The influence of pine forests of different ages on the biological activity of layland soils in the middle Angara River basin

The influence of pine forests of different ages (from 25 to 85 years) restoring on old plow land soils is reflected in the biological processes proceeding in them. The drastic decrease in the absolute and relative number of actinomycetes, along with an increase of the fungal population in the microbial complexes of the soils (within the whole profiles), indicates that the microbocenoses acquire “forest” properties. In the soils under the younger pine forests, the processes of microbiological mineralization and specific respiration activity are more active than in the soils under the older pine forests. With the age of the pine forests, the soil profiles become more differentiated according to the eluvial-illuvial type.     

The content of chemical elements in alluvial soils and bottom sediments of the Urkan River (the Amur River basin)

The distribution patterns of the chemical elements in the bottom sediments and alluvial soils of the Urkan River valley (one of the largest tributaries of the Zeya River, a tributary of the Amur River) have been examined. It is shown that the concentrations of the chemical elements in the bottom sediments generally correspond to those in the bedrocks composing the river catchment and in the upper part of the continental earth’s crust, though the accumulation of most of the elements in the bottom sediments is somewhat lower. The composition of the microelements in the alluvial soils is mainly determined by the composition of the microelements in the bottom sediments. The alluvial soils are somewhat enriched in Mn, Zn, Co, and Cu, which is related to the biological accumulation of these elements entering the trophic chains.     

Distribution of the particle-size fractions in soddy-podzolic soils subjected to sheet erosion

Tendencies in the formation of organomineral profiles of arable agrosoddy-podzolic soils on slopes in different denudation and accumulation zones were characterized on the basis of an integrated study of the humus status of the soils (using the granulodensimetric fractionation method), the content of clay, and the composition of clay minerals. It was shown that the organomineral and mineralogical parameters of the surface-horizon transformation could be used for improving the diagnostic accuracy of soils on the slopes basing on their conventional characteristics.     

Application and verification of the soil-ecological index for assessing soil cover patterns on plowlands

The reformation of Russian agriculture and the development of landscape-adaptive agricultural systems have generated interest in the agroecological aspects of studying soil cover patterns. The qualitative evaluation of soil resources is necessary for objective comparison of their quality at the landscape, regional, and interregional levels. The applicability of the soil-ecological index (SEI) as an integral criterion for quality assessment of soils, soil associations, and soil cover patterns on the basis of a common all-Russia scale has been experimentally verified on test plots. This index can also be applied for assessing the degree of contrast in the soil cover. The analysis of different soil-climatic regions in the European part of Russia has shown that the SEI value is well correlated with the soil-climatic conditions. However, for a particular farm, the climatic component of the SEI becomes equal for all the fields. At the same time, the soil properties and geomorphic conditions limiting soil fertility are usually different for different soil combinations, and they become essential upon calculation of the SEI for the particular field. Feasibility of verification and correction of the calculated SEI on the basis of experimental data is shown. This makes it possible to find better-grounded decisions on the agrotechnologies applicable for a given field.     

Effect of soil properties and environmental factors on chemical compositions of forest soils in the Russian Far East

Purpose

Forest ecosystem acts as a significant sink and source of elements; however, the dynamics of trace elements (TEs) in soils of boreal zone are still poorly characterized. Data on relationships of TEs, major elements (MEs), soil properties, and parent rock geochemistry in boreal forest of Northeast Asia are scarce. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the origination of TEs in forest soils and identify soil properties and ecosystem processes controlling accumulation and profile distribution of TEs.

Materials and methods

Dystric Cambisols and underlying parent rocks have been sampled within hilly landscape covered by Gmelin larch (Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr.) forests in Amur region (Russia). This paper considers 10-selected soil characteristics, total concentrations of 19 TEs, and 10 MEs measured by ICP-MS and RFA analysis. Factor analysis has been employed to highlight underlying relationships hidden in a complex data of element concentration and soil characteristics. Origination of TEs was assessed by using an enrichment factor (EF) considering concentration of TEs in soil in comparison to underlying parent rocks using Ti as a reference element.

Results and discussion

A group of biophile Zn, Mo, Sn, and Pb were enriched in the upper soil horizon, and depleted in mineral compared to parent rocks. Beryllium, Sc, Cr, Cu, Ga, Ge, Ta, Th, and U were depleted in both horizons. Ni and Cs show highest enrichment in both studied soil horizons. Frequently occurring forest fires affect soil characteristics and TEs dynamic only in the upper part of soil profile. Factor analysis revealed potential effect of exchangeable Na and soil pH on accumulation of the elements in the upper horizon, as a result of ash deposition by fire.

Conclusions

The studied TEs primarily originate from underlying parent rocks. Accumulation versus leaching of TEs in Dystric Cambisols might be element specific and affected by fire-derived ash. Our work shows that the upper horizon of forest soils could act as a significant sink of group of TEs. Therefore, long-term observations of TEs dynamic in soil profiles are needed to elucidate biogeochemical cycles in frequently burned forests of Northeast Asia. The present study for the first time has established an important wide data set of TEs concentration in Dystric Cambisols of natural boreal forests in the Russian Far East.

     

Ecological-geochemical state of soils in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia)

Based on the results of the soil-geochemical survey, the assessment of the soil cover pollution in different Ulaanbaatar functional zones is given. The soils of the industrial and traffic zones concentrating a wide spectrum of pollutants (Zn, Mo, Cr, Cr, Cd, Pb, and Cu) are characterized by the strongest technogenic transformation. The soils of the residential areas accumulate Pb and Zn, while those of the recreation zone, Mo, Ni, and Cr. The geochemical mapping allowed distinguishing four groups of elements with similar distribution patterns determined by the common pollution sources, the specific features of the parent rocks, and the intensity of the migration. Among the natural and technogenic factors responsible for the accumulation of microelements in soils, the basic ones are the soil physical and chemical properties: the contents of organic matter (for As, Cd, Cu, Mo, Zn), physical clay (Ni, Co), sulfates (Pb, Sr), and the pH (Cr). The character of the land use noticeably affects the concentration of many elements. The soils of the city are assessed as weakly polluted (Zc = 11). The contents of As, Zn, Mo, and Pb exceeded their MPC in 100, 34, 20, and 16% of the city’s territory, respectively. As compared to the state of the soil cover in 1990, no significant changes were revealed.     

Analysis of Tomographic Images of the Soil Pore Space Structure by Integral Geometry Methods

Eurasian Soil Science - The technique of numerical analysis of three-dimensional tomographic images of the pore space of soil objects has been used in this paper. It applies methods of integral...     

Assessment of the postagrogenic transformation of soddy-podzolic soils: Cartographic and analytic support

The results of experimental studies of the postagrogenic transformation of loamy soddy-podzolic soils on the southern slope of the Klin-Dmitrov Moraine Ridge are discussed. A chronosequence of soils (arable soils (cropland)-soils under fallow with meadow vegetation-soils under secondary forests of different ages-soils under a conventionally initial native forest) was examined, and the stages of the postagrogenic transformation of the automorphic soddy-podzolic soils were identified. The differentiation of the former plow horizon into the A1 and A1A2 horizons (according to the differences in the humus content, texture, and acidity) served as the major criterion of the soil transformation. A stage of textural differentiation with clay depletion from the uppermost layer was identified in the soils of the 20- to 60-year-old fallows. The specificity of the postagrogenic transformation of the soils on the slopes was demonstrated. From the methodological point of view, it was important to differentiate between the chronosequences of automorphic and semihydromorphic soils of the leveled interfluves and the soils of the slopes. For this purpose, a series of maps reflecting the history of the land use and the soil cover pattern was analyzed. The cartographic model included the attribute data of the soil surveys, the cartographic sources (a series of historical maps of the land use, topographic maps, remote sensing data, and a digital elevation model), and two base maps: (a) the integral map of the land use and (b) the map of the soil combinations with the separation of the zonal automorphic, semihydromorphic, and erosional soil combinations. This scheme served as a matrix for the organization and analysis of the already available and new materials.