Physical and chemical properties of soils in Kharkiv (Ukraine)

The purpose of this work is to determine the physical and chemical properties of soils in different regions of Kharkiv (Ukraine) and to explore their impact on the sorption of heavy metal ions: Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺. It has been established that the soils of gleyic chernozem and typical heavy black earth by their characteristics belong to highly buffer humified soils. According to the increase in the sorption capacity of the soil, it can be arranged in the following row: haplic arenosol < mollic gleyic fluvisol < gleyic chernozem < typical heavy black earth. The index of saturation with cations for typical heavy black earth is an order of magnitude higher than for the other studied soils. The distribution of mobile forms of copper and zinc in soils is determined by their type. The absorption capacity of the studied soils in relation to Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ directly correlates with a decrease in the pH of the soil solution, with the content of humus and with an increase in the carbon ratio of humic and fulvic acids. The materials of the research can be used to control the ecological situation in the city.