Soil formation in the technogenic forest-steppe landscapes of the Nazarovskaya Depression in western Siberia

The soil formation was studied in the 21- to 35-year-old pine plantations created on the overburden dumps of the Nazarovskaya Depression without applying the material of the humus horizon. The surface technogenic formations under the pine plantations belong to the group of naturfabricats (surface formations devoid of the humus horizon and composed of natural substrate). The morphological characteristics, bulk chemical and particle-size compositions, and labile properties of the soils indicate that the accumulation and transformation of organic matter are dominant processes in the artificially planted forests. The accumulation of organic residues and destruction and humification are tightly related to the environmental conditions transformed by the technogenesis and conceal other processes forming the soil profiles. Quasizems created for agricultural production purposes were the objects of the study. They were formed by covering the technically planned overburden rocks with the material of humus layers. The thickness of the humus horizons of the quasizems varies greatly (25–64%); the variation of the humus reserves in them is 34–122%. Middle-profile horizons have not been formed by the present time.     

Accumulation of organic matter in the mineral layers of permafrost-affected soils of coastal lowlands in East Siberia

On the basis of a large volume of literature and original data, the high content (1–7%) of organic matter in the mineral layer of loamy permafrost-affected soils of coastal lowlands in East Siberia (from the lower reaches of the Lena River to the lower reaches of the Kolyma River) has been statistically proved. In most cases, the reserves of C_org in the mineral layer of these soils exceed those in the surface organic horizons and constitute 60–90% of the total soil pool of C_org. The enrichment of the mineral layer with C_org is due to the cryogenic retention (retenization) of humus (the illuviation and accumulation of colorless humic substances above permafrost) and the cryogenic mass exchange (mechanical admixture of organic matter from the upper organic horizons into the mineral layers). The analysis of 60 soil profiles showed that the accumulation of organic matter above the permafrost table is observed in 43% of cases; in general, the organic matter distribution in the soil profiles is highly variable. A specific type of colorless humus is accumulated above the permafrost table. The mechanisms of its precipitation and transformation in the profile require further studies.     

Organic matter in particle-size fractions from A and B horizons of a Haplic Alisol

The organic matter in soils may be stabilized by its interactions with minerals. We have studied such interactions in a Haplic Alisol under forest in which clay and organic matter have migrated from an eluvial A horizon to accumulate in an illuvial B horizon. We have tried to trace the fate of organic matter in these horizons (Ah and Bvt) by determining clay mineralogy, carbon and nitrogen content, hydrolysable amino acids, lignin signature by alkaline CuO oxidation and carbon species by ¹³C CPMAS NMR of bulk soils and particle‐size fractions. In both horizons, most of the organic matter was present in O–alkyl and methylene structures, each contributing one‐third to the bulk organic matter. In the Ah horizon the ratios of carbon‐to‐nitrogen, and yields for lignin and hydrolysable amino acids decreased as the particle‐size class decreased, but side‐chain oxidation of lignin compounds increased with decreasing particle size. In contrast to previous observations, the proportions of O–alkyl carbon increased as particle size decreased, constituting a major proportion of the organic carbon in the clay‐size fractions from both the Ah and Bvt horizons (≥ 38%), while proportions of methylene carbon decreased. Illite was the dominant mineral in the fraction ≤ 6 μm, whereas the mobile fine clay fraction (<0.2 μm) was rich in smectites – minerals with large surface areas. Our results support the hypothesis that potentially labile organic matter, such as O–alkyl carbon typically present in polysaccharides, may be stabilized against further degradation in organomineral complexes.     

Monitoring of the humus status of soils of the Ingulets irrigation system

The results of long-term studies (1957–2007) of the changes in the morphology of soil profiles and in the reserves and fractional composition of the humus in the soils of the Ingulets irrigation system are discussed. After 50 years of irrigation, the boundaries of the genetic horizons shifted downward by 15–30 cm. The redistribution of the humus took place: its content decreased to a low level in the plow layer of the irrigated and rainfed soils and significantly increased in the layer of 60–100 cm so that the reserves of humus in the layer of 0–100 cm somewhat increased and corresponded to a moderate level. The distribution of humus in the soil profiles was characterized by the gradual lowering down the soil profile. The concentration of nitrogen in the humus of the irrigated southern chernozems was very low. The degree of humification of the soil organic matter was high. The humus was of the humate type in the upper horizons and of the fulvate-humate type in the lower horizons.     

Humus Forms in Forest Soils: Concepts and Classifications

The concepts and classifications of humus forms developed since the time of scientific pedology formation are critically discussed. The concept of humus forms (types) relates to the classification of a set of topsoil organic and organomineral horizons, which reflects morphologically distinct phases of plant litter and soil organic matter decomposition, but not to the fractions of soil organic matter. Humus forms reflect various types of transformation and accumulation of organic matter in the soil. The stages of development and modern classifications of humus forms abroad are described. The taxonomy of humus forms in Russian literature and its application for the mapping and evaluation of forest soils are considered, as well as its use for the mathematical simulation of soil organic matter mineralization and humification. Prospects for the development of the classification of humus forms in combination with the basic soil classification of European Russia are discussed. A call for an understanding and a common language in soil science at the international level is underlined.     

Pyrogenic transformation of organic matter in soils of forest bogs

Natural fires on forest bogs significantly affect all the groups and fractions of peat organic matter. The type and intensity of the fires are responsible for the depth of the pyrogenic transformation of peat. In the course of thermal destruction of peat organic matter, humus substances (humic acids in particular) are accumulated, which leads to changes in the type of humus; the humus reserves may increase by 1.5–8 times. Several ways of the formation of humus components related to the intensity of a fire are suggested. The regressive evolution of bog ecosystems caused by fires is a reversible process. The humus status of pyrogenically transformed horizons and their morphology are preserved within the peat deposit as a relic characteristic of the discrete metamorphosis of the soils.     

Effect of Contrasting Trophic Conditions on the Priming Effect in Gray Forest Soils

Priming effects initiated by the addition of ¹⁴С glucose have been compared for humus horizons of soils existing under continuous input of fresh organic substrates and for buried soil horizons, in which entering of organic matter has been essentially limited. The effect of microrelief on the manifestation of priming effect in the humus horizons of gray forest soil on microhigh and in microlow has been estimated. Humus horizon in soils on microhigh, not activated by glucose, produced two times more СО₂ in comparison with soils of microlow. However, the introduction of glucose canceled the effect of microrelief on СО₂ emission. The intensity of absolute priming effect correlated with the С_org pool, initial microbial biomass, and enzyme activity, decreasing from humus horizons to the buried ones, and did not depend on microrelief. The effect of microrelief was observed, when assessing the priming effect relative to control (soil not activated by glucose): the value of relative priming effect was 1.5 times greater in А horizon of gray forest soil in microlow in comparison with that on microhigh being the result of increasing activity of enzymes.     

Humus status of soils of overgrown quarries in Leningrad oblast

The humus status of young different-aged soils developed on tailings of different quarries of Quaternary and pre-Quaternary raw materials in Leningrad oblast was studied. Organic profiles were characterized; the humus accumulation rates, the organic matter reserves, the humus enrichment with nitrogen, the degree of humification of the organic matter, and the contents of separate fractions of humus acid in soils on different tailing rocks were estimated. The composition of humic acids was also studied. It was shown that the lithological features of the tailings determining the chemical processes of the profile differentiation of humic substances and the ecogenetic successions of vegetation also determine the rate and direction of the humus accumulation in the soils during similar periods of biological activity in the southern taiga.     

Assessing the humus status and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> production in soils of anthropogenic and agrogenic landscapes in southern regions of the Russian Far East

The humus status and CO₂ production have been assessed in soils of natural and anthropogenic landscapes in southern regions of the Far East with different types of redox conditions. A higher production of CO₂ is typical of burozems and soddy-eluvial-metamorphic soils with oxidative and contrast redox conditions. These are soils with medium or high humus content, high potential humification capacity, and medium enrichment with catalase. A decrease in the content of humus in the plow horizons of soils in agrogenic landscapes is revealed compared to their natural analogues. The studied soils mainly have humus of the fulvate–humate type. The fractions strongly bound to the mineral soil component prevail in humic acids. In waterlogged mucky-humus gley soils, the anaerobic conditions hamper the biological activity and transformation of organic matter, which favors its accumulation. A low production of CO₂ is observed in soils with reducing conditions. To determine the differences between the CO₂ emission parameters in soils of agrogenic and natural landscapes, monitoring studies should be extended.     

Soil altitudinal sequence on base-poor parent material in a montane cloud forest in Sierra Juárez, Southern Mexico

The soils of montane cloud forests (MCF) are still insufficiently studied. A number of researchers report Podzols to be the main soil group for MCF ecosystems; however, a great deal of contradictory data exists. We studied an altitudinal sequence of soils formed on ferrous chlorite shale under natural MCF vegetation in Sierra Juárez, Southern Mexico, from 1500 to 2500 m asl. The soils of the upper part of the toposequence were Folic Stagnic Podzols, with inclusions of Folic Stagnosols in local depressions, while the soils of the lower part of the toposequence were Folic Cambisols (Humic, Hyperdystric). All the soils in the toposequence were extremely acid, and had thick organic surface horizon. Mineral horizons of all soils were poor both in exchangeable and total reserves of bases; the bases were concentrated mainly in organic topsoil. With decreasing altitude both the thickness of albic horizons, the depth of the maximum acid oxalate-extractable Fe and Al concentrations, and the difference in clay content between the eluvial and illuvial horizons decreased. In the upper part of the toposequence the composition of soil clays was similar to that of parent material (chlorite and mica), with some mixed-layered 2:1 minerals. However, gibbsite and kaolinite were also present in the soils of the other site within the same upper MCF belt. The phenomenon was ascribed to parent material heterogenity. In the medium and lower parts of the toposequence gibbsite and kaolinite were the dominant minerals. We consider that the main pedogenic processes in the study area are raw humus accumulation, weathering in situ, podzolization, and iron reduction due to water stagnation in mineral topsoil. The intensity of weathering decreases, while the extent of water stagnation increases with altitude. To a great extent the genesis and altitudinal distribution of the soils in the MCF depends on parent material.     

Dynamics of the dispersity of model soddy-podzolic soils in a long-term lysimetric experiment

Changes in the particle-size composition and specific surface area were considered for soddy-podzolic soils in large lysimeters of the Soil Research Station of Moscow State University, which simulated anthropogenically modified soils with different sequences of genetic horizons in a long-term (1961–2002) experiment. Changes were detected in the degree of dispersion of the soil horizons occurring under conditions inadequate for their genesis: a decrease in the clay content by 7% and in the external specific surface area from 28.9 to 7.4% in the illuvial horizon placed on the surface and the accumulation of colloidal mineral fractions in the Ap horizon buried at a depth of 80–100 cm. The degree of change depended on the occurrence depth of the buried horizons and increased with approaching the surface. The changes in the dispersity of the model soddypodzolic soils in the lysimetric experiment were primarily due to the translocation of the fine fractions with vertical water flows. The long-term experiment carried out under completely controlled conditions showed that, at the initial functioning stages of the soils with anthropogenically modified profiles, this process was well detectable and significant for the monitoring studies.     

Chemodestructive fractionation of soil organic matter

The method of chemodestructive fractionation is suggested to assess the composition of soil organic matter. This method is based on determination of the resilience of soil organic matter components and/or different parts of organic compounds to the impact of oxidizing agents. For this purpose, a series of solutions with similar concentration of the oxidant (K₂Cr₂O₇), but with linearly increasing oxidative capacity was prepared. Chemodestructive fractionation showed that the portion of easily oxidizable (labile) organic matter in humus horizons of different soil types depends on the conditions of soil formation. It was maximal in hydromorphic soils of the taiga zone and minimal in automorphic soils of the dry steppe zone. The portion of easily oxidizable organic matter in arable soils increased with an increase in the rate of organic fertilizers application. The long-lasting agricultural use of soils and burying of the humus horizons within the upper one-meter layer resulted in the decreasing content of easily oxidizable organic matter. It was found that the portion of easily oxidizable organic matter decreases by the mid-summer or fall in comparison with the spring or early summer period.     

Acidity of podzolic soils subjected to sulphur pollution near a Cu-Ni smelter at the Kola Peninsula

The acidity of the podzolic soils in coniferous forests on the northern tree line (Kola Peninsula) subjected to severe sulphur pollution is considered. The pH values of precipitation were positively correlated with the distance from the pollution point source. There was also a correlation between base saturation of the organic horizon and distance. The long-term SO₂-emissions have resulted in the higher leachability of base cations and dissolution of fulvic acids in the humus horizon. In polluted areas the flux of H⁺ from the organic layer could be stronger owing to higher proportion of hydrolysable humus compounds. Inputs of H⁺ from the atmosphere and humus horizon have resulted in the higher concentrations of the exchangeable aluminium in the illuvial horizon.     

Spatial and temporal variation in podzol organic matter studied by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and micromorphology

A well‐developed podzol hydrosequence that has been partially covered with drift sand, and partially subjected to improved drainage, provides new insights into the causes of variation in soil organic matter chemistry in such soils. While E horizons invariably move towards a dominance of aliphatic components reflecting residual accumulation, the chemistry of organic matter in well‐drained B horizons is determined mainly by decaying roots, which are transformed by microorganisms to humus aggregates. In poorly drained, stratified B horizons, humus coatings dominate and the chemistry is very close to that of dissolved organic carbon. When a sand cover inhibits the supply of fresh litter, microbial decomposition in the A horizon causes a shift in chemistry towards that of the E horizon. Similarly, upon improved drainage and removal of complexed metals from the top of the B horizon, microbial decomposition of all palatable organic matter in the top of the B horizon causes a shift towards E‐horizon chemistry. This is probably the mechanism by which most E horizons in podzols are formed, and not by re‐solution. Marked chemical changes upon improved drainage may take only decades. During microbial decay, small polysaccharide‐derived pyrolysis products (mainly furans, furaldehydes and acetic acid) remain abundant due to the contribution of microbial sugars. Both micromorphology and factor analysis on quantified results of pyrolysis‐gas chromatography/mass spectrometry contribute significantly to the interpretation of the humus chemistry of these profiles and thus to our understanding of soil genesis. Organic chemistry of the investigated podzols can be understood only in the context of their genesis.     

Die Bedeutung von hohen Aluminiumgehalten für die Humusanreicherung in sauren Waldböden

The role of aluminium on humus accumulation in acid forest soils The impact of soil-borne aluminum on humus accumulation was investigated in a forest soil of the chestnut zone (Castanea sativa) in southern Switzerland (Ticino). Soil samples of two soils formed on bedrocks which differ mainly in their aluminum content were extracted with HNO₃, NH₄Ac.-EDTA, NH₄Cl, KCl, and NH₄F-HCl and analyzed for the most abundant elements. On gneiss which contains up to about 10% of total aluminum the common soil type in this area is a Cryptopodzol. This soil is similar to the nonallophanic Udands. It is rich in wellhumified organic matter and shows dark-colored A_h-, A(E)- and B_h-horizons. The soil samples of these horizons are extremely rich in nonexchangeable aluminum which is, however, extractable with NH₄Ac.-EDTA. It is assumed that this Al is intimately bound to the organic matter. The soil samples of these horizons contain large amounts of HNO₃-extractable phosphorus. Up to 90% of this P appears in the organic fraction. The content of NH₄F-HCl-extractable P is only 0.7 to 3.4 mg/kg. It is concluded that due to excessive Al in the organic matter the humus mineralization is inhibited compared to the Haplumbrepts of the region.     

Zonal features of humus formation in Al-Fe-humus podzols of the Kola Peninsula

Natural zonality manifests itself clearly in the territory of the Kola Peninsula: subzones of southern tundra, forest-tundra (sparse birch forest), and northern taiga replace one other from the north, to the Barents Sea coast, and to the south. Sandy and sandy loamy sediments of glacial, marine, and glaciofluvial origin are parent rocks all over the territory. Al-Fe-humus podzols, the profile of which is characterized by clear differentiation of the chemical composition and organic matter content, were formed on these rocks. There is almost no difference in the particle-size and total chemical composition of the podzols, whereas the content and composition of the humus in the soils of different zones differ significantly, and this is especially obvious in the illuvial horizon. As the climatic severity increases, the humus content in the mineral profile and the organic matter enrichment with nitrogen increase.     

Soil organic matter,C and N accumulation during natural succession and reclamation in an opencast sand quarry (southern Poland)

Abstract

The work presents study results on the formation of humus horizons, the accumulation of organic carbon and nitrogen as well as humus composition in successional and reclaimed soils in a sand mine cast in southern Poland. Research plots were designed in chronosequence: 5, 17, 20 and 25 years. Increased thickness of humus horizon and accumulation of organic carbon was reported both in successional soils and in reclaimed soils. However, in corresponding age groups of reclaimed soils these characteristics were two times as high as in successional soils. The estimated accumulation rate of organic carbon (C_org) was three times higher and total nitrogen (N_t) five times higher in reclaimed soils than in successional soils. In both types of soils there was an increase in the amount of carbon trapped with humic and fulvic acid (C_Ha + C_Fa) and structure of humic acids. Studies indicated that reclamation treatment significantly accelerated soil-formation in opencast sand mine.     

Transformation of lignin in surface and buried soils of mountainous landscapes

The content and composition of the lignin phenols in plants and soils of vertical natural zones were studied in the Northern Caucasus region and Northwestern Tien Shan. Three types of lignin transformation were revealed: steppe, forest, and meadow ones. It was shown that the degree of oxidation of the biopolymer during the transformation of organic matter increased when going from the living plant tissues to humic acids in surface and buried soils. The portion of lignin fragments remained unchanged during the biopolymer transformation in the following series: plant tissues-falloff-litter-soil-humic acids-buried humic acids. It was also shown that the biochemical composition of the plants had a decisive effect on the structure of the humic acids in the soils. The quantitative analysis of the lignin phenols and the ¹³C NMR spectroscopy proved that the lignin in higher plants was involved in the formation of specific compounds of soil humus, including aliphatic and aromatic molecular fragments. The first analysis of the lignin content and composition in buried soils of different ages was performed, and an increase in the degree of oxidation of the lignin structures was revealed in the soil chronoseries. It was proposed to use the proportions of lignin phenols in surface and buried soils as diagnostic criteria of the vegetation types in different epochs.     

Mineralization of soil organic matter initiated by the application of an available substrate to the profiles of surface and buried podzolic soils

The priming effect (PE) initiated by the application of ¹⁴C-glucose was studied for copiotrophic microbial communities of organic horizons and for oligotrophic microbial communities of mineral soil horizons, as well as for mineral horizons of buried soils depleted in the input of fresh organic matter. The intensity of the PE depended on the reserves of C_org, the initial amount of the microbial biomass, and the enzymatic activity, which decreased from the organic to the mineral soil horizons. The ratio of the PE to the applied carbon was two times higher in the mineral horizons as compared with the organic horizons. This is explained by the predominance of K-strategists capable of decomposing difficultly available organic compounds in the mineral horizons, so that the turnover of the microbial biomass in the mineral horizons was more active than that in the organic horizons. The predominance of K-strategists was confirmed by the close correlation between the PE and the activity of the cellobiohydrolase enzyme decomposing cellulose (R = 0.96). In general, the absolute value of the PE was controlled by the soil organic matter content, whereas the specific PE was controlled by the functional features of the microorganisms. It was shown that the functional features of the soil microorganisms remained unchanged under the conditions of their preservation in the buried soil.     

巨尾桉工业原料林下植物多样性与土壤因子的关系

采用野外调查与室内分析相结合的方法,研究了巨尾桉工业原料林下植物多样性、土壤因子的变化特征以及二者之间的关系。结果表明,物种丰富度指数是草本层最高,而Simpson指数,Shannon—Wiener指数和均匀度指数是灌木层最高。巨尾桉林地土壤水分含量的变化规律为:母质层淀积层腐殖质层,有机质、水解氮、有效磷和速效钾含量的变化规律为:腐殖质层淀积层母质层。腐殖质层、淀积层和母质层的土壤水分含量、有机质含量与灌木层或草本层丰富度指数、多样性指数和均匀度指数无显著相关性;腐殖质层速效钾含量与草本层Simpson指数极显著相关;淀积层速效钾含量与灌木层Simpson指数极显著相关;水解氮与灌木层及草本层以Simpson指数为基础的均匀度指数,以Shannon—Wiener指数为基础的均匀度指数极显著相关;母质层土壤各因子含量与灌木层或草本层多样性指数无显著相关。研究结果为巨尾桉林的可持续经营管理提供理论基础和科学依据。