Coevolution of soils and vegetation in the southern taiga (with the Prioksko-Terrasnyi reserve as an example)

A detailed characterization of the relief, parent materials, soils, woody vegetation, and the links between them is given for a small part of the southern taiga zone in the center of the East European Plain. A methodology for determining the vegetation succession patterns on different soils with the use of the selectivity coefficient K is suggested. This coefficient is defined as the ratio between the frequency of occurrence of the given tree species on a given soil and its average frequency of occurrence within the entire analyzed area (in the area of the reserve). The values of K change from 0.2 to 3.6 and indicate positive (K > 1) and negative (K < 1) feedback relationships between the soils and vegetation. Changes in the frequencies of occurrence of different tree species on different soils that took place over 19 years have also been studied. It is shown that spruce has a tendency for settling on podzols, mixed spruce-oak-lime forests tend to develop on podzolized podburs, and lime and oak trees tend to develop on soddy podburs. Birch stands are most often replaced by spruce and pine stands; aspen stands and a part of the birch stands are replaced by lime and oak stands. The ecological plasticity of pine trees and the long age of this tree species ensure the existence of a long transitional succession stage with the predominance of pine. These regularities are important for predicting the further development of forest vegetation.     

Soils of paleocryogenic hummocky-hollow landscapes in the southern Baikal region

The features of ancient periglacial phenomena are widespread in landscapes lying beyond the modern permafrost zone. The specificity of the paleogeographic conditions in the south of the Baikal region resulted in the formation of paleocryogenic landscapes with hummocky-hollow landforms. The paleocryogenic mounds (hummocks) are of rounded or elongated shape, their height is up to 2–3 m, and their width is up to 20–25 m. They are separated by microlows (hollows). This paleocryogenic microtopography favors the differentiation of the pedogenesis on the mounds and in the hollows, so the soil cover pattern becomes more complicated. It is composed of polychronous soils organized in complexes with cyclic patterns. Light gray and gray forest soils and leached and ordinary chernozems are developed on the mounds; gray and dark gray forest soils and chernozems with buried horizons are developed in the hollows. The soils of the paleocryogenic complexes differ from one another in their morphology, physical and chemical properties, elemental composition, and humus composition. For the first time, radiocarbon dates have been obtained for the surface and buried humus horizons in the hollows. The results prove the heterochronous nature of the soils of the paleocryogenic landscapes in the south of the Baikal region.     

Temperature field of complex soilscapes (by the example of the Vladimir opolie region)

Problems of the assessment of soil temperature regime at the polypedon level have yet to be solved. An approach suggested by the authors consists of three stages: (1) the characterization and prediction of the soil water regime as a factor influencing the soil temperature regime, (2) the obtaining of thermophysical functions for the particular elements of complex soilscapes, and (3) the calculation and assessment of the temperature regime of complex soilscapes in the form of the functional fields of soil temperature isopleths. This approach has been applied to predict the soil temperature regime of an arable field in the Vladimir opolie region. The complex soilscape of the field consists of medium loamy agrogray soils, agrogray soils with the second humus horizon, and podzolized agrogray soils. At the beginning of the growing season, minimum temperatures are observed in the areas of agrogray soils with the second humus horizon; the difference in soil temperatures at a depth of 20 cm reaches 1°C, and the difference in the sum of active soil temperatures reaches 20°C. Then, this difference changes considerably, so that the agrogray soils with the second humus horizon become warmer than the agrogray soils. In general, the functional field of soil temperatures within the complex soilscape is highly dynamic and diverse, which is specified by the variability in the water-physical and thermophysical properties of particular soils.     

Soils of a dune coastal salt marsh system in relation to groundwater level,micro-topography and vegetation under a semiarid Mediterranean climate in SE Spain

Twenty-one soil profiles were described, analysed and classified in a salt marsh dune system in SE Spain. Sites for sampling were selected according to micro-topographical positions and vegetation types. The pedons showed an A–C type profile. Most of the profiles at summit positions had a microbiotical crust in the upper centimetres, formed by fungal mycelia that contribute to agglutination of sand particles. In two soils, a buried Ab horizon could be identified. Soils at inter-dune depressions showed redoximorphic features with diffuse boundaries, therefore indicating the actual activity of the oxidation–reduction processes. The presence of remains of Posidonia oceanica buried in many of the profiles indicates both a progressive regression of the shoreline and the accretion of the dune system. Sand grains were the most abundant size fraction (generally higher than 65%). Salinity strongly increased at the depressions, with Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, Na⁺ and Mg²⁺ being the most abundant ions. The microtopographical position at the dune had more influence on the vegetation cover and the soil type than did the distance to the shoreline. Most of the profiles at summit sites were colonised by trees (Pinus halepensis and Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata), shrubs (Pistacea lentiscus, Rhamnus lycioides), thyme-brushwoods (Crucianella maritima, Teucrium dunense) or grasses (Ammophila arenaria), and they were classified as Arenosols or Torripsammens. The slopes of the depressions were dominated by Schoenus nigricans, living on Gleysols or Halaquepts and Aquisalids, or Limonium cossonianum, living on Solonchaks or Aquisalids. Juncus maritimus occupied footslope or bottom positions of the depressions, growing on Solonchaks or Aquisalids and Gleysols or Halaquepts. The succulent halophytes Arthrocnemum macrostachyum and Sarcocornia fruticosa were typical species at bottom positions, living on Solonchaks and Fluvisols or Aquisalids. In two of the profiles at interdune depressions a petrocalcic horizon appeared.     

红壤侵蚀区马尾松林下植被特征与土壤侵蚀的关系

针对南方花岗岩发育的红壤侵蚀区,在赣县大田乡选择5个低丘马尾松林,利用植物样方调查方法对样地的地形、土壤、植被、侵蚀沟进行调查和测量,基于获取的数据,利用统计学方法分析植被特征与土壤侵蚀的关系.结果表明：1）马尾松人工林郁闭度低,林木生长状况差,林地阳坡半阳坡植被总盖度仅为36.9％;2）林下灌草生物量低,物种丰富度、多样性、均匀度差,物种较为单一;3）林下植被以草本为主,草本以芒萁为主,其生物量占草本总生物量的75％以上;4）马尾松林下细沟、浅沟发育,土壤侵蚀严重,仅细沟、浅沟流失的土壤厚度达71.2 mm;5）不同坡位的侵蚀沟发育相关性显著,侵蚀沟与坡面的微环境差异明显,尤其是土壤密度和土壤水分差异显著;6）马尾松林下土壤侵蚀量对植被恢复具有抑制作用,但沟壑密度的发育能够提高灌草物种丰富度、多样性,以及促进灌草均匀性分布.     

Mobile aluminum compounds in soils of the southern taiga (soils of the central forest reserve as an example)

The profile distributions of aluminum extracted by the Tamm and Bascomb reagents and of the exchangeable aluminum were studied in soils of automorphic, transitive, and accumulative positions in the landscapes of the southern taiga. In the mineral horizons of the gleyic peaty-podzolic soils developed on poorly drained flat surfaces and in the floodplain soils, the distribution of oxalate- and pyrophosphate-soluble aluminum has a strongly pronounced accumulative character. In the podzolic soils of the automorphic positions and slopes, an eluvial-illuvial distribution was characteristic with the maximal aluminum content in the podzolic horizons. The strong differentiation of the upper part of the profile in the automorphic podzolic soils in terms of the Al content in the Tamm and Bascomb extracts is mainly related to an increase of the pedogenic chlorite content upon the transition from the AE to the E horizon. In the podzolic horizons of these soils, aluminum can accumulate in the form of proto-imogolite structures. The exchangeable aluminum displays an accumulative type of distribution. On the basis of calculating the reserves of the different aluminum compounds, two main accumulative zones for the mobile compounds of this element were recorded in the soils of the landscapes studied: the E horizon in the automorphic podzolic soils, where Al accumulates as soil chlorite or, probably, as proto-imogolite, and the A1 horizon of the floodplain soils, where Al accumulates in aluminoorganic complexes.     

Soils and soil resources in the southern Far East and their assessment

Based on the Russian soil classification, the assessment of the soil cover and the reserves of arable lands was performed for the southern Far East taking into account its administrative division. Six groups of soils were distinguished according to their location, properties, and use. The rating of the arable lands was performed, and they were categorized in terms of erosion into strongly, moderately, and slightly eroded soils. The ecological state of the soils was considered according to their humus content, acidity, and the contents of available phosphorus and potassium.     

Big Boldyrevo Kurgan of the Early Bronze Age in the Southern Urals: Kurgan Structures,Paleosols, and Paleoclimate Reconstruction

Eurasian Soil Science - The chronosequence of paleosols buried under structures of different ages in kurgan 1 of the Boldyrevo IV burial site in Orenburg oblast of Russia has been studied. The...     

Soil cover patterns in the southern part of the Sikhote Alin Range (using the example of the Ussuri Nature Reserve)

The soil cover of the Ussuri Nature Reserve in the southern part of the Sikhote Alin Range is described. The geographic regularities of the soil distribution within the territory of the reserve are analyzed, and the major types of soil cover patterns at different levels of their organization are characterized.     

Remediation of As-Contaminated Soils in the Guadiamar River Basin (SW, Spain)

In 1998, the pond containing the ore wastes from a pyrite mine in Aznalcóllar (SW, Spain) broke open, spilling some 36×10⁵ m³ of acidic waters and 9?×?10⁵ m³ of tailings containing high concentrations of As and heavy metals. The affected area was around 55 km² of predominantly agricultural soils. After the clean-up of the tailings, many remediation actions were undertaken and the use of blocking agents to immobilize the As was one of the most extended measure. The first experiment performed was to determine the most important soil components in As adsorption under acidic conditions. A second experiment was conducted to neutralize the acidity caused by the solution coming from the tailings undergoing oxidation; an adequate liming material (sugar-refinery scum) was selected and the application rates were established. After the remediation measures, the zone was monitored for three years. A detailed study in four experimental plots located in the most polluted sector was carried out to test the influence of iron oxides in the As immobilization. The use of red soils of the area (rich in free-iron oxides Fe_d) was established as an appropriate material in the remediation of the area.     

Soils of sinkholes on the western macroslope of the southern Urals: Properties, catenary relationships, and regional specificity

A series of microcatenas on the slopes of sinkholes were studied on the western macroslope of the southern Urals in the Shulgan-Tash Reserve. The morphological, chemical, physical, and physicochemical characteristics of the soils were analyzed. In order to reveal their regional specificity, the soils of the sinkholes under broadleaved forests in the southern Urals were compared with analogous soils under the northern taiga of the Belomorsk-Kuloi Plateau. It was shown that the full-profile vertically differentiated soils in the upper parts of the microcatenas are replaced by weakly developed and slightly differentiated soils in the lower parts of the microcatenas crossing sinkholes of different diameters in both natural zones.     

Effect of climate and soil type on the immobilization of nitrogen by decomposing straw in northern and southern Europe

 Wheat straw enclosed in mesh bags was buried for periods up to 1 year over two seasons in Scottish, Danish and Portuguese soils treated with ¹⁵NH₄NO₃ or NH₄ ¹⁵NO₃. Scottish soils were: Terryvale, a poorly drained sandy loam; and Tipperty, an imperfectly drained brown forest soil with a higher clay content. The Danish soil (Foulum) was a freely drained sandy loam and the Portuguese soils were a sandy soil (Evora) and a clay soil (Beja). During the first month, ¹⁵N was being incorporated into the straw in the Tipperty, Terryvale and Foulum soils simultaneously as the total N content was decreasing. Subsequently, the straws began to show net immobilization and the total N content of the original straw was exceeded in Tipperty and Foulum soils after 4 months and 8 months, respectively. Net immobilization in Terryvale was detected only in the second season and did not occur in the first because of high soil moisture content. The rates of ¹⁵N incorporation were similar in the two Portuguese soils, and a loss of N was only detected after 8 months. After 1 month, in the two clay soils, Beja and Tipperty, ¹⁵NO₃ ^– was incorporated into straw to a greater extent than ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ and this was attributed to ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ fixation by clay minerals. In contrast, ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ was more efficiently incorporated than ¹⁵NO₃ ^– under waterlogged conditions (Terryvale) and NO₃ ^– loss could be attributed to denitrification. The proportion of added ¹⁵N in the straw residue after 1 month varied between 6% and 18% for ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ and 2% and 23% for ¹⁵NO₃ ^– and immobilization of N in the longer term tended to be greater in soils from northern Europe than from Portugal. Received: 19 January 1998     

Retention of Molybdenum(VI) by Three Finnish Mineral Soils

Abstract

Retention of molybdate by three Finnish mineral soils from 10^?4 and 10^?5 M sodium molybdate solutions at room temperature was investigated at pH 2.3–7.5. In the adsorption experiments 0.02 M KCl was used as ionic medium, and the samples were left to equilibrate for 72 h. The solid: solution ratio was 1:100 (w: v). Maximum adsorption occurred below pH 4.5, where about 60–80 % of added molybdenum was retained. Desorption of the adsorbed molybdenum was measured by adding 50 ml of 0.02 M KCl into weighed soil samples and shaking for 17 h in an apparatus with a mechanical stirrer. In each soil an appreciable amount of Mo was so tightly bound that it could not be removed by KCl treatment.     

Soil respiration as affected by vegetation types in a semiarid region of China

There are variations in soil respiration across vegetation types; however, it is unclear which factors are mainly responsible for the variations. A field experiment was conducted in 2008 and 2009 in a semiarid region of China to investigate the daytime and monthly variation of soil respiration across vegetation types and to determine the factors controlling the variation. An automated portable soil carbon dioxide (CO₂) flux measurement system was used to measure the soil respiration in shrubland, grassland, fallow land, and cropland during the growing periods. The results showed that the relative daytime variation amplitude of soil respiration in the fallow land and cropland was as small as that of shrubland and grassland during July, but greater than that of shrubland and grassland during August and October. A hysteresis effect for the relationship between the daytime soil respiration and daytime soil temperature was observed for all four vegetation types. There was also a hysteresis effect for the relationship between the daytime soil respiration and daytime air temperature for the grassland. Over the study period, the monthly soil respiration rates of the fallow land and cropland were statistically comparable and significantly lower than those of the shrubland and grassland, with the exception of August, during which the monthly soil respiration of the cropland was as great as that of shrubland and grassland. The factors responsible for the monthly soil respiration variation across the vegetation types differed from month to month. In general, the soil temperature and soil water content were mainly responsible in August and September; however, the root biomass predominated in July and October. The results are valuable for accurately estimating regional carbon fluxes by considering the temporal variability of the soil respiration variation across vegetation types in the Loess Plateau of China.     

Potential effects of the increase in carbon dioxide and climate change on the dynamics of vegetation

The continued CO₂ loading of the atmosphere appears to be responsible for inducing three new force factors controlling dynamic changes in the world's vegetation. They come from (1) enhanced fertilization with the single most important plant nutrient, (2) the widely expected global temperature increase, and (3) aggravated weather disturbances. Increased CO₂ absorption may enhance plant growth but it may also increase soil-nutrient limitations. It surely will enhance the metabolism of forest trees similarly as global warming will enhance plant metabolism, but both factors may also shorten the lifespan of perennial plants. Increased weather disturbances can be expected to produce new physiological stresses on the standing vegetation, particularly on habitats with poor soils. Since wide-spread forest decline has been reported from both the Atlantic and Pacific region, it seems possible that the roughly synchronie mass mortality of trees during the past two decades is related to the global increase in CO₂. The paper gives an overview of forest decline and dieback as known from past and present research and suggests how the changing atmospheric environment may interact in this widely observed contemporary phenomenon of vegetation dynamics.     

Agroecological evaluation of soils as a basis for controlling soil-ecological risks (by example of soils of the dry steppe zone in the Volgograd region)

This article characterizes the soil-ecological conditions of the Romashkovskii breeding farm area in Pallasovskii district, Volgograd oblast, which is located in the dry steppe zone. An agroecological assessment is given for the farm’s soils using the Karmanov’s method of calculating soil-ecological indices and taking into account the specificity of agricultural crops. The possibility of using this evaluation as a basis for controlling soil-ecological risks in cropping is considered.     

Stratigraphy and sedimentology at Bir Sahara, Egypt: Environments, climate change and the Middle Paleolithic

Bir Sahara, situated in northeast Africa, contains a set of sedimentary sequences that imply episodic changes in climate and environment during the Middle and Late Pleistocene. Some of the stratigraphic contexts are associated with Middle Paleolithic artifact assemblages. The artifact assemblages are typically in sands that underlie deposits composed of high amounts of carbonate or fine clastics (muds) indicative of expanding lakes and wetter climates. The wetter climates may have provided landscapes that were periodically inhabitable by Pleistocene hominids.     

Soils of floodplains in arid regions of Inner Asia (the Zavkhan River,Mongolia)

The environmental conditions of soil formation and the diversity and classification position of soils developing on the Zavkhan River floodplain are considered, and the morphogenetic and agrochemical properties of these soils are characterized. It is shown that the conditions of soil formation on the floodplain of the Zavkhan River are specified by the mountainous topography, the effect of the large Mongol Els sand massif, the character of the alluviation processes, the groundwater level and salinity, and the regime of floods. The position of the floodplain in the system of altitudinal zones largely dictates the character of the soil cover pattern. In terms of the new Russian soil classification system, the soils studied belong to three trunks, four orders, and seven types: stratified humus alluvial soils, light-humus alluvial soils, light-humus quasigley alluvial soils, light-humus stratozems, and solonchaks. The soils of floodplain ecosystems in arid regions are characterized by low fertility. For their efficient use for pasturing and crop growing, the ecologically balanced differentiated application of manure, mineral fertilizers (NPK), and some microelements is required.