Soil analysis - a comprehensive assessment of the state of the soil cover

Soil is one of the elements of the biosphere, ensuring the circulation of all chemicals in the surrounding ecosystem. This applies both to endogenous and to exogenous chemicals that enter it with wastewater, emissions from manufacturing plants, road and air transport, and mineral fertilizers.

Due to man's technogenic activity, the soil becomes a storage place for a large number of harmful substances. Since it, unlike other natural environments, does not have mobility, it is much more susceptible to contamination. In addition, getting into the ground, many compounds as a result of microbiological and chemical transformations become even more toxic than originally.

The danger is that the soil can become a source of contamination of air, water, food products and other elements of the biosphere with radioactive and carcinogenic substances. That is why it is important to carry out regular monitoring of the soil shell, and first of all soil analysis, which is a set of laboratory studies to determine the physicochemical, chemical, mechanical, biological and agrochemical properties.

The main types of soil analysis: microbiological, chemical, mineralogical, mechanical (granulometric). Their main goal is to determine the quantity and type of pollutants, as well as to determine their source. However, sometimes soil analysis is performed to identify the presence of pathogenic parasites in it. Such an analysis is called bacteriological, and its main task is to detect various pathogens of diseases of humans and animals.

A more thorough sanitary and bacteriological study is carried out for a deep and detailed characterization of the suitability of the soil for accommodating housing, children's institutions, recreational facilities, water supply facilities, for epidemiological studies, and determining the general sanitary condition of the soil.

One of the most necessary types of research is the chemical analysis of soil, with which it is possible to detect the content of metals, including heavy metals (C, Mg, Fe, Co, Cr, Zn, etc.), chemicals (carbonates, sulfates, Chlorides). It is very important from the point of view of ecology.

In order to determine the level of soil fertility, agrochemical soil analysis is carried out. It allows you to assess how much plants are provided with batteries, whether there is a need for fertilizers, chemical melioration and other measures. These indicators help to clarify the potential of the fertile layer.

A complete soil analysis involves a lot of research. To assess the specific site of the earth, the results are compared with the optimal normative indices of the content of elements that have been established experimentally for this type of soil and tested under production conditions. The analysis of the soil ends with the issuance of an opinion on its actual state and recommendations for its use and improvement.