Soil cover of mountain forests in the East Khubsugul region of Mongolia

Specific features of soil formation and soil cover patterns in mountain forests of the East Khubsugul region are discussed. A scheme of the vertical zonality of soils under mountain forests is given. It is shown that soils of the uppermost forest zone are permafrost-affected. Seasonally freezing soils under forest vegetation predominate at lower heights and in the southern part of the region near the boundary with the steppe zone. The major soil combinations under different types of forest vegetation are described. The morphological, physicochemical, and chemical characteristics of widespread forest soils are given.