The humus formation and humus in forest-steppe and steppe chernozems of the southern Cisural region

The ecological features of the humus formation in typical, ordinary, and southern chernozems of the Orenburg Cisural region were considered. The fractional-group composition and amphiphilic properties of the forest-steppe and steppe chernozem subtypes were studied in relation to the dynamics of the hydrothermal regime, the vegetation, and the biological (enzymatic) activity of these zonal soils. The particular properties of the humus in virgin and arable landscapes were established. Arguments were presented for the probable existence of a genetically controlled relationship between the fractional-group composition of the humus and its amphiphilic properties