Maria Valeryevna Konyushkova

The paper characterizes the profiles of virgin chestnut soils and solonetz in the north of the Caspian lowland adjacent to the Djanibek reserve. The objective of the study was to analyze the morphology, physical properties and chemical and mineralogical composition of the so-called xerometamorphic horizons of chestnut soils in the research area. The initial hypothesis was the general genetic similarity of xerometamorphic horizons with natric horizons in the corresponding conjugate soils. With the general similarity of morphological features, mineralogical and chemical composition of these horizons, there was a significant difference in the content of exchangeable sodium and in the presence of signs of clay illuviation in the natric horizons. It is suggested that xerometamorphic horizons reflect the initial stages of formation of alkaline soils, further diluted by divergent pedogenesis. The proposal of a number of specialists on the allocation of the BMK horizon in soils used in agriculture and, accordingly, the type of agro-soils is supported.

The most important factor affecting the soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks is the degree and nature of soil moisture content. This factor is especially important when assessing SOC in forest soils. In this paper, the results of a comparative statistical analysis of the variability of SOC in automorphic, semihydromorphic and hydromorphic forest soils in Karelia are discussed. To estimate SOC stocks and calculate quantitative indicators of their variability, soil survey data were used over an area of 1 km2. The information was collected into a single array, which includes the characteristics of 95 soil profiles of forest ecosystems. Of these, 61 profiles characterize automorphic soils, 12 profiles characterize semihydromorphic soils and 22 profiles characterize hydromorphic soils. The results of the studies showed that the mineral horizons of forest soils are largely heterogeneous in terms of SOC content, while organogenic horizons are more heterogeneous in terms of thickness and density. The results of statistical analysis showed that the average SOC stocs in the 0–30 and 0–50 cm soil layers increase depending on the degree of hydromorphism. The results of statistical analysis showed that SOC stocks in semihydromorphic soils are characterized by higher variability, as evidenced by a larger range of changes, higher standard deviations and coefficient of variation. In automorphic soils, the 0–5 cm layer, corresponding to the litter, accounts for up to 30% of the total organic carbon reserves in the 0–50 cm layer. With increasing hydromorphism, this share decreases to 17% in semihydromorphic soils and to 6% in hydromorphic soils. The share of SOC reserves in the 30–50 cm layer in total reserves increases from 23% in automorphic soils to 43% in hydromorphic soils.