The Study of Lacustrine Deposit (Sapropel) in Belarus: The Chemical Composition and Properties

Sapropel is natural aqueous lake-deposit possessing biological activities. Sapropel covers a great variety of bottom lacustrine deposit which contain not less than 15% of organic substances in the dry residue. The organic substances (humic acid and so on) are formed from plankton and macrophytes. The mineral parts come with surface river and ground water flows. Mineral compounds in lakes participate in biological process, and transform during oxdizing and reduction reactions. Both survey and basic study on sapropel were conducted by the Institute for Problems of Exploitation of Natured Resources and Ecology of the Belarussian Academy of Science. Authors inspected Chervonoye lake and peat land in Belarus and discussed with the staff of the Institute. Many data about sapropel which is the most prospective for using as fertilizers, food additives for farm animals, and for applying for medical purpose were collected and reviewed. Sapropel would play an important part as fertilizers/water absorbents for poor land/desert.