Principles of selecting reference soils for the Red Data Book of Russian Soils

The meaning of the term “etalon” (reference, standard) in natural sciences and, particularly, in soil science is discussed. The need to preserve natural landscapes and soils as reference objects for comparison with their anthropogenically transformed analogues and as a basis for sustaining the natural diversity of plants and animals is demonstrated. The principles and criteria for the choice of reference soils for the Red Data Book of Russian Soils are suggested. The choice of reference soils should be made with due account for the provinces of the soil-geographical (or soil-ecological) zonation as territories characterized by similar environmental conditions and typical soil cover patterns.     

Structural and Functional Organization of Forest Litters as Indicators of Biological Cycling Intensity in Urban Forest Stands (an Example of Moscow)

Eurasian Soil Science - Annual dynamics, composition, and pools of total organic matter and ash elements in litters of urban forests in Moscow were studied. The destructive litters are shown to...     

Some geochemical features of soils formed under conditions of abandoned mercury deposits in Krasnodar Krai

Geochemical features of soils formed under conditions of abandoned cinnabar deposits in the Northwest Caucasus were studied for the first time. It was shown that the predominant elements in them are represented by titanium and manganese in the group of lithophilic elements, nickel and cobalt among siderophilic elements, and zinc and copper among chalcophilic elements. Similar regularities were revealed for the ash composition of tree species. Despite the fact that the modern soil cover is formed on various features of mesotopography, the content of elements is slightly contrasting.     

Geographical aspects of forest litters

Litter and humus formations are considered as two interrelated processes. On the basis of analysis of geographic patterns of litter formation, we set up a hypothesis for the capacity invariance of the modern area where there is conversion of terrestrial detritus, which correlates with the level of functioning of terrestrial ecosystems measured according to the level of soil respiration. It is discovered that not only the single ecological space, which is optimal for humification, gets narrow, but also its major centers are shifted within the limits of geochemically conjugated landscapes.     

Features of forest litters in conjunction with ground cover in the forest ecosystems of Moscow oblast (based on the example of the Chashnikovo Educational-Experimental Soil-Ecological Center)

The stocks and structure of forest litters in a typical biogeocenosis in conjunction with the ecological and botanical characteristics of the soil layer have been studied, based on the example of the Chashnikovo Educational-Experimental Soil-Ecological Center, Moscow State University. The most informative characteristics of the soil layer include species diversity, the relative share of oligotrophic boreal and nitrophilous species, and the soil fertility index determined by the Ramensky ecological scale [20]. The total litter stock varies from 1500 to 6000 g/m² in coniferous forests and from 70 to 700 g/m² in small-leaved forests. The highest difference in stocks between the F and L horizons has been established for vegetation microcommunities with the maximum species diversity and highest share of nitrophils. The increase in the portion of welldecomposed fractions in the L piedmont from 5–7 to 27.6% leads to growth in the soil fertility index from 5–6 to 12–13.     

Biological Activity of Urban Soils: Spatial Variability and Control Factors

Eurasian Soil Science - An assessment of the spatial variability of the biological activity of anthropogenic soils on the territory of the Lomonosov Moscow State University and the factors...     

Peculiarities of detritus profile morphogenesis in insufficiently studied ecosystems of the Okhotsk Sea region

Grouping of detritus profiles based on detailed analysis of the structures of more than 500 sections and using statistical methods was conducted for the first time. A new name, “detritus profile,” which allows one to consider litter itself, as well as peaty and peat formations in the same coordinate system, was suggested. The wide diversity of the detritus profile structure is explained by the specific character of their development in conditions of frost and mountain relief. It was established that humus and humic horizons are invariant and do not correlate with other subhorizons due to their greater age as compared with upper horizons, thus detecting their independence. Interrelation of detritus profile types with forest types and peculiarities of transformation of organic substances was demonstrated.     

Assessment of Intra-Biogeocenotic Variability of Forest Litters and Dwarf Shrub–Herbaceous Vegetation in Spruce Stands

Eurasian Soil Science - The differences in the species composition of the ground cover in spruce forest in dependence on the position in tessera are identified. Tessera is perceived as a...     

Stabilization of organic matter in soil lysimeters

Using stationary soil lysimeters it was demonstrated that the type of phytocenose determines the processes of stabilization of organic matter and the type of litter reflects the transformation of organic matter. The maximum quantity of large aggregates at the lowest concentrations of carbon is detected in the upper horizons of soils under fallow conditions as compared to those under other communities. The maximum possible loss of carbon, as estimated by the intensity of respiration, is observed in the soils under mixed plantings, while the least was observed for agricultural lands.     

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.