The nature of alkalinity in virgin and anthropogenically modified solonetzes of northern Kalmykia

The alkalinity of virgin solonetzes and its changes under the impact of 50-year-long afforestation and agricultural loads were investigated. It was found that the maximum alkalinity in both virgin and anthropogenically modified solonetzes is typical of the gypsum-free carbonate horizons containing exchangeable sodium. In these horizons of the virgin (B2, BCca) and anthropogenically modified (BMK, BCca) solonetzes, sodium carbonates (Na₂CO₃ and NaHCO₃) are present because of the in situ ion exchange reaction between sodium in the exchange complex and calcium of calcium carbonates in the solution (the Gedroits reaction). The boundaries of the occurrence of soda in the soil profile are controlled by calcium compounds: the upper boundary of soda formation is specified by the presence of calcium carbonates, whereas the lower boundary is specified by the appearance of calcium sulfates (gypsum). In other horizons, including the solonetzic (B1) horizon, in which calcium carbonates are absent, soda is not formed, and the soil pH and carbonate alkalinity are controlled by the carbonate-calcium equilibria.     

Alkalinity of virgin solonetzes in northern Kalmykia (the Arshan-Zel’men Experimental Station)

The alkalinity of virgin solonetzes of the Ergeni Upland, Ergeni Plain, and Sarpinsk Lowland has been studied. These soils are characterized by the neutral salinization and the high alkalinity of the solonetzic and subsolonetzic horizons. The analysis of the soil water extracts demonstrated that the highest alkalinity is typical of the subsolonetzic horizons containing calcium carbonates (the B2 and BCca horizons). In the solonetzic horizons without CaCO₃, the alkalinity is lower despite the high exchangeable sodium percentage (up to 42%). The alkalinity of the solonetzic and subsolonetzic horizons may be conditioned by two processes: (a) the hydrolysis of the exchange complex (EC) containing sodium (EC-Na + H₂O ↔ EC-H + Na⁺ + OH⁻) and (b) the reaction of the ion exchange with the substitution of calcium for sodium in the exchange complex (EC-2Na + CaCO₃ ↔ EC-Ca + 2Na⁺ + CO₃²⁻). Calculations performed on the basis of the thermodynamic equations of the physicochemical equilibria according to the LIBRA program indicate that soda is absent in the solonetzic horizons, whose alkalinity is related to the carbonatecalcium equilibria. The high alkalinity of the calcareous subsolonetzic horizons is related to the presence of soda in combination with CaCO₃. The formation of soda in these horizons is due to the reaction of ion exchange described by Gedroits.     

Anthropogenic transformation of soils in the northern Ergeni Upland (studies at the first experimental plot of the Arshan’-Zelmen Research Station)

The results of soil studies performed in 2005–2009 at the first experimental plot of the Arshan’-Zelmen Research Station of the Institute of Forest Science of the Russian Academy of Sciences are discussed. The post-reclamation state (about 55 years after reclamation) of the soils under forest shelterbelts and adjacent croplands in the rainfed agriculture was studied. The long-term efficiency of forest reclamation and crop-growing technologies developed in the 1950s by the Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute and the Institute of Forest to reclaim strongly saline solonetzic soils was proved. In 55 years, strongly saline sodic solonetzes with sulfate-chloride and chloride-sulfate composition of salts were replaced by agrogenic soils with new properties. Under forest shelterbelts, where deep (40–60 cm) plowing was performed, the soils were transformed into slightly saline solonetzic agrozems with slight soda salinization in the upper meter and with dealkalized plowed and turbated horizons (0–20(40) cm). Under the adjacent cropland subjected to the influence of the shelterbelts on the soil water regime, strongly saline solonetzes were transformed into solonchakous agrosolonetzes with slight soda salinization in the upper 50 cm. In the plow layer, the content of exchangeable sodium decreased to 4–12% of the sum of exchangeable cations. An increased alkalinity and the presence of soda were found in the middle-profile horizons of the anthropogenically transformed soils.     

Alkalization of irrigated soils suitable for orchard growing in steppe Crimea and prospects for their use

Data of large-scale soil surveys performed by the Ukrgiprosad Institute (Ukrainian Institute for Orchard Growing) in 1997–2013 on irrigated soils of steppe Crimea reserved for orchards on the area of about 3000 ha are discussed. It is shown that all the studied soils are subjected to alkalization with the presence of soda and with an increase in concentrations of sodium and magnesium bicarbonates up to the values toxic for fruit crops. The concentrations and occurrence frequencies of alkaline salts depend on the soil type, the presence of solonetzic features, the amount of carbonates, the particular depth in the soil profile, the subsoiling, and other factors. Within the studied area, some soils are unsuitable or partly suitable for orchard growing. To improve the soil conditions for orchard growing in the areas subjected to alkalization, alkaline salts should be neutralized to nontoxic level, and the soil alkalinity should be reduced using chemical reclamation methods.     

Solonetzic process in postagrogenic and postameliorative conditions of the Kamennaya Steppe area

The physicochemical conditions and morphological features of solonetzic process in soils of chernozemic solonetzic complexes were studied in the area of solonetzic experimental station no. 1 in the Kamennaya Steppe area in 55 years after a single application of ameliorative measures (earthening, gypsuming, and manuring) and cessation of the annual plowing. It was found that the modern soil-forming factors favor the development of soil processes inherent in native chernozems and solonetzes prior to their plowing and amelioration. They cause the restoration of the humus horizon in chernozems and the morphological differentiation of solonetzes after the cessation of plowing. Active postameliorative and postagrogenic restoration of solonetzic features is related to the preservation of the physicochemical conditions (the low concentration of salts and the presence of exchangeable sodium) in the soil profile. The humus horizon of chernozems applied over the surface of solonetzes is characterized by the appearance of solonetzic features under hydromorphic conditions.     

Estimation of the areas of salt-affected soils in the European part of Russia on the basis of a digital map of soil salinization on a scale of 1 : 2.5 M

A digital version of the map of salt-affected soils on a scale of 1 : 2.5 M has been used to calculate the areas of these soils in the four federal okrugs (the Southern, Central, Volga, and Northwestern) of European Russia. The total area of soils with soluble salts in the upper meter reaches 23.3 million ha. More than half of them are solonchakous soils (with soluble salts in the layer deeper than 30 cm), and about 25% are saline from the surface. Soils of sulfate and chloride-sulfate salinization predominate (>50% of the area of salt-affected soils). Alkaline soda-saline soils and soils with the participation of soda comprise about 6%. We consider this value to be underestimated and requiring refinement, because soils of solonetzic complexes with neutral salts in the upper horizons may also contain soda in the solonetzic and subsolonetzic horizons, which was not always taken into consideration upon assessing the chemical composition of the salts. Solonetzes proper and solonetzic soils predominate among the salt-affected soils in the European part of Russia. The area of solonetzes is up to 9.4 million ha. The area of solonetzic soils (including solonetzic soils with salts in the layers of 0–100 and/or 100–200 cm) is 15.5 million ha. The highest percentage (32.2%) of salt-affected soils is in the Southern federal okrug.     

Soils of cryogenic subarid steppe landscapes in the Terekhol intermontane Depression of the Sangilen Upland

The soil cover of the Terekhol intermontane Depression in the Tyva Region is poorly studied. The data obtained in the 1950s do not reflect the real genetic diversity of soils and their specific character. According to these data, the soil cover was dominated by meadow-chernozemic soils under virgin steppe-like meadows. The investigations of 2007–2009 show that the disperse-carbonate chernozems, which are often solonetzic and weakly saline; the specific polygenetic dark soda solonchaks-solonetzes; and the postagrogenic chernozems, solonetzes, and agrozems are the main components of the soil cover of the depression at the present time. The described chernozems correspond mainly to the central image of southern Siberia chernozems. The investigated solonetzes are characterized by a number of evolution-genetic features that distinguish them from previously described solonetzes of Tyva and from all the solonetzic soils in the current interpretation. The chernozems and solonetzes have cryogenic features due to the cold extremely continental climate and relatively shallow continuous permafrost.     

准噶尔盆地温带荒漠土壤碱化分级的初步研究

准噶尔盆地温带荒漠碱化土壤是一种典型的脱盐碱化土壤,它受交换性钠(镁)和能产生水解作用的强碱弱酸盐水解引起的碱度的影响。在多年野外调查和碱化土壤特性研究的基础上,利用综合数值分析法对这些土壤进行了研究。提出了准噶尔盆地温带荒漠土壤碱化分级的具体指标和数据,并确定了水解性碱度为分级的第一重要指标。在推动和简化荒漠土壤分级上起了积极的作用。     

Mathematical models of thermal diffusivity in solonetz soils in the Trans-Volga region of Volgograd oblast

Two empirical models have been developed describing the relationship between the thermal diffusivity in soils and their properties in the solonetzic complex. The first model represents a regressive relationship between the thermal diffusivity and the most dynamic parameters (moisture, density, and their derivatives) of the soil physical status. The second (more comprehensive) model is based on the first one and takes into account the properties that appear to be the most informative about the variation of the heat transfer velocity along the solonetz profile, i.e., the indices of the particle-size distribution (the content of physical clay and fine and medium silt); the content of humus, easily soluble salts, and carbonate CO₂; and the total alkalinity index.     

Salt regime of post-irrigated soils at the Kislovsk irrigation system

The study of post-irrigated and virgin soils at the Kislovsk irrigation system has shown that the salt regime of the post-irrigated soils is determined by the (1) depth and salinity of the groundwater, (2) the litho-logical structure of the soil and subsoil, (3) the local microtopography, (4) the presence or absence of a solonetzic horizon in the post-irrigated solonetzes, and (5) the portion of solonetzes in the soil cover. The post-irrigated soil complexes on the Privolzhsk sand ridge with a groundwater depth of more than 4 m do not undergo secondary salinization. At the groundwater depth of 2.0–2.6 m, post-irrigated meadow-chestnut soils remain nonsaline, chestnut soils and solonetzes with an artificially destroyed (due to deep tillage) solonetzic horizon undergo desalinization, and solonetzes with a preserved solonetzic horizon undergo salinization in the subsolonetzic layers. The post-irrigated soils of the Khvalyn undrained sea plain used for rainfed farming have become saline in the deep part of the profile, and their plow layers remain nonsaline.     

Problems of diagnosing the solonetzic process in virgin and agriculturally modified soda saline soils of the forest steppe zone in the Omsk oblast

Two methods of diagnosing solonetzic processes (by kinetics of soil swelling and by the B index of physicochemical conditions) have been compared on the example of virgin and agriculturally modified soda solonetzic soils of the forest steppe zone in the Omsk oblast. The methods have produced similar results with-out any chemical melioration: a solonetzic process has been detected. In the majority of instances, the evaluation of alkalinity of chemically meliorated soils using the compared methods has produced the opposite results. After applying the meliorant in large doses, we did not register any solonetzic process using either of the methods.     

On the manifestation of solonetzic properties in soils of the steppe and dry steppe zones in the south of Ukraine

Solonetzic soils are widespread in the south of Ukraine; some of them are represented by low-sodium solonetzes whose diagnostics is complicated by the absence of correspondence between the low content of exchangeable sodium and the clearly pronounced features of the illuvial solonetzic horizon. The statistical treatment of available literature, personal materials, and the materials of soil surveys in the south of Ukraine demonstrated that the diagnostics of low-sodium solonetzes should be based on the assessment of the degree of illuviation in the soil profile. It was shown that the degree of correlation between the content of exchangeable sodium and the degree of illuviation of the soil profile varies in dependence on the size of the statistical sample and differs for the low-sodium and medium-sodium solonetzes. Two scales characterizing the degree of soil illuviation were developed for these soil groups. It is suggested that these scales should be applied during soil surveys in the areas with solonetzic soils.     

Changes in the properties of solonetzic soil complexes in the dry steppe zone under anthropogenic impacts

Long-term studies of changes in the properties of solonetzic soil complexes of the dry steppe zone under anthropogenic impacts (deep plowing, surface leveling, irrigation, and post-irrigation use) have been performed on the Privolzhskaya sand ridge and the Khvalyn and Ergeni plains. The natural morphology of solonetzic soils was strongly disturbed during their deep ameliorative plowing. At present, the soil cover consists of solonetzic agrozems (Sodic Protosalic Cambisols (Loamic, Aric, Protocalcic)), textural (clay-illuvial) calcareous agrozems (Eutric Cambisols (Loamic, Aric, Protocalcic)), agrosolonetzes (Endocalcaric Luvisols (Loamic, Aric, Cutanic, Protosodic), agrochestnut soils (Eutric Cambisols (Siltic, Aric)), and meadowchestnut soils (Haplic Кastanozems). No features attesting to the restoration of the initial profile of solonetzes have been found. The dynamics of soluble salts and exchangeable sodium differ in the agrosolonetzes and solonetzic agrozems. A rise in pH values takes place in the middle part of the soil profiles on the Khvalyn and Ergeni plains.     

Modern state of soil salinity in solonetzic soil complexes at the Dzhanybek Research Station in the North Caspian Region

Variations in the salinity of virgin soils of solonetzic soil complexes at the Dzhanybek Research Station are characterized on the basis of field materials obtained by the author in 2002–2004. The soil salinity is characterized with respect to the depth of the upper boundary of salt-bearing horizons, the total amount of salts, the content of toxic salts, and the chemical composition of salts. Changes in the soil salinity under dry farming conditions are estimated for the following soil management practices: (1) agroforest amelioration with additional moistening of virgin soils owing to snow retention by the adjacent shelterbelts and forest plantations, (2) intense grazing, (3) soil fallowing after normal tillage to a depth of 20–25 cm, and (4) soil fallowing after deep tillage to a depth of 40–50 cm. It is shown that normal tillage and considerable grazing pressure do not affect the salinity of the studied soils. No definite effect of the shelterbelts on the salt status of the adjacent virgin soils of the solonetzic complex has been revealed. Deep soil tillage strongly affects the salt status of solonetzes: the content of toxic salts in the upper meter considerably decreases. Virgin solonetzes are usually moderately or strongly saline soils, whereas deeply tilled solonetzes are slightly or moderately saline soils.     

松嫩平原不同微地貌上土壤剖面盐分组成及其分布特征

利用野外调查和理化分析方法,选取松嫩平原盐碱化草原一个典型洼地不同微地貌单元5个土壤剖面,研究了该区域苏打盐渍土土壤剖面发生学形态特征,分析了可溶盐组成及其分布特点。结果表明:不同微地貌上土壤剖面发生层次的碱化度与可溶盐总量的分布趋势相近,显示出苏打盐碱土积盐和碱化呈同步的特征;可溶盐离子组成以K+和Na+及HCO₃?和CO₃2?为主;P1剖面0 ~ 60 cm和P3剖面0 ~ 40 cm盐分数量多且集中分布,盐分表聚作用显著;其它剖面盐分数量均呈现中部高且向下减少的趋势;洼地由西至东,盐碱土土壤类型依次为苏打浅位盐化碱土、苏打白盖盐化碱土、苏打轻盐弱碱化草甸土、苏打弱碱化盐土。微域内苏打盐碱土呈复区分布。     

Modified Soil‐Test Methods for Extractable Phosphorus in Acidic,Neutral, and Alkaline Soils

Abstract

Although numerous soil‐test methods for estimating extractable phosphorus (P) have been developed around the world, their results are difficult to compare because of the very different scale levels used. In the present study, the Bray–Kurtz method (Bray‐P) is used as a reference value. Two other methods [lactate‐P and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)‐P] were modified to facilitate the comparison of extractable‐P determinations, mainly by adjusting the shaking time. These three methods were applied to 101 soil samples from an extensive region of Argentina with soil pH values ranging from 5.5 to 8.5. The results confirm that the Bray‐P and the two modified methods (lactate‐P and NaHCO₃‐P) determine similar contents of extractable P but are not applicable to all types of soils and conditions. Equations that minimize the statistical error were selected for soil properties such as organic carbon (OC) content, pH, soluble salts, and calcium carbonate content. Correlation coefficients between Bray‐P and NaHCO₃‐P increased to 0.91 and 0.95 in soils with high and low OC levels, respectively. It was also demonstrated that the lactate‐P test is not suitable for soils rich in calcium carbonate or soluble salts. These two modified methods are expected to be useful for testing P values that impact agricultural production.     

Zonal,provincial, lithological,and geomorphic features of soil salinization in the Southern federal okrug of Russia

The relationships between soil salinization and the zonal and provincial bioclimatic conditions, the lithological composition of the sediments, and the geomorphic features of the territory have been analyzed for the Southern federal okrug of Russia. It is shown that the lithological and geomorphic conditions (relief, salinity of parent materials, degree of drainage, and the depth of saline groundwater) play an important role in the distribution of salt-affected soils against the background of the more general regularities specified by the climate. The participation of salt-affected soils in the soil cover of the Southern federal okrug increases in the eastward direction from the forest-steppe zone to the semidesert zone in agreement with an increase in the aridity and continentality of the climate. The chemical composition of soil salts also changes: the sulfate and soda-sulfate types predominate in the forest-steppe zone; the sulfate type or the sulfate type with the participation of soda, in the steppe zone; the sulfate-chloride type, in the dry steppe zone; and the chloride type, in the semidesert zone. The lithological and geomorphic conditions within the particular zones and provinces affect the distribution pattern of the salt-affected soils and the degree and chemistry of the soil salinization. The areas of salt-affected soils were calculated with the use of a digital version of the Map of Salt-Affected Soils of Russia (1: 2.5 M scale) with due account for the participation of these soils in the soil cover of the particular delineations and the data on the depth of the upper boundary of the salt-bearing horizons, the degree and chemistry of the soil salinization, and the area of solonetzes and solonetzic soils.     

Properties of solonetzes on terraces of salt lakes Bulukhta and Khaki in the Caspian Lowland

A comparative assessment of pedogenetic processes in solonetzes (Calcic Gypsic Salic Solonetzes (Siltic, Albic, Cutanic, Differentic)) developing on terraces of lake depressions within the Volga–Ural interfluve of the Caspian Lowland has been performed on the basis of data on their macro- and micromorphological features and chemical, physicochemical, and physical properties. The studied soils have number of common characteristics shaped by the humus-accumulative, solonetzic, eluvial–illuvial, calcification, and gypsification processes. However, it is shown that macro- and micromorphological indicators of solonetzic processes (the development of clay–humus coatings and the character of structural units in the solonetzic (B) horizon) do not always agree with the modern physicochemical conditions of the development of this process. This is explained by differences in the degree and chemistry of the soil salinization and the depth and salinity of the groundwater. Solonetzes developing on the second terrace of Playa Khaki are distinguished by the highest water content and maximum thickness of the horizons depleted of soluble salts. They are characterized by the well-pronounced humus-accumulative process leading to the development of the light-humus (AJ) horizon. In other solonetzes, the accumulation of humus is weaker, and their topsoil part can be diagnosed as the solonetzic-eluvial (SEL) horizon. Active solodic process and illuviation of organomineral substances with the development of thick coatings and infillings in the B horizon are also typical of solonetzes on the second terrace of Playa Khaki. Micromorphological data indicate that, at present, layered clayey coatings in these soils are subjected to destruction and in situ humification owing to the active penetration of plant roots into the coatings with their further biogenic processing by the soil microfauna. The process of gleyzation (as judged from the number of Fe–Mn concentrations) is most active in solonetzes developing on the first terrace of Playa Khaki. These soils are also characterized by the highest degree of salinization with participation of toxic salts. The maximum accumulation of gypsum is typical of the heavy-textured horizons.     

Coefficients of association and activity of cadmium and lead ions in soil solutions

The thermodynamic calculations were made for the contents of Pb and Cd compounds in soil solutions and water extracts of the meadow-steppe and meadow solonetzes (Rostov oblast) based on their prescribed analytic concentrations of 3 and 5 μg/l, respectively. The solonetzes studied are characterized by their high carbonate content and high alkalinity. The activity of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ was shown to be many times lower than their total concentration in the solution due to the association of these metals with carbonate and other anions and the formation of hydroxocomplexes CdOH⁺ and PbOH⁺. This fact is one of the reasons for the low input of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ to plants growing on calcareous soils.