Geochemical Assessment of Macro- and Microelements Content in the Soil–Plant System in the Conditions of the Selenga Aimag in Northern Mongolia

A geochemical assessment of the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape reveals significant variations in macro- and microelement content within its soil-plant system. The study found that while elements like cobalt, copper, chromium, iron, and cadmium exceed their Clarke values, arsenic and mercury show particularly high concentrations, with arsenic levels up to six times higher and mercury up to 600 times higher than baseline values. Despite these elevated soil levels, wheat grain in the region exhibits lower-than-expected arsenic and mercury content, suggesting a protective mechanism in plants that limits toxic element uptake. The research used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to analyze 14 elements across soils and wheat grains, identifying correlations between element accumulation and agrochemical soil properties such as humus content, acidity, and salinity. These findings underscore the need for further investigation into plant physiological responses to environmental contaminants in this ecologically significant landscape.

Sindireva, A., Boev, V., Erdenetsogt, E., Saizhaa, N., Boev, V., & Ieronova, V. (2025). GEOCHEMICAL ASSESSMENT OF MACRO- AND MICROELEMENTS CONTENT IN THE SOIL–PLANT SYSTEM IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE SELENGA AIMAG IN NORTHERN MONGOLIA. Bulletin of KSAU, 0(7). https://doi.org/10.36718/1819-4036-2025-7-57-73