Radioactive Contamination Forecasting of the Herbage of Floodplain Ecosystems with the Application of GIS-Technologies
Floodplain meadows of Polessye are an object of special attention of radio ecologists. Even at the low density of radioactive pollution they can be a source of receiving «dirty» forages and production of livestock which doesn't conform to standards. The purpose of the work is space and time evaluation of 137Cs и 90Sr migration in floodplain ecosystems which are contaminated with radionuclide for further detection of optimization ways of using floodplain as forage base in cattle breeding. Material and methods. Researches were conducted near the villages of Novoselki and Raduga of Vetkovsky District of Gomel Region. The methodological basis of the research is made by the theory of biogeochemical structure of a natural ecosystem and geochemical barriers. Findings and their discussion. The article analyzes preferable forecasting methods to predict 137Cs and 90Sr contamination rates in herbage on overflowed meadows, so that the contaminated lands could be utilized partially on a selective base, depending on the density of soil contamination and activity of geochemical barriers (certain parts of meadow lands which under their geochemical characteristics are inclined to accumulate increased 137Cs and 90Sr concentrations). As a tool to meet radioecological objectives and solve numerous problems related to farm production on contaminated overflowed lands, it is suggested to use geographically dispersed databases and modern GIS-technologies. Conclusion. Extreme admissible levels of pollution of soil cover for each structural element of an floodplain ecosystem are determined. They are defined for the possibility of receiving forages for the farm animals conforming to standards. Key words: floodplain ecosystems, radionuclides, 137Cs, 90Sr, GIS-technologies, biogeochemical barriers, soils, herbage, Belarusian Polessye.