Changes in soil properties and plant biomass under the influence of soda waste ponds in Inowrocław, Poland

Abstract

Nowadays, the waste ponds of the Inowrocław Chemical Plants “Soda-Mątwy” SA are not used for regular disposal of pollutant materials. Despite this, the salinity level of groundwater and soils in the neighbourhood of these ponds is still very high. The main reasons of this are the huge amount of waste stored for decades and very unfavourable location of this factory in the river valley. In the salty area there are saline meadows with halophytes such as: Salicornia europaea, Glaux maritima, Triglochin maritima, Aster tripolium, Puccinellia distans, Atriplex hastata var. salina and Spergularia salina.