Mountainous meadow-steppe soils in high mountains of the Eastern Caucasus region

The results of comprehensive investigations into the soil-forming conditions, morphology, substantive composition, physicochemical properties, bulk elemental composition, and mineralogy of mountainous meadow-steppe soils of the Eastern Caucasus region are discussed. The analysis of the obtained and published data has shown that the formation of these soils takes place in a relatively arid high-mountain environment from the coarse-textured eluvium of noncalcareous rocks. Two major pedogenetic processes with the participation of soil biota—humus accumulation and argillization—are responsible for their origin. Suggestions for improving the classification of mountainous meadow-steppe soils are given.     

Genesis and properties of dark-colored chernozem-like soils of mesodepressions under fallow in the northern Caspian region

Specific features of the most fertile soils in the semidesert zone of the northern Caspian region—dark-colored chernozem-like soils of large mesodepressions—are analyzed. The recent regional rise in the groundwater level and the restoration of steppe vegetation in the fallowed soils of large mesodepressions, especially near forest strips and forest plantations, have led to certain changes in the microfabric and chemical composition of these soils, as well as in the soil organic matter properties.     

Assessment of phenotypic variation of Malus orientalis in the North Caucasus region

Malus orientalis Uglitzk. is the predominant Malus species of the Caucasian forests distributed in the north of Anatolia, Armenia, Russia as well as in Iran. It is considered as one of the probable minor ancestors of domestic apples. Although M. orientalis has a lower diversity of fruit quality, other valuable traits such as later blooming, adaptation to a wider array of habitats, and capacity for longer storage of the apples should be taken into account for improving the genetic makeup of the domestic apple. A joint expedition of scientists of the Julius Kühn-Institute from Germany and the Nikolaj I. Vavilov Research Institute of Plant Industry from Russia was performed into the North Caucasus region during August/September 2011. Altogether 101 M. orientalis accessions were collected from eight sites at the North Caucasus. Twenty-six traits such as size, color, shape, flavor and firmness of fruit and tree habit were used for phenotypic evaluation of the accessions. A high phenotypic diversity within the collected material of M. orientalis was indicated. Accessions characterized by suitable fruit traits like bigger size, larger cover color, less bitterness and better firmness as well as more sweetness and better flavor were found. However, small-sized flavorless fruits were also detected. Tree habit varied widely from upright to weeping. Subsequently, a comprehensive phenotypic and genetic evaluation of M. orientalis increases the knowledge of diversity, may provide new resources of agronomically important traits for breeding purposes, and gives support to determine accessions for a core collection.     

Concretions in typical chernozem,gleyed chernozem-like,and solonetzic chernozem-like soils of the southern Tambov Lowland

A system for the diagnostics of chernozemic soils of the Tambov Lowland based on concretions is proposed for agricultural and reclamation purposes. The relationships between the structure and composition of the carbonate concretions, the long-term water regime of the soils, and the productivity of the crops have been established. The dense concretions in the typical chernozem testify to the depth of the seasonal wetting; the angular-rounded concretions in the deeply gleyed chernozem-like soil, to the upper boundary of the capillary fringe; and the angular concretions with sharp edges and cavities in the gleyic chernozem-like soils, to the groundwater table. In the chernozem-like soils that were waterlogged with bicarbonate-sodium water, the black angular concretions were formed in the solonetzic horizons, while the weakly compacted light-colored ones, in the zone of the capillary fringe. Humic acids were responsible for the color of the dark neoformations, and fulvic acids predominated in the light-colored ones. The appearance of black fine nodules indicated periodic surface water stagnation. Manganese predominantly accumulates in these nodules. The structure of the Mn-Fe concretions in the plow horizon observed at a magnification of 40–50 times has a diagnostic importance. The short-term (2–3 weeks) water stagnation leads to the formation of fine-stratified concretions, and the long-term (up to 1.5 months) stagnation promotes the formation of uniform porous ones. The solonetzic process induced by the bicarbonate-sodium water results in the appearance of mottled concretions.     

Phosphate status of chernozem-like hydromorphic soils in the northern Tambov Plain

The phosphate status of chernozem-like soils in the northern forest steppe of the Tambov Lowland depends on soil waterlogging and hydrological conditions. Due to surface waterlogging and free effluent seep-age in podzolized, chernozem-like soils of open watershed depressions, the removal of bases and iron decrease the total phosphorus content by 10–15% because of the decrease in active mineral phosphates. Organic matter acts as a buffer preventing phosphorus from leaching. In podzolized, chernozem-like and podzolic, gleyic soils of closed watershed depressions, significant amounts of iron phosphates are accumulated in fine earth and ortsteins due to surface waterlogging and difficult effluent seepage. Under ground waterlogging, calcium phosphates prevail in the composition of active mineral phosphorus in the gleyed, gleyic, and gley chernozem-like soils of above-floodplain terraces.     

Transformation of carbonate pedofeatures in paleosols buried under kurgans in the North Caucasus region

Carbonate concentrations in a chronosequence of paleosols buried under kurgans in the North Caucasus region at the end of the 4th century and the first half of the 5th century AD have been studied with the use of a set of morphological and isotopic methods. It is demonstrated that morphologically different phases of calcite—the collomorphic phase and the crystalline phase—in carbonate pedofeatures (calcareous pseudomycelium) and in the calcareous horizon have different elemental compositions and different isotopic compositions of carbon. Hence, these forms of calcite should have different origins. An addition of colloidal carbonates migrating in colloidal solutions from the lower soil horizons to the surface horizons during the periods of climatic aridization to the acicular calcite may be responsible for a sharp and irregular increase in the radiocarbon age of the newly formed carbonate pseudomycelium.     

Clay minerals in chernozem-like soils of mesodepressions in the northern forest-steppe of European Russia

In the northern forest-steppe of European Russia, under the conditions of surface waterlogging (freshwater) and a stagnant-percolative regime, gleyic podzolic chernozem-like soils with thick light-colored eluvial horizons are formed. These horizons are close or similar to the podzolic horizons of bog-podzolic soils in many properties of their solid phase. They are bleached in color and characterized by the removal of Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, and Mn and the relative accumulation of quartz SiO₂. These soils differ from leached chernozems in their acid reaction and very low CEC, the presence of Fe-Mn concretions and coatings, and the significant decrease in the clay content in the A2 horizon as compared to the parent rock. The soils studied differ significantly from loamy podzolic and bog-podzolic soils by the composition of the clay minerals in the A2 horizons: (1) no essential loss of smectite minerals from this horizon was found as compared to the rest of the solum, (2) pedogenic chlorites (HIV and HIS) are absent, and (3) the distinct accumulation of illites is observed as compared to the subsoil and parent material, probably, due to the process of illitization.     

Mountain-meadow soils of the highlands in the Western Caucasus

The published and author’s data on soil-forming conditions, morphology, substance composition and physicochemical properties, total chemical and mineralogical composition, and micromorphology of mountain-meadow soils of the Western Caucasus Range are analyzed. On the basis of the analytical data obtained, the transformation of minerals and features of chemical element profile patterns developed in the course of soil formation are characterized. The main processes accompanying the transformation of mineral and organic parts of the soil mass and migration of soil-formation products are described. Soil formation is shown to be accompanied by two major elementary soil processes developing with participation of soil biota: humus accumulation and clay formation. Ways to improve the classification of mountain-meadow soils are proposed.     

The origin of sulfate salts in soils developed on Maikop clays in the North Caucasus region (According to data of the isotope composition of sulfur)

The ratio of ³²S/³⁴S stable isotopes was determined for soils developed on the Maikop clay sediments in the North Caucasus region in order to study the salt geochemistry in the soils. The soil sulfates were proved to be polygenetic. Three groups (generations) of sulfates of different geneses were distinguished according to their isotopic composition (³⁴S). In the underlying deposits and, partially, in the salt-bearing horizons of the soils, secondary sulfates originated from the oxidation of sulfides contained in the marine clay predominate. In the soil profiles, the sulfates inherited from the parent material (marine clay) are mixed with sulfates arriving with the atmospheric precipitation. The portion of the latter reaches about 30% of the total amount of sulfates in the soils. The salt (gypsum)-bearing horizons were formed in the course of the eluvial-illuvial redistribution of salts to the depth of seasonal wetting. The mobilization of sulfate salts from the underlying deposits and their transport to the upper parts of the soil profile with ascending water flows in the course of evaporation from the soil surface did not play a significant role in the accumulation of sulfates in the studied soils.     

Ecological-hydrological and genetic features of chernozem-like soils of closed depressions in the northern Tambov Lowland

Specific features of the genesis and water regime of soils in closed depressions were studied in two catenas located on the interfluvial and terrace surfaces. In humid years and in the years with moderate precipitation, the surface flooding up to early May reduced the Eh values up to 60–100 mV in the soils of the interfluvial depressions. The contrasting stagnant-percolate water regime under the surface waterlogging caused podzolization of the soils manifested in the skeletans, iron nodules, humus cutans, and podzolic horizons. The pro-files acquired eluvial-illuvial differentiation, and the water-physical properties of the soils became less favorable. In the soils of the terrace depressions upon bogging due to the shallow ground water and stagnation of water up to mid-July, the Eh values decreased to ?20 to ?80 mV. The reductive conditions were responsible for the appearance of the morphochromatic signs of gley. The ground water of bicarbonate-calcium composition at a depth of 80–120 cm hindered podzolization. The soils with features of gley and podzolization are low-productive.     

The influence of carbonates in parent rocks on the biological properties of mountain soils of the Northwest Caucasus region

The biological activity of different subtypes of soddy-calcareous soils (rendzinas) of the Northwest Caucasus region was studied. In the Novorossiisk-Abrau-Dyurso region (dry subtropics), typical soddy-calcareous soils with the high content of carbonates predominate; in the more humid conditions of the Lagonaki Plateau (Republic of Adygeya), leached soddy-calcareous soils carbonate-free down to the parent rock are spread. The number of microarthropods, the populations of fungi and bacteria, and the enzyme activity (catalase, dehydrogenase, and invertase) testify that the biological activity of these soils significantly differs. In the typical soddy-calcareous soils of the dry subtropics, the content of carbonates does not affect the characteristics mentioned; in the more humid conditions of the West Caucasus region, the presence of carbonates in the parent rocks intensifies the biological activity of the soddy-calcareous soils.     

Biomorph silica in meadow soils of the Mid-Amur lowland

On the basis of an analysis of the gross composition and morphology of the particles of soil samples from the Mid-Amur lowlands, it is shown that the biomorph silica of the meadow soils with bleached horizons is represented by meadow forms of phytoliths (mainly true grasses). In the upper profile part of the AUg horizon, frustules of diatom algae are found, while no spicules of sponges are registered. The upper part of the profile is characterized by the highest degree of weathering of the phytolith silica. In the lower part, they are better preserved. In this part of the profile, diatoms are represented by small-celled species around 2 μm in size (supposedly, spores of Cyclotella sp.). The presence of such algae in the water-peptized silt is associated with the process of migration down the profile.     

Mobile forms of phosphorus and iron compounds in chernozem-like soils in the northern part of the Tambov plain

Moisture content and redox conditions are factors determining the dynamics of the content of mobile phosphorus in chernozem-like soils moistened and waterlogged by groundwater and surface water. When the moisture content increases and oxidizing conditions are still present in soils belonging to the chernozem type that contain a high concentration of calcium phosphates, the latter transform from apatite into more mobile forms, Ca-PI and Ca-PII. In chernozem-like soils with a high concentration of iron phosphates under reducing conditions, the amount of phosphorus extracted with 0.1 N H₂SO₄ increases owing to the transition of iron phosphates into a mobile state. Precipitations enriching the soil with atmospheric oxygen promote the increase in the value of the oxidation-reduction potential (Eh), thereby decreasing the mobility of iron phosphates.     

Evidence of plaggen soils in European North Russia (Arkhangelsk region)

To clarify whether a particular group of soils of Archangelsk region (European N Russia) with humus‐rich topsoils exceeding the plowing zone supports an anthropogenic formation, four exemplary profiles were investigated. The investigation sites are characterized by distinct elevated surfaces, and the soils show thick toplayers of up to 60 cm with enrichment of soil organic matter and artifacts like brick, charcoal, and peat fragments, all indicating an anthropogenic origin. Increased phytolith amounts and high P contents of up to 800 mg kg^–1 citric acid–soluble P and up to 1,400 mg kg^–1 total P in the top horizons support an anthropogenic influence. These properties are very similar to the Plagganthrepts of NW Europe. The same is true regarding the main management aims: increasing soil fertility and overcoming the need of bedding materials. Having the required depths of the anthropogenic topsoil, the properties of the soils of the Archangelsk region allow a classification as Agrozems (Russian classification), Plaggenesche (German classification), and Plagganthrepts (US taxonomy). Since the high base saturation of the topsoil excludes a designation as plaggic horizon, the topsoil has to be considered as terric horizon, which leads to a classification as Terric Anthrosol according to WRB.     

Fractional composition of humus in leached chernozems and gleyed podzolized chernozem-like soils of the northern forest-steppe zone

The composition of humus in leached chernozems differs from that in gleyed podzolized chernozem-like soils in the northern forest-steppe zone of European Russia. Leached chernozems have the fulvate-humate humus. Gleyed podzolized chernozem-like soils have the humate-fulvate humus. A more aggressive composition of humus in the latter soils is caused by their overwetting and the development of gley processes under conditions of a stagnant-percolative soil water regime.     

Buried vertic paleosols of the North Caucasus in the third millennia BC

Paleosols buried under kurgans dating back to the Yamnaya, Catacomb, and Post-Catacomb cultural epochs of the Bronze Age (4600–3900 BP) on the territory of the Stavropol Upland (the North Caucasus) in the area occupied by vertic chernozems were studied. It was found that solonchakous and deeply solonchakous and solonetzic chestnut soils and solonetzes proper predominated in the study area during the Bronze Age. The solonetzic process was the leading pedogenetic process in the automorphic paleosols of the second half of the third millennium BC. The vertic features were weakly developed in the automorphic paleosols; they were better manifested in the paleosols developed on the floodplains. The paleosol data were used to reconstruct the environmental conditions in the region during the Bronze Age. The climatic conditions of that period were more arid and with less sharp contrasts between wet and dry seasons in comparison with the modern climate.     

Natural radionuclides in rocks and soils of the high-mountain regions of the Great Caucasus

The results of the radioecological survey in the high-mountain regions of the Great Caucasus at the heights from 2200 to 3800 m a.s.l. are considered. This survey encompassed the territories of Dagestan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Chechnya, Northern Ossetia-Alania, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, and the Stavropol and Krasnodar regions. The natural ?? background radiation in the studied regions is subjected to considerable fluctuations and varies from 6 to 40 ??R/h. The major regularities of the migration of natural radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra, and ⁴⁰K in soils in dependence on the particular environmental conditions (the initial concentration of the radionuclides in the parent material; the intensity of pedogenesis; the intensity of the vertical and horizontal migration; and the geographic, climatic, and landscape-geochemical factors) are discussed.     

Methods for quantitative diagnostics of degree of hydromorphism of chernozem-like soils (based on example of soils of northern Tambov Plain)

The hydrologic features of chernozem-like soils of the northern Tambov Plain reflect the crystallinity of nonsilicate iron contained in ferromagnetic concretions, as well as the qualitative humus content and other properties. The possibility of using Schwertmann’s criterion and swampiness coefficient in the Zaidel’man-Ogleznev method as diagnostic indices of degree of hydromorphism is shown. A new diagnostic index is suggested, i.e., the hydromorphism criterion (K_I–II); the relation of the optical density of the extraction of alkaline and alkaline pyrophosphate from fine-earth arable land horizon is based on its definition.     

Andepts in some high mountains of East Africa

Soils at elevations of 2,500 m to 4,000 m above sea level in the Semien Mountains of Ethiopia and on Mount Kenya in east Africa are classified in the current American system as Andepts. The Cryandepts are situated above the forest line in a tussock grass vegetation or in dwarf forests at elevations of 3,000 to 3,800 m a.s.l. In the tall forest above 2,500 m a.s.l. and below 3,000 m there are Dystrandepts with an isothermal soil temperature of more than 8°C. In the legend of the FAO-Unesco soil map of the world the soils could be classified as Humic Andosols.Histosols may take the place of the Andepts where relative humidity of the atmosphere is high and rainfall is more than 2,000 mm per year.     

The genesis,classification, and melioration of gleyed podzolic chernozem-like soils in the north of the forest-steppe zone of European Russia

Chernozem-like soils with light-colored acid eluvial horizons are widespread in the forest-steppe zone of European Russia. Their formation is related to gleying under the conditions of a stagnant-percolative water regime on leached rocks. It is closely associated with the evolution of salinized soils (Gedroits’s scheme). However, these soils have not been included in the soil classifications of the Soviet Union and Russia. Based on the principles of substantial-genetic classification, one of the authors of this article [3–5, 10] referred them to gleyed podzolic chernozem-like soils, which are considered as an individual genetic soil type. With respect to agroecological aspects, they are different from the leached chernozems in their low productivity and difficulty of tillage. This article covers the problems of genesis, classification, and melioration of gleyed podzolic chernozem-like soils in the north of the forest-steppe zone of European Russia and their possible association with dark-colored podbels.