For the first time, this work has assessed ecological condition of the city of Kamianske according to cadmium content and distribution in soil genetic layer (0–150 cm); showed modern ecological classified characteristic of cadmium contamination of soil of the city of Kamianske generally and in certain administrative districts; studied ecomorphological and physico-chemical abilities of the edaphotopes of different administrative city districts; identified the connection between vectors of pollution of plantosoils, surface-transformed natural soils and lawn soils and physico-chemical edaphotopes’ abilities of the urban territory of the city. According to results of analyses of contamination level and regularity of cadmium distribution in the edaphotopes of the city territory, there were highlighted the lowest (weak), high and very high soil contamination levels in administrative districts, which let provide next number line: Dniprovsky (2,62) < Pivdenny (3,51) < Zavodsky (4,27).
It was established, that content of cadmium in soils of the city of Kamianske distinguishes spatial heterogeneity and widely varies: in gross form varies within 0,6–7,5 mg/kg, but in active – 0,1–3,4 mg/kg of soil. The content of active forms of cadmium in soils horizons of right-bank part of the city indicates steadiness of its conditions of getting technogenic pollutants and ability of local biogeocenoses to remain relative stability in the conditions of changing environmental factors. The value of the active forms content, expressed as a percentage of the total content, varies from 17,72 to 73,53 %, providing evidence of the technogenic origin of cadmium in Kamianske city topsoil.
Having applied an experience of soil classification of Steppe zone of Ukraine, according to level distinctness anthropogenic influence, the soils of Kamianske were labeled as: properly urban soils, plantosoils, anthropogenic-surface-transformed natural soils as well as lawn soils.
The complex analysis of physical and chemical abilities of city edaphotopes showed: according to humus concentration studied soils were labeled as medium provided and well provided: according to granulometric composition edaphotopes were defined as medium loamy and sandy loam; according to carbonate content – medium carbonate and low carbonate; according to pH determination of aqueous extract alkaline reaction is a typical phenomenon of urban ecosystem.
The analysis of distribution of gross and active forms of Cd at the test plots (spots) of studied soils showed, that cadmium masses in the high part of soil horizon and, relatively, decreases its content uniformly with lowering of genetical soil horizons of the lay of city landscapes.
The maximal cadmium accumulation is observed in soils, which are under the highest anthropogenic pressure, particularly, near by big industrial factories and traffic intersections, which are pivotal sources of cadmium emission to Kamianske’s air and as a result to its soil covering. The highest concentration of cadmium content is noted for profiles 1 to 6, in particular for a root-saturated ground horizon (up to 50 cm), being also the evidence of the man-caused impact upon cadmium income to the soil layer.
The data of cadmium content in oak-maple-false-acacia plantations was used for intention of migration calculation. The forest floor of studied man-made plantation at the right bank of the city contents 3,79 centners of cadmium/ha; the litterfall (leaf litter) contents 1,11 centners of cadmium/ha; the forest floor of same plantation of the left bank contents 6,14 centners of cadmium/ha; the litterfall (leaf litter) contents 1,67 centners of cadmium/ha. The content proportion of heave metals in the forest floor and litterfall (forest-floor-litterfall factor - FFLF) lets characterize the speed of element circulation in the soil-plant system – the intensity (FFLF) of the biological cadmium cycle in man-made plantations of the city of Kamianske is 3,41 and 3,67 accordingly. It is drugged cycle type.
There is a complex of factors which exert influence on content and dispersal of gross and active cadmium forms. Physico-chemical characteristics of soil (humus content, granulometric composition, carbonate content and pH), terrain relief (altitude), climate peculiarity (wind rose) and proximity to source of contamination are among these factors.
