Abstract. Two fire affected soils have been studied using micromorphological methods. The objective of the paper is to assess and compare fire effects on micropedological organization of soils in a forest steppe zone of the Central Russia (Volga Basin, Togljatty city). Samples were collected in the green zone of Togljatti city. The results showed that both soils were rich in quartz, feldspar. Mica was highly present in soils affected by surface fires, while calcium carbonates were identified in the soils affected by crowns. The type of plasma is humus-clay, but the soil assemblage is plasma-silt with the prevalence of the silt. Angular and subangular grains are the most dominant in soil particulates. No evidence of intensive weathering was detected. There was a decreasing of the porosity in soils affected by fires as consequence of soil pores filled with ash and charcoal.
Micromorphological characteristics of sandy forest soils recently impacted by wildfires in Russia
