The topical issues for elaboration of new approaches to grow English oak (Quercus robur L.) seedlings with the purpose to establish sustainable plantations in forest-steppe Ukraine. The goal of the research is to elaborate a technology for growing the containerized seedlings of English oak. Oaks are among the most common tree species found throughout the world. Throughout history, oaks have provided humans and wildlife with shelter, and food. However Ukrainian forests face multiple natural and anthropogenic pressures. Climate change generates a particular threat for Ukrainian forests and stability of agroforestry landscapes. This paper considers the impacts of expected climate change on vulnerability of Ukrainian forests, especially for oaks. In response to forest depletion, stricter forest management practices emerged to replant, protect and maintain forest cover and the multi-functionality of forests in terms of wood production. Even though oaks have wide ecological amplitudes of suitable growing conditions, Ukrainian forests dominated by oaks often fail to regenerate naturally. In this regard, it is necessary to increase the cultivation of crops in containers. Field germination of oak seedlings in containers with different substrate composition was identified in the case study in the conditions of Ukrainian Left-bank Forest-Steppe. The height and diameter values of the seedlings were investigated and summarized including the influence of the root ball substrate composition. We tested different compositions of the substrate containing low-land peat, which is rich in nutrients and mixtures with different ratios of soil, humus and sawdust. The advantage over the control in germination ability, survival and condition has been experimentally proved for variants with the use of peat in the substrate and, to a large extent, for the variant with the use of soil, humus and sawdust. Among tested substrates, the peat-containing variant with equal portions of dark gray wooded middle loamy soil and peat (peat:soil = 1:1) and the variant of the three-component mixture soil:humus:sawdust = 4:2:1 are the most balanced in the basic soil parameters (acidity and nutrient content). In the same time they are the best among the studied ones for the productive growing of English oak seedlings. The use of containerized planting stock allowed foresters not only to significantly extend the terms of forest planting, which is particularly topical for Ukraine, but also to increase the root-taking of planting stock up to nearly 100% in forest-cultivated areas.

Purpose. Provide an assessment of the quality of the massif of surface waters of the Siverskyi Donets River within the Kharkiv region in 2023 based on the determination of water quality indices. Methods. The methods of the modified water pollution index (WPI) and the combinatorial water pollution index (CWPI). Results. State of the river water at the observation point of the v. Pechenigy according to the method of the modified water pollution index WPIF is estimated as II class characterized as "clean", WPIH - I class, "very clean"; according to the method of the combinatorial index of water pollution CWPIF - class III a, "dirty", CWPIH - class I, "slightly polluted". State of the river water at the observation point of the v. Eschar according to the method of the modified water pollution index of WPIF is estimated as III class characterized as "moderately polluted", WPIH - II class, "clean"; according to the method of the combinatorial index of water pollution CWPIF - class III b, "dirty", CWPIH - class II, "polluted". State of the river water at the observation point of the v/ Zadonetskyi according to the method of the modified index of water pollution, WPIF is estimated as III class characterized as "moderately polluted", WPIH is II class, "clean"; according to the method of the combinatorial index of water pollution CWPIF - class III b, "dirty", CWPIH - class I, "slightly polluted". Conclusions. It was determined that there are changes in water quality along the watercourse of the Siverskyi Donets River within the Kharkiv Region in 2023. There is a deterioration of water quality after the confluence of the Uda River, by 1.69 times the magnitude of the index change, then the state of water quality improves by 1.25 times the magnitude index changes, probably due to self-cleaning processes and lower anthropogenic load. The quality of water according to WPI indicators varies from 0.25 to 1.47 (from "very clean" to "moderately polluted"). The quality of water according to the CWPI indicators varies from 1.0 to 3.83 (from "slightly polluted" to "dirty"). It was established that according to both assessment methods and both standards, the quality of water in the Pechenigy reservoir, p. Pechenegs the best, and the worst water quality in the Siverskyi Donets River below the mouth of the Uda River, village Eschar.

Improving the reliability and quality of the population's drinking water supply is one of the primary social problems, since the health of the population largely depends on the level of safety of drinking water. Purpose. To determine the composition of spring drinking water consumed by residents of different districts of the city of Kharkiv and to compare the assessment of the quality of drinking water from different natural sources. Methods. Field, laboratory-analytical, statistical. Results. Water samples from 5 natural springs in the city of Kharkiv, from which the population collects water for drinking purposes, were studied. It was determined that according to the organoleptic indicators, no excesses of the normative values are observed, the pH almost does not change seasonally, with the exception of the sample from the "Nemyshlianske" source. The analysis of total alkalinity in the autumn period showed that the standard was exceeded only in samples of the source of the Yunist park and along the street. Klochkivska, and in the spring period - only in the sample of the source on the street. Klochkivska. The total hardness in the samples ranges from 4.9 to 8.04 mmol/dm3 in the autumn period, and from 6.6 to 10.4 mmol/dm3 in the spring period. Excesses in chloride content are not observed in any of the investigated water samples. The iron content exceeds the MPC level only in water samples from the Nemyshlianske spring. The content of aluminum, zinc, cadmium, copper, lead, ammonia and nitrites in the samples is significantly below the MPC level, and almost does not change by season. Conclusions. The formation of the general quality class of water samples from natural sources is significantly influenced by the high level of total alkalinity, total hardness, and iron content in some sources of non-centralized water supply. According to the integral ecological index of water samples in the autumn period from natural sources "Nemyshlyanske", Park "Yunist" and along the street. Klochkivska belongs to the II quality class, i.e. pure water. The integrated ecological index for all other water samples in the autumn period assigns these sources to the I class of water quality - very clean. The calculation of the integral ecological index for water samples from all natural sources in the spring period refers them to the II quality class.

Purpose To evaluate the quality of drinking water from various sources of water supply on the example of the Kyiv district of the city of Kharkiv. Methods. Field (selection of water samples from various sources), laboratory-analytical analysis of water quality, statistical (processing of received data and comparative analysis). Results. Water samples were taken from various sources of water supply: natural spring water, water from wells, from a well, from the city water supply and from drinking water dispensers. In the samples of artesian water of the "Roganska" trade mark (automatic water dispenser), no exceeding of the normative values ​​was determined for any indicator. Water samples from wells and centralized water supply have elevated levels of total hardness, chlorine, nitrate and iron content, which requires the restriction of their use as drinking water without additional treatment. Water samples from private wells have an increased level of general mineralization, salinity and electrical conductivity of water. Methods of purifying tap water from common salts at home were studied: water freezing, filtration, settling, boiling. Conclusions. On the basis of organoleptic, physico-chemical and toxicological parameters of water quality, according to DSTU 4808, water from the machine of TM "Roganska" corresponds to the 1st quality class, spring water - 2nd class, water from wells - 3rd class, and water from a well and centralized water supply - 4th class. In order to improve the quality of tap water from common salts at home, freezing and filtration are recommended.

Purpose. Assessment of drinking water quality from different sources (centralized, decentralized) in the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kharkiv. Methods. Field, analytical, statistical. Results. Representative samples were selected from various water supply sources: natural springs, wells, city water supply. Organoleptic properties, physicochemical parameters and toxicological indicators were determined. Based on the analysis of all these characteristics in accordance with the requirements of DSTU 4808, it was determined that samples of artesian water TM "Shestakivska" are characterized by an optimal neutral pH, low metal content, moderate hardness and do not exceed the regulatory values ​​for any indicator. Water samples from private wells in the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kharkiv have increased total hardness, mineralization and salinity, which indicates the need for additional purification from salts. Water from centralized water supply, in addition to high total hardness, was characterized by the highest content of chlorine, iron and copper. A study was conducted to improve the quality of tap water at home. In particular, the effects of boiling, settling, freezing and filtering water on reducing the content of total salts and improving organoleptic indicators were studied. Conclusions. Artesian water of the Shestakivska trademark has the 1st quality class based on full compliance with the standards. Tap and spring water is classified as the 2nd quality class due to excess hardness and increased mineralization. The lowest indicators were recorded in water from a private well, which is classified as the 3rd quality class due to a significant excess of the hardness standard. An effective household method of demineralization of water is freezing and filtration.

Purpose. The study of changes in the main agrochemical parameters in the upper layers of the gray forest soils of the Left Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine that were removed from agricultural processing and forested with pine, in different years. Methods. Theoretical methods included the collection and description of facts, their analysis. Empirical methods involved conducting field research on test plots of the state-owned enterprise “Chuguevo-Babchansky LG” and farm near woodlands. Laboratory and analytical studies were performed using standardized measurement methods. The generalization of the experimental data was performed using application software packages. Results. Studies were carried out on soils under natural forest plantations, soils in intensive agricultural processing and unproductive soils that are derived from agricultural use. In all the studied soils, the main agrochemical parameters were compared among themselves: mobile forms of nitrogen, pH, humus content, content of common forms of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Statistical dependences between agrochemical parameters in the studied variants were established. Conclusions. The results obtained indicate the revitalization and development of humification and accumulation of nutrients in old arable gray forest soils with an increase in the duration of exposure to pine forest. The age stages of the forest determine the specifics of the environmental factors that influence the soil-forming processes. In the soil of a young pine-tree (12 years), there are more cases of an increase in the coefficients of spatial variation. This indicates that the formation of young ecosystems are characterized by low resistance, in these biocenoses the dynamic equilibrium is not reached, which is characteristic of more mature pine forests.