ASSESSMENT OF URBAN SOIL POLLUTION BY BIOMONITORING METHODS (BY THE EXAMPLE OF SUMGAYIT CITY)

. Aim. The paper assesses the degree of contamination and phytotoxicity of the soil cover of Sumgayit as an integral part of the overall biomonitoring. Methodology. The environmental indicators of the soil cover of Sumgayit in its various zones are analyzed, including industrial, transport and recreational zones. The content of total hydrocarbons in soils is determined by a gravimetric method, and the degree of their phytotoxicity is found by the Grodzinsky method. Barley seeds are used as test plants. The results of the analysis are statistically processed using the Statistica V 6.0 code. In assessing the statistical reliability of the average data obtained, the Student t-test is used. Results. The study concluded that the degree of soil contamination by hydrocarbons depends on the zone’s functionality: the content of total hydrocarbons in the soils of roadside zones and industrial zones is on average 2.8 times and 244 times more than that in soils of park areas. It is shown that the soil cover acquires phytotoxic properties as a result of pollution with organic pollutants of various nature. Research implications. The results of the study make promising scientific research in the field of selection of higher plant species that are best adapted to growth and development in the soil cover of Sumgayit in order to increase the assimilation potential of phytocenoses in relation to pollutants.