heavy metal contamination in urban and rural soils. Chemosphere 11(63):1942–1952

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zakirova J, Khusnutdinova S (2018) The problems of formation and conservation of the green frame (green carcass) of the satellite city (on the example of Zelenodolsk). IOP Conf Ser Earth Environ Sci 107:012139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Q et al (2019) Variation of soil anaerobic microorganisms connected with anammox processes by 13C-phospholipid fatty acid analysis among long-term fertilization regimes in a crop rotation system. Appl Soil Ecol 133:34–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao L et al (2014) Source identification and health risk assessment of metals in urban soils around the Tanggu chemical industrial district, Tianjin, China. Sci Total Environ 468–469:654–662

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhong M, Jiang L (2017) Refining health risk assessment by incorporating site-specific background concentration and bioaccessibility data of Nickel in soil. Sci Total Environ 581–582:866–873

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The work is carried out in accordance with th Strategic Academic Leadership Program «Priority 2030» of the Kazan Federal University of the Government of the Russian Federation. We are grateful to Kone Foundation (Finland) for funding the «LesRus» project that supported soil sampling and experimental planning. We thank the project coordinator Ph. D. Aki Sinkkonen.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kazan (Volga region) Federal University (KFU), Kazan, Russia

    A. Kamalova, A. Gordeev, P. Galitskaya & S. Selivanovskaya

Authors
  1. A. Kamalova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Gordeev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. Galitskaya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. Selivanovskaya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Kamalova .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Smart Urban Nature Centre, Agrarian-Technological Institute, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia

    Maria Korneykova

  2. Soil Geography and Landscape Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Viacheslav Vasenev

  3. Department of Landscape Design and Sustainable Ecosystems, Agrarian-Technological Institute, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia

    Elvira Dovletyarova

  4. Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change, Tuscia University, Viterbo, Italy

    Riccardo Valentini

  5. Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia

    Sergey Gorbov

  6. Medical Institute, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia

    Denis Vinnikov

  7. Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany

    Diana Dushkova

Appendix

Appendix

See Table 4.1 and Fig. 4.5.

Table 4.1 Characteristics of urban green space at Kazan and Zelenodolsk (Russia)
Full size table
Fig. 4.5
A cluster bar graph with error bars of transfer factor. The transfer factor of C u is the highest in sample 19 at 2.7, Z n is highest in sample 18 at 2.4, P b is highest in sample 18 at 0.9, N i is highest in sample 23 at 0.8, and C d is highest in sample 2 at 0.49. Values are estimated.

Transfer factor (TF) found in plants samples in Kazan (1–15) and Zelenodolsk (9–24) cities (Russia)

Full size image

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Kamalova, A., Gordeev, A., Galitskaya, P., Selivanovskaya, S. (2023). Assessment of Soil Quality in Urban Green Areas of Two Russian Cities by Means of Chemical and Biological Methods. In: Korneykova, M., et al. Smart and Sustainable Urban Ecosystems: Challenges and Solutions. SSC 2022. Springer Geography. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37216-2_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation