外源碳输入对华北平原农田和湿地土壤有机碳矿化及其温度敏感性的影响

研究外源碳输入和气候变暖对土壤有机碳矿化的影响,对于深入理解土壤有机碳的稳定和积累机制以及其对全球变化的响应具有重要意义。通过为期35 d的室内培养试验,利用~(13)C稳定同位素标记技术,研究了华北平原典型农田和湿地土壤在15℃和25℃下的土壤有机碳矿化及激发效应。结果表明,土地利用类型(农田/湿地)、温度(15℃/25℃)和葡萄糖添加[0.4mg(C)·g~(-1)]对土壤有机碳矿化均具有显著影响。在相同培养温度下,未添加葡萄糖的农田和湿地土壤有机碳矿化无显著差异,而添加葡萄糖处理下农田土壤有机碳矿化显著高于湿地土壤。除湿地土壤在15℃下培养外,添加葡萄糖显著促进了农田和湿地土壤有机碳矿化,农田土壤有机碳矿化的激发效应显著高于湿地土壤。温度升高显著促进了农田和湿地土壤有机碳矿化,培养过程中土壤有机碳矿化温度敏感性Q10为1.2～1.6,土地利用类型和葡萄糖添加对土壤有机碳矿化温度敏感性的影响都不显著。在温度升高和外源碳输入的共同作用下,农田土壤有机碳矿化显著高于湿地土壤。     

稻草及其制备的生物质炭对土壤团聚体有机碳的影响

向土壤中添加生物质炭已被认为是改善土壤质量,增加碳吸存的有效措施。通过模拟实验,利用同位素δ13C标记技术,研究稻草及其制备的生物质炭添加对土壤团聚体有机碳的影响。结果表明：稻草和生物质炭对土壤团聚体中新形成碳和原有机碳的影响截然不同。培养112 d,来自稻草或生物质炭的新碳主要进入到中团聚体（50 ~ 250 μm）中,比例为70.3% ~ 75.3%。与对照土壤相比,稻草添加显著促进了大团聚体（250 ~ 2 000 μm）原有机碳的分解（p <0.05）,但对中团聚体和微团聚体（<50 μm）原有机碳的影响并不明显,而生物质炭添加（SB250和SB350）则对大团聚体和中团聚体原有机碳没有显著影响,但SB250处理（土壤中加入250℃热解制备的生物质炭）显著抑制了微团聚体原有机碳的分解（p <0.05）,而SB350处理（土壤中加入350℃热解制备的生物质炭）的则无影响。对于同一粒级团聚体,稻草与生物质炭处理的区别,主要体现在新碳分配上,而对原有机碳的影响并不显著。     

温度对贵州喀斯特黄色石灰土有机碳矿化、水稻秸秆激发效应和Q10的影响

为定量揭示温度和秸秆还田对贵州喀斯特黄色石灰土土壤有机碳矿化、激发效应和温度敏感性的影响。以贵州喀斯特地区典型黄色石灰土为研究对象,采用¹³C稳定性同位素标记的水稻秸秆和土壤培养试验研究了15,25,35 ℃培养温度下土壤原有有机碳矿化速率、累积矿化量、激发效应和温度系数Q₁₀对水稻秸秆输入和温度的响应。结果表明:15~35 ℃温度范围和0~60天培养时间内,贵州喀斯特黄色石灰土土壤有机碳、总有机碳、水稻秸秆有机碳和土壤原有有机碳矿化速率均培养1天达到峰值,培养1~30天土壤总有机碳、水稻秸秆有机碳和土壤原有有机碳矿化速率快速下降,30~60天逐渐趋于平缓。温度升高显著增加土壤有机碳、水稻秸秆输入土壤总有机碳、土壤原有有机碳和输入的水稻秸秆有机碳的矿化速率和累积矿化量。培养期间水稻秸秆对土壤有机碳矿化均产生显著正激发效应,且正激发效应随温度升高而强化。培养结束时15,25,35 ℃下其对土壤原有有机碳矿化速率激发效应表现为随温度升高激发效应升高、降低、升高和先升高后降低的温度响应规律,因表征方法不同而不同。15,25,35 ℃培养温度下水稻秸秆对土壤总有机碳矿化速率和累积矿化量的贡献率均随培养时间延长先减小后增大再减小,但2种表征方法和3个培养温度拐点发生时间不同;培养1天时水稻秸秆对土壤总有机碳矿化速率和累积矿化量的贡献率15,25 ℃基本相同且显著高于35 ℃,5天时25,35 ℃基本相当且显著大于15 ℃,其他时间均是25 ℃显著大于35 ℃和35 ℃显著大于15 ℃。15~25 ℃和25~35 ℃ 2个温度体系中水稻秸秆不输入石灰土土壤有机碳矿化速率温度敏感系数Q_10,V分别为1.01~2.60和1.39~3.12,Q_10,F分别为1.50~2.60和1.39~2.17;水稻秸秆输入石灰土土壤总有机碳矿化速率温度敏感系数Q_10,V分别为1.09~2.18和1.05~1.90,Q_10,F分别为1.09~1.73和1.05~1.49;水稻秸秆输入抑制土壤原有有机碳矿化的温度敏感性,水稻秸秆输入导致土壤原有有机碳矿化温度敏感性随温度升高而升高转变为总体上随温度升高而降低在一定程度上可缓冲全球变暖所致的CO₂排放增加。温度对土壤有机碳矿化温度敏感性的影响因表征温度敏感性指标和培养时间长短不同而不同,建立不同培养时间的矿化速率和累积矿化量温度敏感系数的温度函数可精确表征其对温度的响应。研究结果对贵州喀斯特农田土壤秸秆还田、土壤固碳减排、土壤有机碳管理和土壤有机碳库预测等提供参考和借鉴,对丰富土壤有机碳激发效应和温度系数Q₁₀的表征和深入理解具有重要意义。     

退化喀斯特森林植被自然恢复中土壤有机碳δ~(13)C值特征

采用空间代替时间与稳定性碳同位素技术相结合的方法,研究了茂兰喀斯特森林自然恢复中土壤有机碳(SOC)δ13C值特征。结果表明:整体上SOCδ13C值随恢复进展0~20 cm土层(-25.72‰~-19.91‰)趋正、20 cm土层(-23.76‰~-18.13‰)先趋正后趋负。随土层加深除草灌、灌乔外其他阶段均趋正,草灌阶段上层土与乔木、顶极阶段底层土SOC为C4碳,SOCδ13C值变化受地带性和喀斯特环境的双重影响。群落优势种凋落叶δ13C值(-31.79‰~-16.76‰)随恢复进展趋负,说明生境日益改善,其与0~20cm土层SOCδ13C值呈极显著正相关(R20.96,p0.01)、而与20 cm土层极不相关,说明0~20 cm土层主要为新碳;SOC周转速率随恢复进展递增、随土层加深递减,土壤生化反应具较强表聚性;SOCδ13C值与土壤可矿化碳、易氧化碳含量呈显著的负相关关系(R2-0.50,p0.05),与微生物生物量碳具有一定的负相关关系(R2=-0.389),SOCδ13C值在一定程度上可以指示SOC的活性;喀斯特森林自然恢复是复杂多变、多途径的统一,其中C4植物在恢复中具有重要意义;碳同位素方法与"空间代替时间"方法相结合能较好地重现喀斯特植被更替的历史。     

黑碳添加对土壤活性有机碳和原有机碳的影响

通过室内培养实验,向土壤(甘蔗土)中分别添加不同用量的黑碳(BC,350℃热解水稻秸秆),添加量分别为0(BC0)、1％(BC1)、2％(BC2)、3％(BC3)、4％(BC4)和5％(BC5),研究黑碳添加量对土壤活性有机碳和原有机碳的影响.结果表明,在25℃培养条件下,土壤易矿化碳(Cm)随黑碳添加量的增加而增加;土壤微生物生物量碳含量亦随添加量的增加呈增加趋势(BC3处理除外).土壤可溶性有机碳含量在BC1、BC2和BC3处理之间的差异不显著,并显著低于对照土壤(BC0);应用δ13C自然丰度方法研究发现,BC1处理抑制了土壤原有机碳分解,而BC2、BC3、BC4和BC5处理促进了土壤原有机碳的分解,但统计上未达显著水平.     

秸秆与生物质炭施用对土壤温室气体排放的影响差异

采用室内培养试验,向土壤中添加小麦秸秆和不同量生物质炭,同时比较探究秸秆与生物质炭施用对土壤温室气体排放及微生物活性的影响差异。试验共设5个处理:土壤(S)、土壤+1%小麦秸秆(WT)、土壤+1%生物质炭(BC1)、土壤+2%生物质炭(BC2)和土壤+4%生物质炭(BC4)。在培养期内,施秸秆处理土壤CO2排放量比对照处理S显著增加约12.60%~2005.63%,而施生物质炭处理降低约51.49%~97.93%。施秸秆处理的温室气体增温潜势(GWP)是对照处理S的1.12~19.24倍,而施生物质炭处理,即处理BC1、BC2和BC4的GWP分别降低了0.27%~64.06%,15.78%~94.01%和29.43%~92.28%。小麦秸秆施用会明显增加土壤温室气体排放,增加温室效应;而添加生物质炭对土壤CO2、N2O排放表现出一定的抑制作用,并明显减弱温室气体增温潜势,即生物质炭能明显减弱温室效应。添加小麦秸秆促进土壤微生物生物量碳的增加,提高FDA水解酶、脲酶、过氧化氢酶、磷酸酶活性;生物质炭施用一段时间后对土壤过氧化氢酶活性表现为显著激活作用。     

旱地土壤施用生物质炭的后效应——水分条件对土壤有机碳矿化的影响

农田施用生物质炭作为农田土壤固碳减排技术的重要措施已受到广泛关注。本研究选择一次性大量施入生物质炭3年后且长期种植玉米的旱地土壤为研究对象,通过室内培养试验,研究了不同水分条件下的有机碳稳定性的变化,结果表明:一级动力学方程较好地描述了土壤有机碳的矿化动态,总体看来旱地土壤有机碳的矿化强度随土壤含水量的增加而增大,在25%WHC(持水量,water holding capacity)、50%WHC和75%WHC水分条件下,与C0(无生物质炭)相比,C20(生物质炭20 t/hm2)、C40(生物质炭40 t/hm2)处理下,有机碳的矿化强度分别降低了28.57%~42.86%(25%WHC)、22.22%~33.33%(50%WHC)、15.00%~30.00%(75%WHC),不同处理下土壤的微生物商和微生物代谢熵对水分的响应存在明显差异,与对照相比,生物质炭施用下微生物量相对稳定,且稳定程度与生物质炭用量有关。因此,旱地土壤施用生物质炭具有保持微生物量稳定且降低土壤有机碳矿化与CO2释放的作用,这对于农田土壤有机碳的固持增汇具有重要意义。     

施用生物质炭对红壤有机碳矿化及其组分的影响

采用室内培养试验研究了生物质炭种类、土壤性状和氮肥施用对红壤有机碳矿化及其组分的影响。结果表明,添加生物质炭后红壤中有机碳的矿化速率随添加生物质炭制备温度的增加而下降;在有机质中等的土壤中,添加生物质炭可促进土壤有机碳的矿化;而对于有机质特别低或较高的土壤中,添加生物质炭降低了其有机碳的矿化;施用氮肥可明显增加生物质炭添加土壤中有机碳的矿化。研究认为,生物质炭类型、土壤性状和施用氮肥对添加生物质炭土壤有机碳矿化的影响差异可能与它们对土壤活性有机碳(微生物生物量碳和水溶性碳)的影响不同有关。总体上,施用生物质炭和氮肥若能促进土壤活性有机碳的形成,则相应地其也可促进土壤有机碳的矿化。生物质炭在土壤中的稳定性也受土壤性状和氮素状况的影响。     

生物质炭对茂兰喀斯特森林土壤呼吸与有机碳的影响

以贵州茂兰喀斯特国家自然保护区原始森林中的优势种青冈(Cyclobalanopsis glauca)凋落物(L)和对应的森林土壤(S)为研究对象,在两种不同温度(400℃、600℃)下将凋落物制成生物质炭(BC400、BC600),设置土壤(S)、土壤+凋落物(S+L)、土壤+BC400(S+BC400)、土壤+BC600(S+BC600)4个处理进行室内培养(1 kg土中加12.5 g生物质炭),在培养过程中动态监测土壤呼吸、土壤有机碳、碳氮比和pH,分析青冈凋落物与其生物质炭对森林土壤呼吸和有机碳含量等变化的影响。结果表明:在添加量为12.5 g/kg的条件下,25℃培养180 d后,与对照组相比,3组添加不同物质的处理S+L、S+BC400、S+BC600中碳的净释放量分别增加了34.98%、42.45%、9.83%,青冈凋落物与其生物质炭的添加均对土壤呼吸起到了明显的促进作用(P0.05);对培养前后土壤有机碳含量对比发现,低温生物质炭(BC400)的添加促进了微生物对土壤有机碳的转化,而高温生物质炭(BC600)作用相反,从短期来看,具有一定的固碳作用,为生物质炭在喀斯特森林土壤碳固定应用方面提供了参考依据。     

应用~(13)C核磁共振技术研究土壤有机质化学结构进展

土壤有机质化学结构对准确评价土壤有机质的稳定性及其在土壤中的功能具有重要意义。土壤有机质化学结构的研究方法中,固态~(13)C核磁共振波谱技术(Solid-state ~(13)C-NMR spectroscopy)具有独特优势,对土壤有机质化学结构的解析更贴近真实状态,近年来已取得诸多新进展和新突破。综述了近年来应用~(13)C-NMR测定土壤全土、团聚体和密度组分、腐殖质组分的有机碳化学结构特征,分析了影响化学结构变化的因素。不同气候条件、植被类型、土地利用管理方式、土壤类型、土壤有机碳含量的全土中有机碳化学结构比较相似,均表现为烷氧碳比例最高,其次为烷基碳和芳香碳,羧基羰基碳比例最低。土壤有机碳主要来源于外源植物残体,植物残体化学结构的相似性可能是导致土壤有机碳化学结构相似的主要原因,环境条件、土壤自身属性和微生物活性的差异使土壤有机碳化学结构产生微小差异。土壤颗粒及化学组分间的有机碳分子结构差异较大,大颗粒有机碳中烷氧碳比例最高,小粒径及与矿物颗粒结合的有机碳中烷基碳和羧基羰基碳比例更高,粉黏粒和腐殖酸组分的有机碳化学结构在土壤类型间差异较大。今后的研究重点应更多地关注土壤有机质来源的定量化分析、土壤微生物对土壤有机碳组分和结构稳定性的贡献及调控机制、土壤有机碳稳定性的生物物理化学保护机制、空间大尺度环境因子/土壤生态过程与微观尺度的有机碳化学分子结构的耦合作用机制、跨学科的多种土壤有机碳化学分子结构测定辨识技术等方面的研究。     

Accumulation of copper in soils and leaves of tomato plants in greenhouses in Turkey

Copper (Cu)‐containing fertilizers, fungicides, and bactericides has been used extensively in the greenhouses in the Antalya province in recent decades with the use of such materials tending to increase year by year. The level of DTPA‐extractable Cu was determined in 210 soils (0–20 and 20–40 cm depth) and 105 leaf samples obtained from 105 tomato greenhouses. The DTPA‐extractable Cu contents of the soils taken from the 0–20 depth ranged between 0.76 and 88.03 mg kg^‐1 (mean 7.79 mg kg^‐1). The percentage of soils containing DTPA‐extractable Cu greater than the critical toxicity level (20 mg kg^‐1) was 8.1. The Cu content of tomato leaf samples ranged between 2.4 and 1,490 mg kg^‐1 (mean 166.5 mg kg^‐1). The Cu concentration in leaf samples was very high due to the intensive use of foliar applied Cu‐containing chemicals. As a consequence, 24.8% of the leaf tomato samples analyzed contained over 200 mg Cu kg^‐1, the maximum accepted tolerance level. Therefore, it may be necessary to reduce the use of Cu‐containing pesticides and fertilizers, or at least reduce the amount of Cu‐containing fertilizers being used in those greenhouses where Cu‐containing pesticides have been or are being used.     

Role of selenium in mitigation of cadmium toxicity in pepper grown in hydroponic condition

Selenium (Se) is an essential element for humans but is not considered as essential for plants. However, its beneficial role in improving plant growth and stress tolerances is well established. In order to study the role of Se in cadmium (Cd) toxicity in pepper (Capsicum frutescens cv. Suryankhi Cluster), this experiment was carried out in greenhouse conditions. Treatments comprised Cd [0, 0.25, and 0.5 mM cadmium chloride (CdCl₂)] and Se [0, 3, and 7 µM sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃)] with three replications. The result showed that Cd decreased chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids, whereas Se supplementation diminished Cd toxicity on photosynthetic pigment. Selenium at 7 µM significantly increased the leaf area in the plants grown at 0.25 mM Cd. The application of Se at 3 µM with 0.25 mM Cd and Se at 3 µM and Se at 7 µM with 0.5 mM Cd increased the activity of catalase (CAT). Selenium at 7 µM decreased the proline content of pepper leaves exposed to Cd at 0.5 mM (30%). Selenium significantly enhanced the antioxidant activity of leaves, which was diminished by Cd toxicity. In general, Se has a beneficial effect on plant growth and is an antioxidant enzyme of pepper cv. Suryankhi Cluster under Cd stress and non-stress conditions.     

红壤区不同肥力水稻土根际硝化作用特征

通过根际培养箱(三室)——速冻切片技术研究了红壤地区高、低两种肥力下水稻苗期根表、根际和土体土壤矿质态氮含量和硝化强度,以及水稻生长、氮素积累的差异。结果表明,肥力水平对水稻根表和根际土壤铵态氮(NH4+-N)含量无显著影响,但高肥力显著提高土体土壤NH4+-N含量,以及根表、根际和土体土壤硝态氮(NO3--N)含量及硝化强度。两种肥力水稻土硝化强度最大值均出现在距根表2 mm处,分别为0.20和0.31μmol kg-1 h-1。土体土壤硝化强度随距根表距离增加而降低,低肥力土壤在距根表10～40mm处时硝化强度接近本底值,而高肥力土壤在距根表20～40 mm处时接近本底值。与不种水稻的CK相比,种植水稻显著提高根际土壤硝化强度。高肥力能显著改善水稻生长,增加植株氮素积累量,尤其显著促进根系生长及通气组织发育。由于红壤稻田肥力水平的差异造成水稻根际硝化强度以及水稻吸收NO3-的差异,导致高肥条件下水稻显示出更强的生长势和氮素吸收利用能力。因此,合理提高红壤稻田肥力水平对改善红壤区水稻根际土壤硝化作用及水稻氮素营养具有重要意义。     

自由基在鸡肾病发生中的作用研究

肾病即急性肾小管坏死.鸡肾病在养鸡生产中极为常见,尤其近年来,鸡肾病的发生日益增多,由于其发生机制不清楚,临床治疗鸡肾病的依据不足,致使治疗效果不佳,为此,提出本研究以探讨鸡肾病的发生机制,为本病防治提供理论依据.     

Meta-analysis in the Selection of Groups in Varieties of Citrus

Brazil is the largest producer of oranges (Citrus sinensis) in the world. The nutrient management of tree orchards is designed from experiments with a limited number of varieties. This knowledge is transferred to other varieties by diagnosing tissue nutrient composition and tree demand. Compositional data analysis has been first applied to tissue analysis of agricultural crops using centered log ratios with compositional nutrient diagnosis (CND-clr). The isometric log ratio (ilr) transformation is a new approach based on binary nutrient ratios and the principle of orthogonality (CND-ilr). We analyzed eleven nutrients: nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), boron (B), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) in leaf tissue samples across 108 commercial plots (thirty-one grow Valencia, twenty-two Hamlim, twenty Pera, and thirty-five Natal). Nutrients were partitioned between macro- and micronutrients as well as anionic and cationic species. The effect size of varieties over Valencia was quantified by the mean and standard deviation of ilr values across ilr coordinates. Specific varietal nutrient profiles and ilr norms were defined. The nutrient profile of orange varieties could be classified into homogeneous groups to take advantage of fertilizer trials conducted on varieties of the same group. The Aitchison distance and a perturbation vector could be instrumental for diagnostic purposes and nutrient management.     

Occurrence of Sexual Hormones in Sediments of Mangrove in Brazil

The presence of sexual hormones (female estrogens) was assessed in sediments of a mangrove located in the urban region of southern Brazil. The estrogens are involved in human sexual reproduction. They act as the chemical messengers, and they are classified as natural and synthetic. The estrogens inputs in the environment are from treated and untreated sewage. The presence of estrogens in sewage is excretion from the female due to natural production and use of contraceptives (synthetic estrogens). With the indiscriminate release of sewage into the environment, estrogens can be found in rivers, lakes, and even in oceans. In this work, the presence of estrone (E1), 17-??-estradiol (E2), and 17-??-ethynilestradiol (EE2) in eight sedimentary stations in Itacorubi mangrove located on Santa Catarina Island, south Brazil, was investigated. Historically, the Itacorubi mangrove has been impacted by anthropogenic activities because the mangrove is inserted in the urban area of the Florianopolis. The estrogen EE2, used as contraceptive, had the highest concentration in mangrove sediment, 129.75?±?3.89 ng/g. E2 was also found, with its concentration ranging from 0.90?±?0.03 to 39.77?±?1.19 ng/g. Following the mechanism, under aerobic or anaerobic conditions, E2 will first be oxidized to E1, which is further oxidized to unknown metabolites and finally to CO₂ and water (mineralized). EE2 is oxidized to unknown metabolites and also finally mineralized. Theoretically, under anaerobic conditions, EE2 can be reduced to E1 even in environments such as mangrove which is essentially anaerobic.     

Role of aldehyde oxidase in the hepatic in vitro metabolism of 3-methylindole in pigs

The metabolism of 3-hydroxy-3-methylindolenine (HMI), a recently discovered metabolite of 3-methylindole (3MI, skatole) produced by porcine liver microsomes, was investigated in vitro using porcine liver cytosol. HMI was rapidly metabolized to a single product, 3-hydroxy-3-methyloxindole (HMOI), by porcine cytosol. By the use of the selective inhibitors menadione and quinacrine, it was shown that the enzyme responsible for the oxidation of HMI into HMOI was aldehyde oxidase (AO; aldehyde:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.2.3.1). The activity of AO in the conversion of HMI to HMOI was measured in a population of pigs (n = 30) with a wide range of 3MI levels in back fat (0.07-0.30 mg/kg). AO activity was found to be negatively correlated (r = -0.70; P < 0.001) with the level of 3MI in fat. The results of the present study suggest that AO plays an important role in the metabolism of 3MI in the pig and that its catalytic activity is related to an adequate 3MI clearance.     

Effect of iron-quercetin complex on reduction of nitrite in in vitro and in vivo systems

This study investigated whether reducing agents such as quercetin and iron(II) facilitate formation of nitric oxide (NO) gas from orally ingested nitrite in an vivo study. When 3 mg/kg Na (15)NO2 was orally administered to rats with or without iron(II) or quercetin, Hb (15)NO, which is indicative of systemic (15)NO, was detected in the blood, with the maximum blood concentration of Hb (15)NO at 15 min after nitrite or nitrite plus quercetin treatment, whereas after administration of nitrite plus iron(II) or nitrite plus iron(II) and quercetin, the time was shortened to 10 min. Interestingly, iron(II), quercetin, or iron(II) plus quercetin did not affect the total amount of Hb (15)NO generated from orally administered Na (15)NO2. However, the systemic nitrite concentration was significantly decreased in the presence of iron(II) or iron(II) plus quercetin. These results may indicate that iron(II) is critical to the generation of NO gas from nitrite, whereas quercetin contributed little under the in vivo experimental conditions.     

旱地果园水肥管理模式研究进展

分析了旱地果园水肥管理模式的研究进展和存在问题，指出水肥胁迫尤其是水钾已成为旱区果树高产稳产优质化的主要限制因子。在系统探讨旱地果园水分管理、养分管理、综合管理以及果树叶营养综合诊断施肥标准的基础上．提出了旱地果园的高效水肥管理模式。     

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.