Specific features of the morphology and chemical properties of coarse-textured postagrogenic soils of the southern taiga,Kostroma oblast

The properties of loamy sandy postagrogenic soils in the course of their natural overgrowing were studied in the southeastern part of Kostroma oblast. Micromorphological indications of tillage were preserved in these soils at least 35–40 years after the cessation of their agricultural use. In the course of the soil overgrowing with forest vegetation, the bulk density of the upper part of the former plow horizon decreased, the pH and the ash content of the litter horizon somewhat lowered with a simultaneous increase in the acidity of the upper mineral horizon, especially at the beginning of the formation of the tree stand. In 5–7 years after the cessation of tillage, the former plow horizon was differentiated with respect to the organic carbon content. The total pool of organic carbon in the upper 30 cm increased. In the course of the further development, in the postagrogenic soil under the 90to 100-year-old forest, the organic carbon pool in this layer became lower. The soil of the young fallow (5–7 years) was characterized by the higher values of the microbial biomass in the upper mineral horizon in comparison with that in the plowed soil. In general, the microbial biomass in the studied postagrogenic ecosystems (the soils of the fields abandoned in 2005 and 2000 and the soil under the secondary 40-year-old forest) was lower than that in the soil of the subclimax 90to 100-year-old forest. The enzymatic activity of the soils tends to increase during the succession. The restoration of the invertase and, partly, catalase activities to the values typical of the soils under mature forests takes place in about 40 years.     

Dynamics of some properties in postagrogenic soils of southern taiga in the course of plant succession

The dynamics of carbon in ecosystems of abandoned agricultural lands were studied in the southern taiga zone. The soil acidity increased in the course of natural reforestation (the transition from meadow ecosystems to forest ecosystems) of the plots. The humus content in the upper soil layer decreased; changes in the humus content were less pronounced in sandy soils. The emission of carbon dioxide from the soils depended on the stage of vegetation succession during the restoration of forest vegetation.     

Organic matter and biological activity of postagrogenic soils in the southern taiga using the example of Kostroma oblast

The dynamics of the humus status (some indices) and the biological activity of agrosoddy-podzolic soils in the course of the natural forest regeneration were studied based on the example of the soils of two succession series, which differed both in their parent rock and the history of their development. Upon the overgrowing of the croplands, the humus content increased, and its distribution within the soil profile became more differentiated. As a hayfield was overgrown, the humus content decreased to some extent at the earliest stages. The parameters of the humus status more clearly changed in the succession series with the light-textured soils, which had a relatively simple history of agricultural development. The biological activity mainly decreased at the earlier succession stages and became higher with the increasing productivity and greater amounts of easily decomposing falloff entering the soil. This relationship was especially distinctly revealed in the grass communities.     

Changes in soil respiration in the course of the postagrogenic succession on sandy soils in the southern taiga zone

The dynamics of the CO₂ emission from sandy soils in the course of the postagrogenic succession in the southern taiga zone were studied. We measured total emission from the soil surface and, separately, respiration from the litter and mineral soil horizons during the warm (snowless) seasons of 2010 and 2011 on differently aged fallow plots: 0 years (cropland) and 7, 23, 55, 100, and 170 years. It was demonstrated that changes in the CO₂ emission in the course of the succession have a nonlinear pattern: the emission sharply increases in the first decade, then somewhat decreases, and then gradually increases again up to the maximum values. This is explained by the dependence of the rate of the emission on the soil carbon pools (humus + litter + underground phytomass) that are also subjected to nonlinear changes. Initially, the emission is mainly due to mineralization of labile organic substances added to the plowed soils in the form of organic fertilizers. Then, in parallel with a gradual increase in the pools of litter and underground phytomass, the total pool of soil organic carbon increases, and its role in the emission becomes more pronounced. The seasonal dynamics of the soil respiration are mainly controlled by the soil temperature; the soil moistening plays an important role only during the initial meadow stage of the succession.     

Specific features of the development of soils of hydromorphic ecosystems in the northern taiga of Western Siberia under conditions of cryogenesis

Differently directed and heterochronous cryogenic processes have contributed to the contrasting soil cover patterns and spatial heterogeneity of the properties of soils in hydromorphic ecosystems of the discontinuous permafrost zone of the northern taiga in Western Siberia. Frost heave and permafrost thawing within ecosystems of highmoor bogs have led to the development of specific cryogenic landforms, such as flat-topped and large peat mounds. A set of cryogenic soils is developed in these ecosystems; it includes different variants of cryozems, gleyzems (Cryosols), and peat soils (Histosols). The distribution of these soil types is controlled by the local topography and thawing depth, other factors being insignificant. Alternation of peat horizons of different types and ages, whirl-like patterns of horizon boundaries, considerable variations in the thickness of soil horizons, and inversions of soil horizons under the impact of frost cracking, frost heave, and cryoturbation are typical of the considered soils. Thawing depth is the most significant factor affecting the thickness of organic horizons, the soil pH, and the degree of decomposition of peat. As a result of the upward movement of bog ecosystems under the impact of frost heave, peat soils are subjected to considerable transformation: peat horizons undergo mineralization, and the thickness of organic horizons decreases; in some cases, eluvial–illuvial differentiation of the mineral horizons takes place, and peat podzols are developed. However, the opposite process of the return of the soils to the bog stage of pedogenesis with peat accumulation may take place in any time in the case of activation of thermokarst processes.     

Water budget items and temperature regime of postagrogenic soddy-podzolic soils of Moscow region and their effect on the soil properties

The postagrogenic transformation of the plow horizon of soddy-podzolic soils under a mown meadow and an artificially planted dense spruce stand has been studied in relation to the microclimatic specificity, water budgets, and soil temperature regimes in the compared cenoses. Over 20 years, a considerable part of precipitation reaching the soil surface under the meadow cenosis has been discharged with the surface runoff and subsurface lateral water flows. The soil warming in summer has been considerable, and the soil freezing in winter has been relatively weak. As a result, a gray humus horizon with well-shaped fine granular and coprolitic structure has been formed within the body of the former plow layer. Under the spruce stand, a larger part of atmospheric moisture has been infiltrated into the soil. The microclimatic conditions under the spruce stand have been more humid and colder. As a result, a thinner humus horizon with a considerable admixture of weakly decomposed plant debris has been formed in the upper part of the former plow layer. Below, a newly formed horizon with a specific thin platy (schlieren) structure ha been developed. The morphology of this horizon resembles the morphology of the eluvial horizon in virgin soddy-podzolic soils.     

The effects of fungicides on certain chemical and microbial properties of soils

Field application of six fungicides at twice the normal rate resulted in increases in bacterial and fungal numbers after 28 days. Members of the fungal genera Gliocladium. Penicillium and Trichoderma predominated. Fungicides when applied at the field rate decreased the concentration of NO₃^? -N in soils. while the level of exchangeable NH₄⁺ -N, K, Mn and Na were generally increased. Addition of the fungicides to soil incubated in the laboratory consistently increased exchangeable Mn and K, and occasionally increased exchangeable Cu, Na and Zn. The results are discussed in relation to the microbial changes which occur, and in relation to soil fertility.     

The elemental composition and amphiphilic properties of humic acids in southern taiga soils

This paper gives the characteristics of the elemental composition and amphiphilic properties of humic acids (HAs) extracted from different horizons of the most typical soils in the Central Forest Biosphere Reserve (CFBR, the Tver Oblast). An attempt at characterizing some properties of the structure of HAs is made based on the data of the elemental composition. The data on amphiphilic properties enable one to reveal whether components that are capable of migration are present.     

The intensity of organic matter decomposition in gray soils of forest ecosystems in the southern taiga of Central Siberia

The estimates of the carbon pool in the organic matter of gray soils of the southern taiga, the intensity of destruction of its components, and participation of the latter in the formation of the mineralized carbon flux to the atmosphere are presented for different stages of succession of deciduous (birch) and coniferous (fir) forests. The carbon pool varies from 139.7 to 292.7 t/ha. It is distributed between phytodetritus, mobile and stabile humus (32, 19, and 49%, respectively). The intensity of the mineralization carbon flux to the atmosphere amounts to 3.93–4.13 t C per year. Phytodetritus plays the main role in the formation of this flux. In the soils under the forests studied, 4–6% of the carbon flux are formed owing to mineralization of the newly formed soil humus. In birch forests, 2–6% (0.1–0.2% of the humus pool in the 0–20-cm layer) is the contribution to the flux due to mineralization of soil humus. In fir forests, the mineralized humus is compensated by humus substances synthesized in the process of humification during phytodetritus decomposition.     

Chemical contamination of adygea soils and changes in their biological properties

Soil pollution with Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb oxides and with oil products in the Adygea Republic leads to the deterioration of the soil biological properties. According to the degree of deterioration of the biological properties, the soils of Adygea may be arranged into the following sequence: brown forest soils > mountainous meadow (subalpine) soils > gray forest soils > soddy calcareous soils = leached vertic chernozems. With respect to the negative effect of heavy metal oxides on the biological properties of the soils, they form the following sequence: CrO₃ > CuO = PbO ≥ NiO.     

Changes in the acid-base properties of cultivated light-textured soddy-podzolic soils in the course of postagrogenic transformation

The rates of changes in the acid-base properties of the sandy-loamy soddy-podzolic soils of fallow lands abandoned for 5, 10, 30, and 63 years were determined. The transformation of the vegetation related to the fallow age has been analyzed. The density of the human-induced topsoil compaction was found to be gradually restored. Mathematical models describing the changes in the acid-base properties of the sandy-loamy soils in the course of the transition from cropland to forest are proposed. The sandy-loamy soils were shown to lose their favorable acid-base properties (gained under cultivation) more slowly than sandy soils do.     

Structure of the microbial biomass and trophic groups of nematodes in soddy-podzolic soils of a postagrogenic succession in the southern taiga (Tver oblast)

The structure of the microbial biomass and trophic nematode groups were studied in soddy-podzolic soils under phytocenoses of a secondary succession initiated by the growth of forests on agricultural lands in the southern taiga. The microbial biomass became greater with the increasing amount of fungal mycelium, and the bacterial pool little changed in these soils. Bacteriovorous nematodes predominated (64% of the total number of nematodes) in the soils of a potato field, where the bacterial biomass was maximal; it was greater or close to the fungal biomass. In the soil under a mown meadow, where the fungal biomass was greater, the populations of fungivorous and bacteriovorous nematodes were close in number and share in the nematode complex (by 40%). In the soil under a spruce forest (climax stage), the main biomass pool was composed of fungi (97%), whose biomass is maximal, while fungivorous nematodes and nematodes with a mixed type of feeding occupy the dominant positions (69% in the nematode complex). In the course of the succession, the number of fungivorous and bacteriovorous nematodes decreased, but their ratio increased from 0.4 in the soil of the potato field to 0.8–1.0 under the meadows and mixed forest and to 2.0 in the soil under the sorrel spruce forest. These changes corresponded to the increasing microbial pool and the share of the fungal biomass in it.     

长期施用有机肥与化肥对潮土土壤化学及生物学性质的影响

研究长期施用有机肥与化肥对潮土土壤化学和生物学性质的影响结果表明,有机肥和化肥均使土壤有机质、全N、全P、速效磷、速度钾、阳离子交换性提高,增加土壤微生物数量和活性,但有机肥在培肥地力、创造有利于微生物生长繁育的土壤环境方面明显优于化学肥料。     

Anthropogenic effects on the physical and chemical properties of subtropical coastal urban soils

We investigated the effects of various anthropogenic factors on urban soil properties in subtropical, coastal Tampa, FL, USA. Specifically, we explored the influence of (i) urbanization as measured by land use, land cover, population density and years since urban development and (ii) socioeconomic conditions as reflected in household income and property values on bulk density (BD) and several key soil chemical properties. Results indicate that Tampa’s urban soils were affected to varying degrees by these factors with chemical properties being more variable than BD. Across land uses significant differences were found for Mehlich‐1 (M1) extractable P, Ca and Na. A similar trend was observed for land‐cover classes, although significant differences were also found for pH and M1‐Cu. Soil properties had no statistically significant relationship with population density. However, time since urbanization did with M1‐P and Na varying significantly across age categories. For our socioeconomic analyses, M1‐K and Mg levels differed significantly by household income while pH, P, Ca and Na values differed significantly by property value. Overall, our findings indicate that despite their inherent heterogeneity, there are identifiable patterns among subtropical coastal urban soil properties. We suggest that a more thorough understanding of these patterns and their drivers is an essential first step towards developing soil management strategies aimed at maintaining environmental quality and ecosystem services in subtropical cities.     

Microbial biomass carbon and the microbial carbon dioxide production by soddy-podzolic soils in postagrogenic biogeocenoses and in native spruce forests of the southern taiga (Kostroma oblast)

In two layers of the humus horizons in soddy-podzolic soils of different biogeocenoses (Kostroma oblast) representing a succession series, the carbon content in the microbial biomass (C_mic) was determined using the method of substrate-induced respiration and the rate of microbial CO₂ production (basal respiration, BR). The C_mic content was from 110 to 755 μg/g soil, and the BR was from 0.40 to 2.52 μg CO₂-C/g/h. A gradual increase in the C_mic content and BR was found in the following sequence: cropland—fallow (7-year-old)—young (20- and 45-year-old) forests—secondary and native (primary) forests (90- and 450-year-old, respectively). In the litter, the C_mic content was higher in the 45-year-old forest than in the secondary and native forests: 10423, 6459, and 4258 μg C/g of substrate, respectively. The portion of C_mic in the soil organic carbon content in the upper layer of the soils studied varied from 1.3 to 5.4%; its highest value was in the soils under the secondary and native forests. The pool of microbial biomass carbon and the microbial CO₂ production in the upper 25-cm layer of the soils were calculated.     

设施菜地种植年限对土壤理化性质和生物学特征的影响

【目的】 研究分析北京郊区不同种植年限设施菜地的土壤生态环境、土壤理化性状、土壤微生物数量、土壤线虫群落结构的差异,为不同种植年限设施菜地土壤管理提供科学依据。 【方法】 以露地土壤为对照 (CK),采集种植 3年、5年、8年和 12年的0—30 cm设施蔬菜土壤样品,采用常规土壤理化性质检测方法测定了土壤的理化性状,采用荧光定量法和线虫形态学鉴定方法,分析土壤细菌、真菌数量以及土壤线虫群落组成。 【结果】 随种植年限增加,设施菜地土壤容重和pH值均明显下降,总孔隙度、EC值、SO₄2–、Ca2+、有机碳、NH₄+-N、NO₃–-N含量均持续升高。与CK相比,种植年限 3年、5年、8年、12年的样地土壤细菌和真菌的数量均显著增加 (P < 0.05)。随种植年限增加,根结线虫属 ( Meloidogyne)、螺旋属 (Helicotylenchus)、异皮属 (Heterodera) 丰度逐渐增加;土壤线虫密度、植物寄生性线虫丰度显著增加 (P < 0.05),而食细菌、食真菌、杂食/捕食线虫丰度逐渐降低。线虫群落的多样性 H′、SR指数和均匀性J′ 指数均呈现出先增加后降低趋势,与CK相比,种植年限 12年样地的指标值显著降低 (P < 0.05)。所有种植样地NCR > 0.5,表明样地土壤食物网以食细菌通道为主,土壤有机质以细菌分解途径为主。WI、MI指数逐渐降低,而PPI指数表现出相反的趋势,其中种植年限12年样地WI < 1,这表明土壤矿化途径转变为以植物到植食性线虫为主要参与者,土壤生态系统受干扰程度逐渐增强,土壤健康状况变差。土壤环境因子与土壤生物数量间的冗余分析表明,土壤pH 、总孔隙度、容重、EC值、有机碳、SO ₄2–、NH₄+-N、NO₃–-N是影响细菌、真菌和线虫数量的关键因子,不同种植年限设施菜地由于改变这些因素而影响土壤生物群落组成。 【结论】 连续种植导致京郊设施菜地盐分含量显著升高、养分失衡、土壤酸化。理化性状的变化改变了细菌和真菌数量,进而导致土壤线虫总数、植物寄生性线虫比率逐渐增加,尤其根结线虫属比率增加显著,食细菌、真菌和杂食/捕食线虫比率逐渐降低。以种植12年后的土壤受干扰程度最大,土壤微生态失衡最严重。      

Wood ash effects on chemical and microbiological properties of digestate- and manure-amended soils

A field study was carried out to evaluate the potential of wood ash as a fertilizer in grassland systems in combination with enriched N organic wastes. Six treatments including manure or digestate, each combined with wood ash at 0, 1, and 3 t?ha^?1 were spread onto the soil to an amount equivalent to 120 kg?N ha^?1. Three soil samplings and one cutting was carried out within one growing season (3 months). A higher pH value was found in manure-treated plots, the pH rise being proportional to the amount of wood ash added. Those plots amended with digestate were characterized by a larger content of total C, NH₄ ⁺, and total P (TP) regardless of the amount of ashes. Microbial activity, assessed by basal respiration and microbial biomass carbon of the differently treated soils, was not affected neither by the nature of the organic waste nor by the amount of wood ash added. However, amending soil with digestate resulted in a more efficient soil microbial community, as shown by the lower values of the metabolic quotient. Such effects were accompanied by a higher percentage of plant cover, particularly of leguminous plants in digestate-treated plots. The time of sampling (seasonal effects) was found to influence the soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC), as well as the nutrient content (total N, NH₄ ⁺, and NO₃ ^?). Overall, the combined use of wood ash and biogas digestate can constitute an efficient way for the disposal and recycling of both products and additionally, it may constitute an environmentally friendly alternative to mineral fertilizers for acid soils.     

Effects of long-term treatments of different organic fertilizers complemented with chemical N fertilizer on the chemical and biological properties of soils

Continuous cultivation has been known to decrease soil organic matter content. Application of organic matter to cultivated soil is an important practice from the point of view of maintaining an adequate amount of soil organic matter. Soil organic matter content significantly affects soil microbial activity, which is an important index of soil quality. In this study, a field experiment was conducted to examine the long-term effects of different kinds of organic matter in combination with inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizer on chemical and biological properties of soils. There were seven treatments, namely (1) CK (without fertilization), (2) Chem-N (applying chemical N fertilizer only), (3) Comp (applying compost with the same rate of N as the Chem-N treatment), (4) Comp + l/3 N (applying compost complemented with 33% of the chemical N fertilizer of the Chem-N treatment), (5) Comp + 2/3 N (applying compost complemented with 66% of the chemical N fertilizer of the Chem-N treatment), (6) GM + 1/3 N (applying green manure complemented with 33% of the chemical N fertilizer of the Chem-N treatment) and (7) Peat + 1/3 N (applying peat complemented with 33% of the chemical N fertilizer of the Chem-N treatment). After continuous treatment for 12 years and with cultivation of 24 crops on the same area, soils were sampled for analyses of chemical and biological properties, enzymatic activities and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles. The results showed that compared with CK and Chem-N treatments, applications of compost and peat increased soil organic carbon (SOC) content and altered microbial activities and microbial community structure. However, application of green manure for 12 years had no effect on SOC content. Both microbial activities and PLFA profiles were clearly dependent on the characteristics of the applied organic amendments. In summary, a peat application led to the highest increase in SOC content compared to compost and green manure; however, compost-treated soil had a higher microbial population and higher microbial and enzyme activities, while the effects of both green manure and chemical N fertilizer on soil properties were similar.     

Psychrotolerant actinomycetes in soils of the tundra and northern taiga

Actinomycetes adapted to low-temperature conditions are present in the cold soils of the tundra and northern taiga in quantities comparable to mesophylic forms and dominate in the soil actinomycete complex. Actinomycetes isolated from cold soils were identified as Streptomyces. Most actinomycetes relate to psychrotolerant forms according to habitation temperature. Two of them are conditionally psychrophilic. Specific properties of the investigated populations were identified by multirespirometrical testing.