Diagnostics of hydromorphism in soils of autonomous positions on the Severo-Sos’vinsk Upland (Western Siberia)

The complex studies of hydromorphism features in taiga weakly differentiated soils using morphological (color), chemical (iron content in different extracts, indicators of reducing conditions (IRIS)), and geobotanic (using the Ramenskii scale) methods have led to ambiguous conclusions. In all the soils, surface gleying was manifested. According to the results obtained by different methods, the maximum reduction processes were related to either the sublitter or the next deeper horizon. The Schwertmann coefficient, the criterion of Bodegom, and the Ramenskii scale indicated an increase of hydromorphism in the soils studied in the following sequence: the lower part of the ridge slopes drained by the small gullies < the middle part of the slopes < the flat tops of the ridges < the depression between the ridges. The morphological diagnostics of gleying proved to be a less sensitive method, which can recognize only the most contrasting hydromorphic soils. The lower horizons in some taiga soils have a bluish gray color probably not related to the recent soil hydromorphism.     

Phytoindication of the water status and nutrient supply of oil-polluted soils in the middle reaches of the Ob’ River

The method of phytoindication of the soil water status and nutrient supply was applied to natural and oil-contaminated soils in the middle reaches of the Ob’ River. These soil characteristics were indirectly assessed using the ecological scales developed by L. G. Ramenskii. On this basis, changes in the soil water status and nutrient supply under the impact of soil contamination with oil and oil products were estimated for the particular soil and landscape conditions     

Soils оf Oligomesotrophic аnd Mesotrophic Bogs in the Boreal Zone of West Siberia: Possibilities of Botanical Diagnostics within the Framework of the Type of Mesotrophic Peat Soils

Eurasian Soil Science - Despite the widespread use of the taxon “mesotrophic (transitional) peat soils” in the present-day Russian and foreign pedology, including some fundamental...     

Influence of oil and stratal water contamination on the ash composition of oligotrophic peat soils in the oil-production area (the Ob’ region)

The mineral contamination of peat soils in the oil-production area differs considerably in the places of oil or stratal water spills. The time elapsed since the spill occurred is also an important factor of the changes in the chemical composition of the peat ash. The ash content rises drastically in the oil-contaminated peat, and the peat ash becomes rich in heavy metals (Mn, Ni, and Sr) and lanthanides (La and Ce). The content of K and Fe decreases, and that of P, S, Mg, Ca, Ni, and Pb increases with time at the site of old oil contamination. In the course of the self-rehabilitation of oil-contaminated peat, the content of Cl decreases more intensely than that of the heavier halogen Br. The ash content rises to a lesser extent in the peat contaminated with stratal water. The ash of the salinized peat is enriched in heavy alkaline-earth elements, i.e., Ba and Sr. Although most of the elements are leached with time, the content of Ba and Sr still remains 4–6 times higher than the background one even after long-term (more than 10 years) leaching. The concentrations of halogens rise considerably in the salinized peat, that of Cl in the peat ash decreases by 10 times, and the content of Ba virtually remains the same.     

Automorphic taiga soils of the Sredneobskaya Lowland

The morphology of the profile, some chemical properties, and particle-size distribution of the automorphic soils developed from lacustrine-alluvial loamy-clayey deposits in the Sredneobskaya Lowland are considered. The soils of the West Siberian middle taiga zone remain poorly studied. A comparison of our data with data on podzolic soils in the northeastern part of European Russia and with diagnostic characteristics of the soil type of svetlozems included in the new classification system of Russian soils (2004) allows to argue that the studied soils cannot be classified as podzolic soils; most of them also do not fit the diagnostic criteria of svetlozems. The obtained data on the particle-size distribution in the studied soils do not agree with the concept of the sedimentation zonality in the West Siberian Plain.     

Some Aspects of the Systematics and Diagnostics of Peat Soils of Boreal Mires

Eurasian Soil Science - On the basis of the review of available literature sources, the approaches to the systematics of peat soils in different soil classifications systems (Russian, German,...     

Geochemical features of high and transitional moors under the impact of waste pits

Waste pits represent a significant ecological problem for oil–gas fields of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug (Yugra) in Western Siberia. Drilling sludge contained in them results in chemical contamination of moors. Seven areas adjacent to waste pits were investigated. We determined the content of macro-, micro- and rare-earth elements in peat of undisturbed high moors in the middle taiga of the Middle Ob region and compared these data with their background contents and clarke values. The contents of macroand microelements in peat of the background areas of oilfields are higher for the Surgutskoe Poles’e deposit than for the Samotlor field. Waste pits increase in content of all investigated macro- and microelements in peat. The most intensively accumulated macroelements in the impact zones are typically chlorine, potassium, magnesium, and iron; the most intensively accumulated microelements are boron, strontium, nickel, and rubidium. Microelements accumulate in the top peat layer, while the accumulation of macroelements is more specific. Waste pits result in a one- to threefold increase in the pH of the peat water suspension, a threefold increase in the ash content in peat, and in sevenfold increase in the electric conductivity of peat water suspension. The impact of waste pits is stronger in the Samotlor oil-and-gas field than in the Surgutskoe Poles’e deposit, which can be explained by different histories of their development. Waste pits considerably alter the geochemical parameters of high moors, creating conditions for meso- and eutrophic vegetation.     

Strong negative geochemical anomaly of raised bog peat in the middle taiga zone, Middle Priobye

Peat samples from bogs of the middle taiga zone (Middle Priobye region) represent a strong negative geochemical anomaly of a number of chemical elements compared to peat samples from bogs of the southern taiga of the Middle and Upper Priobye regions. The proximity of mountain systems (the Altai Mountains, the Salair Ridge, and Kuznetskii Alatau) presumably affects peat composition in the southern taiga zone by air transportation of mineral dust. The latter fact enriches peat of raised bogs in certain metals, whilst not reaching the outlying Middle Priobye region.     

Geobotanical indication of the trophic status and moistening of reclaimed oil-polluted oligotrophic peat soils in the middle reaches of the Ob River

Changes in the trophic status and moistening of oligotrophic peat soils subjected to oil pollution and subsequent reclamation in the middle reaches of the Ob River are discussed. The main plants-indicators are listed. Numerical estimates of the trophic level and the degree of moistening of natural and transformed soils of the widespread bog biogeocenoses—pine-dwarf-shrub-sphagnum, complex ridged-hollow, and cotton grass-sphagnum bogs—are suggested on the basis of the ecological scales developed by L.G. Ramenskii. These estimates have been grouped into several classes used to describe the ecological conditions in natural biogeocenoses of the middle taiga subzone. The main tendencies in the transformation of ecological conditions are revealed. Indicative characteristics of the anthropogenic salinization of peat soils are established.     

Analysis of structure and composition of soil cover in the Salym-Irtysh interfluve based on updated medium-scale soil map

Specific features of the structure and composition of the soil cover in the Salym-Irtysh interfluve, Western Siberian Lowland, are studied with consideration of the capabilities of digital mapping. The properties of predominating and accompanying soils, which determine the modern status of boreal landscapes, are evaluated. Aspects of genesis and the Quaternary history of the investigated region are analyzed by a comparative approach. Possible trends of soil-plant cover transformation under climate changes are discussed.