Postpyrogenic Polycyclic Soils in the Forests of Yakutia and Transbaikal region

Periodical forest fires are typical natural events under the environmental and climatic conditions of central and southern Yakutia and Transbaikal region of Russia. Strong surface fires activate exogenous geomorphological processes. As a result, soils with polycyclic profiles are developed in the trans-accumulative landscape positions. These soils are specified by the presence of two–three buried humus horizons with abundant charcoal under the modern humus horizon. This indicates that these soils have been subjected to two–three cycles of zonal pedogenesis during their development. The buried pyrogenic humus horizons accumulate are enriched in humus; nitrogen; total and oxalate-extractable iron; exchangeable bases (Са⁺² and Mg⁺²); and the fractions of coarse silt, physical clay (<0.01 mm), and clay (<0.001 mm) particles in comparison with the neighboring mineral horizons of the soil profile. The humus of buried pyrogenic horizons is characterized by the increased content of humic acids, particularly, those bound with mobile sesquioxides (HA-1) and calcium (HA-2) and by certain changes in the type of humus.     

The effect of long-term fertilizer application on the group and fractional composition of humus in a soddy-podzolic light loamy soil

The effect of lime and organic and mineral fertilizers on the fractional and group composition of the humus in a light loamy soddy-podzolic soil was studied in a long-term experiment. The application of lime increased the content of the agronomically valuable fraction of humic acids (HA-2) by 2.6 times on the average. The application of mineral fertilizers at the rate of N83P61K112 (kg/ha per year) increased the mobility of the humic substances; the application of farmyard manure (12.5 t/ha per) has an opposite effect. In general, various fertilizer systems exerted a favorable effect on the qualitative composition of the humus with an increase in the percentage of humic acids, though the humate-fulvate type of humus was preserved in all the variants of the experiment.     

The humus state of the soils of locally hydromorphic landscapes in the lower reaches of the don river

The humus state of rainfed chernozems affected by local waterlogging was studied. The total humus content in the hydromorphic chernozems increases, as well as the content of fulvic acids, whereas the content of nonhydrolyzable residue (humin) decreases. A significant increase in the portions of the third fractions of humic and fulvic acids is observed. The role of the fine silt and clay fractions in the binding of humic substances increases in the lower horizons of locally hydromorphic soils. The increase in the content of fulvic acids (fulvatization) is mainly due to their predominance in the clay fraction. The latter is specified by the significant narrowing of the C_ha-to-C_fa ratio, the lower content of the nonhydrolyzable residue, and the increased content of the clay-bound (3rd fraction) fulvic and humic acids. The composition of the humus in the fine silt fraction of the studied soils is characterized by an increased amount of humic acids of the second fraction with a decrease in the relative content of fulvic acids.     

稻草与生石灰添加介导的温室内土壤团聚体稳定性及碳分布特性

土壤中稳定的团聚体为碳的固定提供良好的物理保护,同时土壤中的碳又会促进团粒结构的形成,二者相辅相成,但在长期稻草和生石灰添加介导的设施内土壤中二者如何变化,却少见报导。以长期施肥定位试验为依托,采用湿筛法研究了施用鸡粪(M)的基础上,配施稻草(R)和生石灰(Ca)对设施土壤团聚体组成、稳定性及碳分布的影响,以不施肥(CK)为对照。结果表明:(1)在鸡粪基础上加入稻草(MR)或生石灰(MCa),与单施鸡粪(M)相比,0.25mm团聚体含量分别增加了123%和37%;稻草和生石灰同时添加可显著增加5~2mm大团聚体含量,较MR、MCa、M分别提高12%,59%,141%。(2)在鸡粪基础上施入稻草或生石灰均可增加MWD、GMD、R_(0.25),提高团聚体的稳定性,其中MR处理最高,MRCa处理次之,二者均显著高于MCa、M、CK处理。(3)在鸡粪基础上加入稻草或生石灰,均可提高土壤全碳含量,其中MRCa处理最高,较MR、MCa、M分别增加20%,40%,55%;稻草和生石灰同时施入可显著增加5~2mm大团聚体中碳含量;加入生石灰可增加0.5~0.25mm团聚体中碳含量;施入稻草或生石灰均可显著增加0.25mm团聚体中的碳对土壤全碳的贡献。(4)土壤全碳含量与5~2,2~1,1~0.5mm团聚体含量呈显著正相关,与0.25mm微团聚体含量呈显著负相关;MWD、GMD、R_(0.25)均与0.25mm团聚体含量呈显著正相关,与0.25mm微团聚体含量呈显著负相关。设施土壤在施入鸡粪的基础上同时加入稻草和生石灰,可改善土壤结构,提高土壤碳水平,有利于缓解设施生产中因长期连作所导致的土壤结构劣变问题。     

Effects of liming on carbon and nitrogen mineralization in coniferous forests

A temporary decline in tree growth has often been observed after liming in coniferous forests poor in N but seldom in forests rich in N. To test the hypothesis that the decline was caused by decreases in N supply, C and N mineralization were estimated in incubated soil: (1) after liming in the laboratory, and (2) after earlier liming in the field. Liming increased the C mineralization rate in needle litter, nor humus and 0 to 5 cm mineral soil for a period of 40 to 100 days at 15°C. After that period, liming had no effect on the CO₂ evolution rate in materials poor in N (C:N ratios 30 to 62) but increased the CO₂ evolution rate in materials rich in N (C:N ratios 24 to 28). When liming induced nitrification, the CO₂ evolution rate was reduced. Liming resulted in lower net N mineralization rate in needle litter and mor humus. The reduction was more pronounced when NH₄ ⁺ was the only inorganic form than when NO₃ ^? was the predominant form. The reason is probably that chemical fixation of NH₃ and amino compounds increases with increasing pH. Because of the fixation, the incubation technique most likely underestimated the mineralized N available to the roots. Taking this underestimation into consideration, liming initially reduced the N release in the litter layer. In the other soil layers, liming increased the N release in soils rich in N and had only small effects in soils poor in N. For the total N supply to the roots in the litter, humus and 0 to 5 cm mineral soil layers, liming caused a slight reduction in soils poor in N and a slight increase in soils rich in N. Data on tree growth corresponded with these results.The hypotheses that tree growth depressions can be caused by reduced N supply after liming and that tree growth increases can be caused by increased N supply after liming thus seem reasonable.     

Changes in the content and quality of humus in leached chernozems of the Trans-Ural forest-steppe zone under the impact of their agricultural use

The results of long-term studies of changes in the content and fractional-group composition of humus in leached chernozems (Luvic Voronic Chernozems, WRB 2006) of the Trans-Ural forest-steppe since the beginning of their plowing are considered. These soils are characterized by the high humus pool (up to 500 t/ha in the virgin state and up to 430 t/ha in the plowed state) and the high degree of the organic matter humification. Humus is of the fulvate–humate type in the upper 30 cm and of the humate–fulvate type in the deeper layers. From 1968 to 2006, the total pool of humus in the 1-m-deep soil layer of the plowed chernozems decreased by 8.5% in comparison with the initial virgin soils. The rate of dehumification reached 1.0–1.4 t/ha per year. The long-term plowing of leached chernozems also led to a smaller content of nitrogen in the organic matter (the C/N ratio increased from 11.5 to 13.6). The relative content of free humic acids (HA-1) and humic acids bound to clay minerals (HA-3) increased, whereas the content of calcium humates (HA-2) decreased. The composition of fulvic acids in the plow horizon was characterized by the rise in the content of aggressive (FA-1a) and mobile (FA-1) fractions, while the amount of fulvates bound to calcium (FA-2) decreased.     

Permanganate oxidation of methylated and non-methylated aquatic humus in Norway

The chemical composition of aquatic humus was investigated by permanganate oxidation. Both methylated and non-methylated samples were investigated and the results compared with those of different soil humic fractions investigated earlier.The total amount of oxidation products identified from the methylated sample was 2%, and from the non-methylated sample 0.9%. The composition of the oxidation products from methylated aquatic humus was 42% benzenecarboxylic acid methyl esters (8 different compounds), 43% methoxy-benzenecarboxylic acid methyl esters (12 compounds), 10% dimethoxy-benzenecarboxylic acid methyl esters (4 compounds), and 5% of 1, 2, 3-propanetricarboxylic acid trimethyl ester. The unmethylated aquatic humus yielded 84% benzenecarboxylic acid methyl ester (7 compounds), 7% methoxy-benzenecarboxylic acid methyl esters (2 compounds), and 9% of 1, 2, 3-propanetricarboxylic acid trimethyl ester. Three diazines isolated from methylated material were believed to be artefacts from diazomethane treatment. Two of the diazines have earlier been found by oxidation of methylated soil samples, the third, C₁₀H₁₂N₂O₆, is an oxidation product of methylated aquatic humus only.Oxidation of aquatic humus yielded more benzenecarboxylic acids and methoxy-benzenecarboxylic acids than soil humic fractions, and less dimethoxy-benzenecarboxylic acids. No aliphatic dicarboxylic acids were detected among the oxidation products of the aquatic humus.The compounds identified are mainly the same as those found by oxidation of different soil humic fractions, although their yields clearly demonstrated that the aquatic humus differed in composition from the soil fractions.     

Distribution of transformed organic matter in structural units of loamy sandy soddy-podzolic soil

The effect of land use types and fertilizing systems on the structural and aggregate composition of loamy sandy soddy-podzolic soil and the quantitative parameters of soil organic matter has been studied. The contribution of soil aggregates 2–1 mm in size to the total C_org reserve in the humus horizon is higher than the contributions of other aggregates by 1.3–4.2 times. Reliable correlations have been revealed between the contents of total (C_org), labile (C_lab), and active (C₀) organic matter in the soil. The proportion of C₀ is 44–70% of C_lab extractable by neutral sodium pyrophosphate solution. The contributions of each of the 2–1, 0.5–0.25, and <0.25 mm fractions to the total C₀ reserve are 14–21%; the contributions of each of the other fractions are 4–12%. The chemically labile and biologically active components of humic substances reflect the quality changes of soil organic matter under agrogenic impacts. A conceptual scheme has been proposed for the subdivision of soil organic matter into the active, slow (intermediate), and passive pools. In the humus horizon of loamy sandy soddy-podzolic soil, the active, slow, and passive pools contain 6–11, 34–65, and 26–94% of the total C_org, respectively.     

Effects of liming on carbon and nitrogen mineralization in coniferous forests

A temporary decline in tree growth has often been observed after liming in coniferous forests poor in N but seldom in forests rich in N. To test the hypothesis that the decline was caused by decreases in N supply, C and N mineralization were estimated in incubated soil: (1) after liming in the laboratory, and (2) after earlier liming in the field. Liming increased the C mineralization rate in needle litter, mor humus and 0 to 5 cm mineral soil for a period of 40 to 100 days at 15°C. After that period, liming had no effect on the CO₂ evolution rate in materials poor in N (C:N ratios 30 to 62) but increased the CO₂ evolution rate in materials rich in N (C:N ratios 24 to 28). When liming induced nitrification, the CO₂ evolution rate was reduced. Liming resulted in lower net N mineralization rate in needle litter and mor humus. The reduction was more pronounced when NH ₄ ⁺ was the only inorganic form than when NO ₃ ^? was the predominant form. The reason is probably that chemical fixation of NH₃ and amino compounds increases with increasing pH. Because of the fixation, the incubation technique most likely underestimated the mineralized N available to the roots. Taking this underestimation into consideration, liming initially reduced the N release in the litter layer. In the other soil layers, liming increased the N release in soils rich in N and had only small effects in soils poor in N. For the total N supply to the roots in the litter, humus and 0 to 5 cm mineral soil layers, liming caused a slight reduction in soils poor in N and a slight increase in soils rich in N. Data on tree growth corresponded with these results. The hypotheses that tree growth depressions can be caused by reduced N supply after liming and that tree growth increases can be caused by increased N supply after liming thus seem reasonable.     

Humic substances in agro-stratozems of Leningrad oblast

Chemical properties and some parameters of the humus status of agro-stratozems developed in Leningrad oblast from different parent materials and with different histories of agricultural use were studied. The stability of the elemental composition of humus in the studied soils was found. The group and fractional composition of humus was more sensitive to agricultural impacts. In response to the application of manure, lime, and mineral fertilizers, humate-fulvate humus changed into fulvate-humate humus and the content of the agronomically most valuable HA-2 fraction increased, in some cases, to predominance. Exclusion from land use for 15 years decreased the humus content and changed its composition; it became more similar to that in zonal soddy-podzolic soils, which are the natural analogues of the agro-stratozems studied.     

Origin and properties of humus in the subsoil of irrigated rice paddies

Stability of humus in the plow layer soil is considered to affect the quantity and quality of dissolved organic matter leached from the plow layer soil. Therefore, a model experiment was conducted to analyze the effect of soil reduction under submerged conditions on the stability of humus in the plow layer soil. The changes in the stability of humus in the plow layer soil during submerged incubations with and without rice straw application were evaluated based on the changes in the binding type of humus. Binding type of humus in the plow layer soil was analyzed by successive extractions of organic matter with water, 0.25 M Na₂SO₄, 0.1 M Na₄P₂O₇ (pH 7.0), 0.1 M Na₄P₂O₇ (pH 10.5), and 0.1 M Na₄P₂O₇ (pH 10.5) with NaBH₄. Amounts of Fe, Mn, and Mg in each fraction were also determined to estimate the relationships between humus and metals.

The successive extraction of humus indicated that the amount of organic carbon which was extractable with the (NaBH₄ +0.1 M Na₄P₂O₇) solution decreased while that of the 0.1 M Na₄P₂O₇ (pH 7.0}-extractable organic carbon increased during submerged incubation with rice straw application. The origin of the increase in the amount of organic carbon in the Na₄P₂O₇ (pH 7.0)-extractable fraction during submerged incubation was investigated further by another incubation experiment using ¹³C-glucose as a reducing agent. Atom- 13C% analysis showed that the contribution of organic carbon derived from compounds other than glucose to the increase in the contents of humic acids and fulvic acids in the Na₄P₂O₇ (pH 7.0)-extractable fractions was ca. 80%. Therefore, it was concluded that the binding type of humus changed from (NaBH₄ + Na₄P₂O₇)-extractable to Na₄P₂O₇ (pH 7.0)-extractable humus under reducing conditions. Since the amounts of organic carbon and Fe increased in the Na₄P₂O₇ (pH 7.0)-extractable fraction and decreased in the (NaBH₄ +0.1 M Na₄P₂O₇)-extractable fraction simultaneously, iron reduction was presumably associated with the change in the binding type of humus in submerged paddy soil.     

Interaction of different humic acid fractions from clayey soddy-podzolic soils with calcium

Interactions of the first and second humic acid (HA) fractions isolated from clayey soddy-podzolic soils of the Novgorod Experimental Agricultural Station with calcium were studied. It was found that the formation of calcium humates with different HA fractions followed common regularities, but significant differences in the parameters characterizing the course of the reaction and the properties of the resulting products (including the capacity of precipitates to be peptized in water and to prevent calcium from leaching) were observed between the HA-1 and HA-2 fractions. For many of the parameters studied, the difference between the HA-1 and HA-2 fractions was comparable to that between black and brown HAs. The persistence of positive changes related to liming in the soil largely depended on the functional properties of the HAs and their capacity to actively interact with calcium and prevent it from leaching.     

Transformation of the humus composition in light-textured soddy-podzolic soils as affected by increasing lime doses and in the postagrogenic period

The fractional-group composition of humus in a loamy-sandy soddy-podzolic soil limed using different doses of chalk was studied. The transformation of the humus composition is related to the dose of the lime fertilizer and terminates after the complete dissolution of the ameliorant applied. The full dissolution of the chalk applied in high doses ends within three years after the liming. The humus composition of the cultivated sandy soddy-podzolic soil was investigated at different stages of the postagrogenic successions. The changes in the humus composition due to the neutralization of the soil’s acidity and cultivation are rather stable in time. Sixty years after the termination of the anthropogenic impact, in the humus composition of the sandy soddy-podzolic soil, humic acids bound with calcium were found. One hundred years after the end of the soil cultivation, its humus composition approaches the humus composition of the virgin soil. However, no complete restoration of the humus composition has occurred. Data on the optical density of the humic acids are presented.     

土壤有机矿质复合体研究Ⅵ.胶散复合体的化学组成及其结合特征

本文研究水热条件渐变的地带性土壤中Ｇ１、Ｇ２组胶散复合体有机、无机物的化学组成及其结合特点。结果表明：Ｇ２组中铁有积累现象，游离态铁、铝氧化物含量为Ｇ２＞Ｇ１，但均随土壤类型变化。松结态腐殖质（Ｈ１）为Ｇ１＞Ｇ２，紧结态腐殖质（Ｈ３）则为Ｇ１＜Ｇ２。可提取腐殖质中，松、稳结态腐殖质之比值Ｈ１／Ｈ２和胡敏酸、富里酸之比值ＨＡ／ＦＡ，除个别土壤之外，都相关不大。Ｇ１、Ｇ２两组复合体中都含有一定数量的络     

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.     

Physical properties of ordinary chernozems in steppe landscapes adjacent to forests

The spatial changes in the ecological conditions of the humus formation; the humus content and reserves and its fractional-group composition and amphiphilic properties; and the structure, density, and water absorption coefficient of ordinary chernozems were studied on nine key plots at distances of 34 and 2 km from two forest massifs of different sizes??the Buzuluk Bor (111 000 ha) and a small birch grove (25 ha)??in the steppe zone of the Cis-Ural region. With an increase in the distance from the forests, the soil humus reserves decrease, the C_ha/C_fa ratio becomes larger, and the portion of hydrophilic and amphiphilicneutral fractions in the soil organic matter increases. In the same direction, the structure coefficient decreases (from 2.5?C3.7 to 1.5?C2.2), the soil density gradually increases, and the water permeability decreases and remains within the optimal values range.     

Spatial distribution of mineral components in microcombinations of agrogrey soils with the second humus horizon in the Vladimir opolie area

Mineralogical composition of silt and clay fractions (<1.1–5 and 5–10 µm) in heavy loamy agrogrey soils (Luvic Retic Phaeozems) considerably changes both in the vertical (along the soil profile) and horizontal (along soil microcatenas) directions. The eluvial–illuvial distribution pattern of the clay fraction in the podzolized agrogrey soils with the second humus horizon is replaced by the homogeneous distribution in the agrogrey soils with residual carbonates. The distribution of silt fractions in the soil profiles is relatively homogeneous. The clay (<1 µm) fraction of the parent material is represented by the poorly ordered micasmectite interstratifications minerals, the proportion between which changes in the soil profiles in dependence on the particular pedogenetic processes. Hydromicas represent the second important component of the clay fraction. They consist of di- and trioctahedral varieties, the proportion between which changes in the soil profiles. Kaolinite and iron–magnesium chlorite are present in smaller amounts. The second humus horizon is characterized by the lowest content of mica-smectite interstratifications minerals with the high content of smectitic layers and by the lowest content of the clay fraction. Silt fractions are composed of quartz, micas, potassium feldspars, and plagioclases.     

The humus status of brown forest soils and its changes upon intensive tea growing in the subtropical zone of Russia

Changes in the humus status of acid brown forest soils used for tea growing have been studied in a long-term stationary experiment after 20 years of the application of mineral fertilizers in increasing doses. It is shown that long-term tea growing has resulted in a reliable increase in the humus content within the upper cultivated horizon (Ap, 0–40 cm) at the expense of the nonhydrolyzable fraction of humus (humin) and the first fractions of humic and fulvic acids. The fractional composition of humus has changed against the background of a stable fulvate type of humus (Cha/Cfa < 0.5). The portion of the first fraction of humic and fulvic acids in the total amount of humus has increased, as well as the portion of the first fraction of humic acids in the total amount of humic acids. These changes are due to the enhanced humification of plant residues with a parallel decrease in the contents of the second (Ca-bound) and third (bound with clay and stable sesquioxides) fractions of humic substances.     

Soil organic matter alteration under biochar amendment: study in the incubation experiment on the Podzol soils of the Leningrad region (Russia)

Purpose

Biochar is one of the most widely used ameliorants for soil amendment, which is known as factor which rises crop yields and levels of soil biological activity. Nowadays, it is under investigated how biochar application affects the dynamics of the humic components and whole soil organic matter (SOM) and the processes of its alteration. This investigation is aimed to evaluate the influence of biochar on the content, composition, and transformation of humic acids (HAs) as the main component of the SOM.

Materials and methods

The incubation experiment was carried out on three Podzol Antric soils, with varying amounts of initial total organic carbon. The incubation time was 90 days, using biochar gravimetric doses of 0.1 and 1.0%. The biochar was produced by fast pyrolysis of birch and aspen wood at 550 °С. Humus composition was analyzed for the organic matter fractions extracted with 0.1 M NaOH (containing HAs 1 + fulvic acids (FAs) 1) and 0.1 M Na₄P₂O₇ (containing HAs 1 + FAs 1 + HAs 2 + FAs 2). Isolated HAs were characterized for their elemental composition (C, N, H, and S) and molecular composition with the use of solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C-NMR) techniques.

Results and discussion

We found that 0.1% of biochar amendment does not influence SOM mineralization, but 1.0% of biochar increases the mineralization by 15–18%. This process is accompanied by changes in the composition and properties of the HS. The increased proportion of HA aromatic fragments in biochar indicates an increasing of their stability. However, in soils with high humus content and a significant amount of insoluble matter, the processes of mineralization and the growth of HAs are taking place simultaneously. The replenishment of HAs could be the outcome of both the intensification of the transformation processes (mineralization and humification) of the more sustainable insoluble matter compounds and the humification of the biochar itself.

Conclusions

The influence of biochar on humification in Podzol Antric soils was revealed on the basis of incubation experiment. Both negative and positive changes under biochar in HS system were demonstrated. The active decrease of humus total contents and also the labile HS ought to qualify as negative changes. The increase of HA chemical maturity that leads to the stability of humus in whole as well as the intensive new HA formation thought to qualify as positive changes.

     

The effect of liming on the complex of soil microorganisms and the humus status of a soddy-podzolic soil in a long-term experiment

The influence of the prolonged application of different lime doses (including elevated ones) on the complex of soil microorganisms and the humus status of a sandy loamy soddy-podzolic soil was studied in a long-term field experiment. The content of labile humus substances extracted with 0.1 M KCl (pH 4.3–4.4) and that of organic matter extracted with hot water became reduced. When liming, the number of all the bacterial groups significantly increased. On the contrary, the number of micromycetes decreased by 3.5–4.2 times. However, the liming did not cause any changes in the complex of soil microorganisms and the content of organic matter, thus indicating the normal functioning of the whole soil ecosystem.