Relationships between soil properties and morphometric parameters of depressions in clayey semidesert of the trans-volga region

The relationships between the morphometric parameters (area and depth) of microdepressions calculated using several methods and the properties of soils (the thickness of humus horizons and the depth of effervescence) forming on plots with different types of microrelief were assessed. The boundaries of the depressions determined by different methods (using microrelief and vegetation maps) do not coincide, and the mapping units and depressions have different areas. The tightest correlation was found between the soil properties and the parameters of the depressions calculated using the vegetation map for the territories with the flat type of microrelief, where the depressions are the largest (> 70 m²) and the deepest. In smaller depressions within the elevated radial-dome-shaped type of microrelief, the properties of the soils in the depressions are determined not only by the size of the depressions but also by other factors, such as the catchment area, the age of the depression, its position relative to other depressions, and the general stability of the territory.     

Chemical properties of soils in closed depressions of the northern Tambov Plain

Chemical properties of chernozem-like soils in closed depressions on different relief elements in the northern part of the Tambov Plain differ significantly. The soils with podzolic features in depressions on the watershed have a high acidity and a low degree of base saturation. The soils on the above-floodplain terrace are neutral and saturated with bases. When the degree of moistening increases, the share of magnesium in the total exchangeable bases increases to 30–35%. In the soils of surface flooding under gleyzation conditions, iron is leached from the fine earth, and iron nodules are formed. In the soils formed under the impact of groundwater, iron diffusion is observed in the surface layers. In the podzolic horizons of soils on the watershed, humus acquires a fulvic-humic character. In the soils formed under the impact of groundwater and water stagnation conditions typical for gleyed soils, the Cha: Cfa ratio is higher than 1.     

Genesis,hydrology, and properties of soils in mesodepressions waterlogged by surface water in the northern Ryazan forest-steppe

On the interfluves and in small depressions of the Ryazan forest-steppe, under periodic stagnation of surface water, acid chernozem-like soils with a relatively thick humus horizon, podzolic horizons, and marble-colored gleyed B1 and B2 horizons are formed. The eluvial horizons of these soils contain Mn-Fe nodules, and dark humus coatings occur in the illuvial horizons. In the spring, the eluvial horizons of these soils are excessively moistened and gravitational water stagnates on the soil surface for 3–4 weeks. The formation of the acid light-colored eluvial horizons of the soils on leached rocks is related to gleying under the conditions of the stagnant-percolative regime. Their total thickness is 15–25 cm and more. According to the properties of their solid phase, these horizons are similar to the podzolic horizons of soddy-podzolic gleyed soils. These soils have not been represented in the classification systems of soils of the USSR and Russia. Based on the principles of the substantial-genetic classification, one of the authors of this article [9] referred this soil to gleyed podzolic chernozem-like soils, thus, considering it as an individual genetic soil type. The gleyed podzolic chernozem-like soils differ from the leached chernozems by their low productivity and difficulty of tillage. In humid and moderately moist years, the death of crops or a reduction in yield are probable because of the excess of moisture.     

Transformation of humus substances in the long-drained surface-gleyed soddy-podzolic soils under conditions of pronounced microrelief and different agrogenic loads

The transformation of humus substances resulting from artificial drainage of the surface-gleyed soddy-podzolic soils under conditions of pronounced microtopography and different agrogenic loads was studied. The studied soil characteristics included acid–base conditions, the content and group composition of humus, the ratios between the fractions of humus acids, and optical density of humic acids. The features attesting to humus degradation were found in the soils of microdepressions periodically subjected to excessive surface moistening, in the soils of different landforms upon the construction of drainage trenches, and in the plowed non-fertilized soils. The response of humus characteristics to the changes in the ecological situation in the period of active application of agrochemicals for reclamation of the agrotechnogenically disturbed soils was traced. It was shown that the long-term dynamics of the particular parameters of the biological productivity of the soil depend on the hydrological and agrogenic factors, as well as on the weather conditions.     

Changes in the humus status of a layland sandy gleyic soddy-podzolic soil

Changes in the content, reserves, and composition of humus in a sandy gleyic iron-humus-illuvial soddy-podzolic soil under intensive, decreasing, and ceased agrotechnical impacts were studied. It was shown that when a well-cultivated soil is removed from economic use, the conditions of humus formation in the former homogeneous plow layer develop differently. A deterioration of the humus status parameters of the layland soil was found as compared to the cultivated soil. It was concluded that, when a soil is removed from economic use, its profile, which was disturbed by the anthropogenic impact, tends to return to the original genetic state. The change in the level of the agricultural practices affected the optical density of the humic acids only slightly, which is indicative of their relative stability under specific soil-forming conditions.     

Humus Horizons of Soils in Urban Ecosystems

The origin, structure, composition, and properties of soil humus horizons in functional zones of St. Petersburg have been studied. The radiocarbon age of organic matter in the humus horizons varies from 500 to 2700 years, which attests to the natural origin of humus. The structure of microbiomes in the humus horizons of soils under different plant communities has its specific features. The taxonomic structure of microbial communities at the phylum level reflects both genetic features of natural soils and the impact of anthropogenic factors, including alkalization typical of the studied urban soils. Tomographic studies have shown that the transporting system of humus horizons is less developed in the anthropogenically transformed soils in comparison with the natural soils. It can be supposed that the intensity of water and gas exchange in the anthropogenic soils is much lower than that in the natural soils. The fractional and group composition of humus in the urban soils is specified by the long-term pedogenesis, on one hand, and by the impact of metabolic products of the city and the factors of soil formation in the megalopolis, on the other hand. Bulk density of the humus horizon in the urban soils is higher than that in the natural soils; the portion of overcompacted humus horizons in the urban soils reaches 44%. Humus horizons of the lawns along highways are most contaminated with heavy metals: Pb, Zn, and Cu. There are no definite regularities in the distribution of major nutrients (NPK) in the humus horizons of anthropogenic soils.     

Organic matter and biological activity of postagrogenic soils in the southern taiga using the example of Kostroma oblast

The dynamics of the humus status (some indices) and the biological activity of agrosoddy-podzolic soils in the course of the natural forest regeneration were studied based on the example of the soils of two succession series, which differed both in their parent rock and the history of their development. Upon the overgrowing of the croplands, the humus content increased, and its distribution within the soil profile became more differentiated. As a hayfield was overgrown, the humus content decreased to some extent at the earliest stages. The parameters of the humus status more clearly changed in the succession series with the light-textured soils, which had a relatively simple history of agricultural development. The biological activity mainly decreased at the earlier succession stages and became higher with the increasing productivity and greater amounts of easily decomposing falloff entering the soil. This relationship was especially distinctly revealed in the grass communities.     

Development of hydromorphism in soils of agrolandscapes in the depressions of Western Ciscaucasia

The current state and rate of hydromorphism development in the soils of flat bottomed depressions in Western Ciscaucasia are assessed. The dynamics of the soil cover pattern on a plain with numerous mesoand microdepressions and on a watershed with weakly pronounced erosion relief were revealed. The relationship between the expansion of the waterlogged areas and the pattern of the soil cover of the agrolandscapes in the depressions was revealed. The dependence of the areas of excessively moistened sites on the changes in the topography was shown. The direction and parameters of the changes in the morphology, chemical composition, and hydrological properties of the degraded hydromorphic soils were investigated. The relationships between the density of the soils and the humus content and the composition of the exchangeable bases were studied. Methods for the assessment of the rates of the degradation processes based on the comparison of aerial photographs and soil maps for typical sites in the territory investigated are proposed. The specific features of decoding the aerial photographs of the soils in the depressions were revealed. The relations between the differences in the photos’ tone and the degree of the hydromorphic degradation of the soils were found. Promising methods for interpretation of aerial photographs with the help of image analysis programs can be recommended.     

Ecological-hydrological and genetic features of chernozem-like soils of closed depressions in the northern Tambov Lowland

Specific features of the genesis and water regime of soils in closed depressions were studied in two catenas located on the interfluvial and terrace surfaces. In humid years and in the years with moderate precipitation, the surface flooding up to early May reduced the Eh values up to 60–100 mV in the soils of the interfluvial depressions. The contrasting stagnant-percolate water regime under the surface waterlogging caused podzolization of the soils manifested in the skeletans, iron nodules, humus cutans, and podzolic horizons. The pro-files acquired eluvial-illuvial differentiation, and the water-physical properties of the soils became less favorable. In the soils of the terrace depressions upon bogging due to the shallow ground water and stagnation of water up to mid-July, the Eh values decreased to ?20 to ?80 mV. The reductive conditions were responsible for the appearance of the morphochromatic signs of gley. The ground water of bicarbonate-calcium composition at a depth of 80–120 cm hindered podzolization. The soils with features of gley and podzolization are low-productive.     

Relationships between parameters of the humus status of forest and meadow soils and their altitudinal position on the main Crimean range

The influence of bioclimatic conditions related to the elevation above sea level on the quantitative and qualitative parameters of humus in mountain soils has been studied. It is shown that changes in the water and temperature conditions with the altitude do not exert significant effect on the humus content in mountain- forest soils, because the total amount of soil organic matter mainly depends on the composition and state of the vegetation cover. The humus content is the highest in meadow soils formed on mountain plateau with excessive moistening, which determines the formation of dense grass cover and the temperature regime favorable for humification. The percentage of Cha in the composition of Corg and the optical density of humic acids (HAs) are the qualitative parameters of the soil humus status changing with the altitude. The intensity of humus coloring of the soil depends on the content and optical density of HAs. A comparison of color intensity in the mountainous meadow chernozemlike soils and plain chernozems has shown its significant dependence on the hydrothermic conditions.     

Humus balancing in Central Europe—concepts,state of the art,and further challenges

Humus‐balancing methods are simple tools for the assessment of interactions between agricultural land use and soil organic matter (SOM). Aside from this commonality, approaches for humus balancing differ considerably with regard to their specific aim, scope, and methodical approach. The term “humus balance” covers both simple models to quantify SOM change in arable soils, or soil organic C (SOC) change in particular, and models that refer to the optimization of soil productivity in arable soils by calculating organic‐fertilizer demand, without quantifying SOM or SOC change. This situation naturally has caused much discussion and misunderstandings. Against this background, the aim of this review is to systematically explore the different methodical approaches to humus balancing in order to contribute to a more sophisticated discussion of this model family, its opportunities, and limitations. As humus balancing has long history as well as special actual relevance in Germany, and, lately Switzerland, we focus on these countries and discuss the different approaches that are presently available and applied there. We argue that humus balances can be roughly categorized into “ecological” and “agronomical” approaches based on their specific concepts and methodology. Ecological humus balances comprise a strong link to quantitative SOM change, while humus balances of the agronomical family refer to the maintenance of soil productivity without a quantitative link to SOM change. Lately, some models have been presented that link the two concepts. However, we identify that humus‐balancing methods often are insufficiently validated, partly because the validation of agronomical humus balances is not easily possible without a very comprehensive field‐experimental basis. Further, the comparability of different approaches even within the two concept families is low at present, indicating the need for a comparative model evaluation for a proper assessment of the methods.     

Composition and pools of humus in natural and agrogenic soils of the Kamchatka Peninsula

Differentiation of Kamchatka soils with respect to the composition and pools of humus is discussed. Very low and low pools of humus of the fulvate type are typical of the ocherous and stratified ocherous volcanic soils of the eastern coastal zone and the Central Kamchatka Depression. Ocherous volcanic soils of the Western Kamchatka Lowland are characterized by the low and moderate pools of the humate–fulvate humus. Agrogenic soils are characterized by the higher pools of humus in the upper 20 cm in comparison with their natural analogues, which is largely related to changes in the physical properties of the soils under the impact of tillage.     

Assessing the humus status and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> production in soils of anthropogenic and agrogenic landscapes in southern regions of the Russian Far East

The humus status and CO₂ production have been assessed in soils of natural and anthropogenic landscapes in southern regions of the Far East with different types of redox conditions. A higher production of CO₂ is typical of burozems and soddy-eluvial-metamorphic soils with oxidative and contrast redox conditions. These are soils with medium or high humus content, high potential humification capacity, and medium enrichment with catalase. A decrease in the content of humus in the plow horizons of soils in agrogenic landscapes is revealed compared to their natural analogues. The studied soils mainly have humus of the fulvate–humate type. The fractions strongly bound to the mineral soil component prevail in humic acids. In waterlogged mucky-humus gley soils, the anaerobic conditions hamper the biological activity and transformation of organic matter, which favors its accumulation. A low production of CO₂ is observed in soils with reducing conditions. To determine the differences between the CO₂ emission parameters in soils of agrogenic and natural landscapes, monitoring studies should be extended.     

Changes in the Content,Composition, and Properties of Humic Substances in Particle-Size Fractions of Soddy-Podzolic Soils under the Impact of Long-Term Drainage

Specific features of the transformation of humic substances in particle-size fractions of drained soddy-podzolic soils were studied on a field (12 ha) of the Experimental and Educational Center of Lomonosov Moscow State University in Moscow oblast. The field had a clearly pronounced microtopography. Surface-gleyed soddy-podzolic soils (Albic Stagnic Glossic Retisols (Loamic, Aric, Ochric)) of microdepressions with excessive surface moistening and nongleyed soddy-podzolic soils (Albic Glossic Retisols (Loamic, Aric, Ochric)) of elevated positions were examined. These soils were studied before the field drainage and during 25 years after drainage works in the periods differing in conditions of humification and with due account for not only drainage works but also other factors, such as topography and agrotechnology and their joint action. The specificity of transformation of humic substances in the soils and their particle-size fractions was analyzed in the basis of data on the organic carbon content, group and fractional composition of humus, the intensity of individual stages of humification (the neoformation of humic acids and the formation of humates), and the optical density of the fractions of humic acids. The results of the study of these properties in the fine soil fractions (<50 μm) made it possible to assess the response of the clay (<1 μm) and silt (1–5, 5–10, 10–50 μm) fractions to changes in the ecological situation and the role of separate particle-size fractions in the degradation of humus under adverse impacts. Overall, a clear tendency toward worsening of the humus quality was observed in both soils during the 25-year-long period, which is related to the long-term (20 years) agricultural use of the reclaimed field without application of agrochemicals. The features of humus degradation were mainly manifested in the finest (<10 μm) fractions with a general decrease in the humus content, slowing down of the formation of humic acids and humates, and considerable loss of humic acids, including their agronomically valuable fractions HA1 and HA2. The degradation of humus quality in the clay fraction was largely due to the impact of the reclamation (drainage) factor; the degradation of humus quality in the fine and medium silt fractions was mainly due to the negative changes in the agricultural background. Among negative consequences of the worsening humus quality, the lowering of soil fertility, ecological sustainability, and productivity of agrocenoses should be noted.     

Specific features of organic matter in urban soils of Rostov-on-Don

Data on the fractional and group composition of humus in urban soils of Rostov-on-Don are discussed. We have compared the humus profiles of chernozems under tree plantations and those buried under anthropogenic deposits (including sealed chernozems under asphalt). It is shown that the type of humus in these soils remains stable despite a decrease in its total content after the long-term burial under asphalt. Under the impact of the trees, the organic matter of the chernozems acquired some features typical of gray forest soils, i.e., the humate-fulvate type of humus in the humus horizon and the sharp drop in the humus content down the soil profile.     

Analysis of soil-vegetation systems' sensitivity to changes of climate-dependent carbon turnover parameters

 The nonlinear model of the carbon cycle in soils (NAMSOM) was used to analyze the sensitivity of soil organic matter levels to variations in carbon turnover parameters. We were able to predict the sensitivity of soil organic matter levels to variations of climate-dependent carbon turnover parameters, which allowed us to compare the sensitivity of soil organic matter levels to net primary productivity of plant communities and plant debris decomposition rate constants across the range of soils in the European part of Russia. The results indicate that meadow steppes show the lowest sensitivity to variations of these parameters. In passing from meadow steppes to the northern taiga and to semideserts, the sensitivity increases. In general, soil organic matter levels of boreal forest ecosystems are about 2–3 times more sensitive to input and decomposition of plant debris than to decomposition of humus. In subboreal grassland ecosystems the sensitivity to humus decomposition increases and becomes closer to the degree of sensitivity shown by soil organic matter levels to variations of productivity and decomposition of plant debris. The proposed method may be useful for predicting the response of ecosystems to climatic change. Received: 1 December 1997     

The influence of microrelief on the agrochemical properties of chernozems and the yield of spring wheat and barley

The influence of microrelief on the fertility of ordinary chernozems and the yield of cereal crops was studied in the Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe. The microrelief was shown to affect the humus state and the agrochemical properties of the chernozem. The productivity of the cereals was shown to differ by 1.3–2.6 times in the areas where the microrelief was strongly pronounced, and the yield of the cereal crops grown in depressions was lower by 1.1–1.8 times as compared to that on the flat areas. The correlation between the plant productivity and the humus content and the pH_salt in the soil was revealed. In order to take into account the influence of the microrelief and to reduce its effects on the yield of crops, the scale of soil and agrochemical investigations is recommended to be increased. Within the boundaries of the existing agricultural lands, the geochemical zones of removal, transport, and accumulation of soil material should be determined.     

Light Gray Surface-Gleyed Loamy Sandy Soils of the Northern Part of Tambov Plain: Agroecology,Properties, and Diagnostics

Light gray soils of Tambov oblast mainly develop from sandy and loamy sandy parent materials; these are the least studied soils in this region. Despite their coarse texture, these soils are subjected to surface waterlogging. They are stronger affected by the agrogenic degradation in comparison with chernozems and dark gray soils. Morphology, major elements of water regime, physical properties, and productivity of loamy sandy light gray soils with different degrees of gleyzation have been studied in the northern part of Tambov Plain in order to substantiate the appropriate methods of their management. The texture of these soils changes at the depth of 70–100 cm. The upper part is enriched in silt particles (16–30%); in the lower part, the sand content reaches 80–85%. In the nongleyed variants, middle-profile horizons contain thin iron-cemented lamellae (pseudofibers); in surface-gleyed variants, iron nodules are present in the humus horizon. The removal of clay from the humus horizon and its accumulation at the lithological contact and in pseudofibers promote surface subsidence and formation of microlows in the years with moderate and intense winter precipitation. The low range of active moisture favors desiccation of the upper horizons to the wilting point in dry years. The yield of cereal crops reaches 3.5–4.5 t/ha in the years with high and moderate summer precipitation on nongleyed and slightly gleyed light gray soils and decreases by 20–50% on strongly gleyed light gray soils. On light gray soils without irrigation, crop yields are unstable, and productivity of pastures is low. High yields of cereals and vegetables can be obtained on irrigated soils. In this case, local drainage measures should be applied to microlows; liming can be recommended to improve soil productivity.     

Specificity of soil hydrolytically microbial complex under different moisture conditions

It has been established that soil moisture has a significant impact on the activity of chitinolytic microbial processes, rather than pectinolytic processes. The degradation of polysaccharides with an increase in soil moisture in microbial complex markedly increases the role of prokaryotic microorganisms, especially actinomycetes. For the first time, using the FISH method, the amount of detected phylogenetic composition of a metabolically active hydrolytic complex of humus horizons of grey forest and gley and weakly podzolic soil and humus has been estimated depending on the humidity. At optimum moisture, phylogenetic groups Actinobacteria and Firmicutes dominated in the chitinolytic process. An increase in the proportion of proteobacteria is observed with an increase in humidity. The role of gamma- and alphaproteobacteria and actino-bacteria is heightened with the drying of soil in the hydrolytic complex. A quantitative estimate of the rate of degradation of polysaccharides (pectin and chitin) in different types of soils at different levels of moisture is given. The dependence of the phylogenetic composition of an active microbial hydrolytic complex of humus horizons of grey forest and gley, weakly podzolic soils and humus on humidity is revealed.     

Mercury in humus horizons of soils in the Transbaikal region

The total mercury content has been determined in gray forest soils, chernozems, chestnut soils, and in different parent materials in the Transbaikal region. The mercury content is below the clarke value in the intrusive, effusive, and alluvial soil-forming rocks (0.004–0.024 mg/kg). In the humus horizons of the soils, it reaches 0.011–0.026 mg/kg, which is higher than the clarke value for the pedosphere. The mean background content of mercury in the soils of the Transbaikal region is 0.018 mg/kg. No significant positive correlation between the mercury content and the humus content of the soils has been revealed.