Background.The study aimed to investigate the species-specific effects of deuterium-depleted water (Larsen D100, 100 ppm D) on seed germination and early seedling growth parameters of key agricultural crops (barley, wheat, rapeseed, and lentil) under controlled in vitro conditions. Seeds were germinated in Petri dishes on a fabric material moistened with either distilled water (control) or Larsen D100. The experiment was set up in a completely randomized design (CRD) with several biological replications. After 10 days, the following key parameters were assessed: germination rate, seedling length, and fresh biomass. Data were statistically processed using Student’s t-test or the Mann-Whitney U-test (p0.05). Treatment with deuterium-depleted water had a pronounced and species-specific influence. A significant stimulatory effect was recorded in barley: germination increased by 20%, seedling length by 72%, and biomass by 17% compared to the control. Lentil showed a sharp increase in length (222%) and biomass (64%) of seedlings, although germination rate remained unchanged. In contrast, rapeseed exhibited inhibition of biomass accumulation (a 38% reduction), while wheat parameters did not change. Deuterium-depleted water acts as a powerful metabolic modulator, but its effects are strictly species-specific-ranging from significant stimulation to inhibition. The obtained data highlight the potential for its use in pre-sowing seed treatment for crops such as barley and lentil but strongly caution against universal application without mandatory prior species and cultivar testing. The observed effects are associated with isotope-mediated changes in the kinetics of key enzymatic and osmotic processes in the early stages of plant development. Purpose.Of the study was to evaluate the effect of deuterium-depleted water (Larsen D100) on germination efficiency (germination rate) and initial growth vigor (length and fresh weight) of seedlings in four economically important species of agricultural crops representing cereals (barley, wheat), oilseeds (rapeseed), and legumes (lentil). Materials and methods.Seeds of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), soft wheat(Triticum aestivumL.), rapeseed (Brassica napusL.), and lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) were sterilized and germinated in Petri dishes on filter paper moistened with distilled water (control, pH=5.8, EC5 µS/cm) or deuterium-depleted water (Larsen D100, 100 ppm D). The experiment was set up according to a completely randomized design (CRD) with several biological replications (Petri dishes). Germination was carried out for 10 days at a temperature of 23±1°C. Germination rate, seedling length, and fresh weight were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 10.0 software employing parametric (Student’s t-test) or non-parametric (Mann-Whitney U-test) methods for independent samples at a significance level of p0.05. Results.The application of Larsen D100 water led to a complex, species-specific response. For barley, significant stimulation was found for all parameters. Germination rate increased by 20%, seedling length by 72%, and fresh weight by 17%. For lentil, no effect on germination rate (~97%) was characteristic, but a sharp increase in length (222%) and fresh weight (64%) of seedlings was observed. Data analysis for rapeseed showed no significant effect on germination and length, but a substantial reduction (38%) in seedling fresh weight. No statistically significant effect on any of the measured parameters of wheat was found. Conclusion.Deuterium-depleted water Larsen D100 is not a universal biostimulant but represents a powerful species-specific modulator of germination and early growth processes. It significantly enhances the initial growth vigor in barley and lentil but inhibits biomass accumulation in rapeseed, while wheat demonstrates a neutral response. This specificity underscores the critical importance of mandatory preliminary testing on each target crop and cultivar before considering any agronomic application. The detected effects are likely rooted in isotope-induced modifications of the kinetics of metabolic reactions, energy metabolism, and osmotic processes.

Background.The study is devoted to the assessment of phytotoxicity of soils affected by agricultural activities by the method of bioindication. The main objective is to select the most sensitive bioindicator for the determination of phytotoxicity in agricultural soils. It was found that cruciferous crops,Brassica napus(rapeseed),Lepidium sativum(watercress), are the most sensitive to contamination, demonstrating a decrease in germination to 24% and phytomass to 0.13-0.62 g, while barley showed a germination resistance of 70-100%. Cases of latent phytotoxicity have been identified with preserved germination, but inhibition of root growth. The results confirm the effectiveness of the method and the need for an integrated approach using several bioindicators. Purpose.The purpose of this study is to select the most sensitive bioindicator for determining the phytotoxicity of agricultural soils. Materials and methods.To assess the phytotoxicity of soils, samples were taken from the DSTU training ground. The main series included 4 arable samples (n=4), selected by the envelope method from a depth of 0-20 cm according to GOST 17.4.4.02-2017. The control sample was taken from the adjacent forest belt (n=1). Each combined sample weighing 1 kg was formed from 5-point samples. Four test crops were used: radish (Raphanus sativus L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and watercress (Lepidium sativum L.). 3 analytical replications in Petri dishes were prepared for each sample and culture. Incubation was carried out for 10 days. The following parameters were evaluated: germination (%), germination energy (%), length of shoots and roots (mm), crude phytomass (g). Statistical data processing was performed with the calculation of average values and standard deviation for each sample and test culture. Results.The results have shown a significant inhibition of the test plant growth in contaminated samples, which resulted in a decrease in key indicators by 24-92% compared with the control. Cruciferous crops (rapeseed and watercress) showed the greatest sensitivity, with a sharp decrease in germination to 24%, germination energy to 1.0, and phytomass to 0.13-0.62 g. At the same time, barley has demonstrated relative stability, maintaining germination at the level of 70-100%, which confirms the need to use several bioindicators for a comprehensive assessment. Conclusion.During the study, it was found that agricultural activity in the field under study led to the formation of phytotoxicity of the soil, manifested in the suppression of sensitive cruciferous crops (rapeseed, watercress) and the radish root system. Rapeseed and watercress are highly sensitive bioindicators for monitoring. The revealed heterogeneity of phytotoxicity requires a differentiated approach to assessing soil conditions. The conducted studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of the phytoindication method for assessing the phytotoxicity of soils exposed to agrogenic effects.

The classification position of substrates forming on the beds of aquaculture ponds remains a poorly resolved issue at the intersection of pedology, limnology, and aquaculture science. We examine how major international and national soil classification systems—the USDA Soil Taxonomy, the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB), the German Bodenkundliche Kartieranleitung, the Australian Soil Classification (ASC), the Russian Soil Classification, and the classification systems of Brazil and China—approach the systematics of subaqueous soils and their aquaculture analogues. A systematic literature search was conducted across the Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases covering the period from 1953 to 2025. Our analysis reveals that Soil Taxonomy provides the most developed taxonomic framework through specialized suborders (Wassents and Wassists), while the WRB offers the greatest flexibility via its qualifier system (subaquatic, limnic, and gleyic). The German classification uniquely assigns subaqueous soils to the highest taxonomic level (division) with a substantive typology that is directly applicable to pond substrates. The Australian classification contributes a three-part sulfidic material typology of practical significance for pond management. The Russian and Brazilian systems currently lack formal taxa for subaqueous soils, although recent proposals (e.g., Aquazems) may address this gap. The Chinese paddy soil model offers a conceptual bridge between subaqueous pedology and aquaculture. No existing system adequately addresses the specific anthropogenic impacts of aquaculture management on pond soil formation. Permanently inundated little-disturbed ponds fall within the subaqueous soil concept, whereas intensively managed, frequently drained or dredged ponds are better treated as anthropogenic soils with a subaqueous phase. We recommend the WRB (4th edition, 2022) as the most suitable framework for current classification of aquaculture pond soils while acknowledging that a multi-system approach may ultimately prove most effective. These findings carry particular relevance for countries of the former Soviet Union (CIS), where extensive pond aquaculture is practiced but pond substrates remain outside formal pedological classification.