Anthropogenic Transformation of Some Properties and Composition of Gazh Gray-Brown Soils of the Ganja-Gazakh Plain

Gay gray-brown soils are distributed mainly in the foothills of the Lesser Caucasus, on the Ganja-Gazakh plain and in the lower reaches of the Araz basin. They are formed by changing volcanic rocks in hot and dry climates. In the process of erosion and soil formation, pyrite, alunitized and other sulfur-containing rocks turn into gazh, on which gray-brown gazh soils are formed. As a result of human activity, i. e. deep plowing and irrigation, these lands are being converted. It turned out that the transformation of these soils is clearly felt in the thickness of the humus layer, its distribution along the profile, quantity and composition. The thickness of the humus layer increases from 40–45 cm to 100 cm. As a result of the transformation, the length of the humus profile is constantly decreasing. Changes in the composition of humus led to an increase in the content of humic acids. Although the coefficient in the uncultivated area decreased from 1.36 to 0.80, in the irrigated area it changed from 1.70 to 0.93.

Productivity of natural phytocenoses of the Namsky agrolandscape in Yakutia under organic and mineral nutrition regimes

The results of the study of the productivity potential of natural phytocenoses of different species composition in the Namsky agrolandscape of the middle taiga subzone of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) are presented. The research was conducted in 2009-2016. The soils of the experimental plot are permafrost soils with a thin humus layer. The effect of mineral and organic fertilizers on the productivity of steppe meadows was studied. On herb-grass, wheatgrass, steppificated phytocenoses the following practices of organo-mineral nutrition of plants were used: control (no fertilizer); humus 20 t/ha; humus 20 t/ha once every 4 years + N60P60K60 annually; N30P30K30 annually; humus 20 t/ha annually. The optimum rates of organic and mineral nutrients to improve the productivity potential of natural steppe meadows have been established. The highest productivity potential in the Namsky agrolandscape was obtained with the combined application of organic and mineral fertilizers (humus 20 t/ha once every 4 years + N60P60K60 annually). On herb-grass and wheatgrass phytocenoses hay yield reached 23.0-24.1 c/ha. Yield per 1 ha of metabolizable energy was 27.0-22.4 GJ, fodder units 1472-1663, crude protein 336-371 kg. The content of digestible protein in 1 fodder unit in herb-grass was 92 g, in wheatgrass - 102 g. The annual application of mineral fertilizers at a dose of 60 kg/ha of the active substance provided a 2-fold increase in the productivity of natural phytocenoses, depending on agroclimatic conditions of the growing season. The influence of mineral fertilizers and their joint application with organic fertilizers on the yield of natural phytocenoses is statistically reliable, which indicates the possibility of regulating the productivity of steppificated phytocenoses.

Improving the Technology of Reforestation in Cuttings with the Use of Energy-Efficient Tractors

Currently applied partial reforestation in cuttings and removal of stumps by uprooting have a number of significant technological, environmental and economic disadvantages. These are removal of the humus layer of soil outside the cleared strips, compaction and reduction of soil porosity; formation of understump holes and their local waterlogging; littering of noncleared belts of trees between strips with felling debris and uprooted stumps; low productivity of uprooting machines and high energy consumption of stump uprooting; termination of agrotechnical tending after 2–3 years after planting and impossibility of cleaning stands due to their obstruction for tractor units; low level of traction force of special forest tractors and their insufficient power for uprooting stumps. Technology, machines and tools for reforestation in cuttings become the subjects of the research. The aim of the research is to provide a comprehensive mechanization of the reforestation process in order to improve work productivity, reduce energy and material consumption of the technology and create conditions for the effective use of machines and tools in combination with energy-efficient tractors of the traction-energy concept, ensuring the elimination of harmful effects on soil and plants ecology. The results of achieving the set aim and objectives are substantiation of forestry and ecological, technical, and economic feasibility of using the technology based on the complete clearing of cuttings from felling residues, dead wood and coppice of shrub vegetation by their crushing using mobile mulchers; removal of stumps in cuttings through crushing them at a depth of 0.15–0.20 m by an upgraded MUP-4A machine with scattering chips over the planting area and subsequent continuous tillage with a disk harrow BDK-2.5. Harmful effects on the ecology of soil and plants are practically eliminated with an increase in productivity, and the grinded woody biomass mixed with the soil turns into an organic fertilizer. The elimination of mechanical obstacles such as felling residues, fallen trees and stumps makes it possible to effectively use energy-efficient tractors by combining technological operations and performing them in one pass of the unit, as well as increasing the working width and operating speeds. Conditions for efficient operation of forestry machines and tools on tractormotor traction to protect the forest from pests, diseases, and fires, and for mechanization of various types of thinning are being created. For citation: Bartenev I.M., Drapalyuk M.V. Improving the Technology of Reforestation in Cuttings with the Use of Energy-Efficient Tractors. Lesnoy Zhurnal [Russian Forestry Journal], 2021, no. 5, pp. 117–133. DOI: 10.37482/0536-1036-2021-5-117-133

Ecological and Agrochemical Assessment of the Kamennaya Steppe Soils under Forest Cenosis

A set of parameters of soils under forest belts was studied. The objects of research were old-growth (65–68 yrs) ravine and shelterbelt forest plantations of the Kamennaya Steppe. The results allow assessing the trends of changes in soil characteristics over a long period of time. Key plots of 100×100 m were laid out using a regular sampling grid. The sampling interval is 15–25 m. A positive effect of forest shelterbelts on the properties of chernozems was found. There is an increase in thickness of the humus horizon from 42.3 cm (arable land on the slope) to 72.6±5.1 cm (under forest). The maximum values are typical for chernozems of watershed areas: 59.6±2.4 cm (arable land) and 85.6±3.9 cm (forest belt). Chernozems leached due to the activation of migration processes of carbonates into the underlying soil horizons have the maximum depth of soil effervescence. Chernozems zooturbated due to mechanical transport and mixing of accumulative-carbonate horizon have the lowest depth of soil effervescence. A general trend to decrease the depth of soil effervescence under the forest cenosis was found. The highest humus content is observed in watershed areas: 7.14±0.24 % (arable land) and 8.56±0.18 % (forest belt). A ravine forest belt reduces the risk of erosion processes. A fairly strong humus profile with a high content of organic matter: 7.03±0.27% (under forest) and 6.10±0.10% (on arable land), was possible to preserve on arable lands in the zone of the belt’s influence. The planting of forest belts causes a change in the nature of vegetation. The influence of acidic products of litter decomposition formed soil horizons with a moderately acidic reaction of the environment in the humus layer. Despite the leading position of calcium, an increased content of magnesium was found in the composition of exchange-absorbed cations. Forest belts have become especially important in recent decades due to changing climatic conditions. In the steppe regions of Russia, such plantations are a powerful soil conservation factor that helps stabilize and increase soil fertility. It is necessary to intensify the planting of artificial forest stands in the steppe regions of Russia. For citation: Cheverdin Yu.I., Bespalov V.A., Sautkina M.Yu., Titova T.V. Ecological and Agrochemical Assessment of the Kamennaya Steppe Soils under Forest Cenosis. Lesnoy Zhurnal [Russian Forestry Journal], 2021, no. 5, pp. 76–91. DOI: 10.37482/0536-1036-2021-5-76-91

Long-Term Nitrogen Deposition Alters Ectomycorrhizal Community Composition and Function in a Poplar Plantation

The continuous upsurge in soil nitrogen (N) enrichment has had strong impacts on the structure and function of ecosystems. Elucidating how plant ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) mutualists respond to this additional N will facilitate the rapid development and implementation of more broadly applicable management and remediation strategies. For this study, we investigated the responses of EMF communities to increased N, and how other abiotic environmental factors impacted them. Consequently, we conducted an eight-year N addition experiment in a poplar plantation in coastal eastern China that included five N addition levels: 0 (N0), 50 (N1), 100 (N2), 150 (N3), and 300 (N4) kg N ha−1 yr−1. We observed that excessive N inputs reduced the colonization rate and species richness of EMF, and altered its community structure and functional traits. The total carbon content of the humus layer and available phosphorus in the mineral soil were important drivers of EMF abundance, while the content of ammonium in the humus layer and mineral soil determined the variations in the EMF community structure and mycelium foraging type. Our findings indicated that long-term N addition induced soil nutrient imbalances that resulted in a severe decline in EMF abundance and loss of functional diversity in poplar plantations.

Predicting the spatial distribution of soil organic carbon stock in Swedish forests using a group of covariates and site-specific data

The status of the soil organic carbon (SOC) stock at any position in the landscape is subject to a complex interplay of soil state factors operating at different scales and regulating multiple processes resulting either in soils acting as a net sink or net source of carbon. Forest landscapes are characterized by high spatial variability, and key drivers of SOC stock might be specific for sub-areas compared to those influencing the whole landscape. Consequently, separately calibrating models for sub-areas (local models) that collectively cover a target area can result in different prediction accuracy and SOC stock drivers compared to a single model (global model) that covers the whole area. The goal of this study was therefore to (1) assess how global and local models differ in predicting the humus layer, mineral soil, and total SOC stock in Swedish forests and (2) identify the key factors for SOC stock prediction and their scale of influence. We used the Swedish National Forest Soil Inventory (NFSI) database and a digital soil mapping approach to evaluate the prediction performance using random forest models calibrated locally for the northern, central, and southern Sweden (local models) and for the whole of Sweden (global model). Models were built by considering (1) only site characteristics which are recorded on the plot during the NFSI, (2) the group of covariates (remote sensing, historical land use data, etc.) and (3) both site characteristics and group of covariates consisting mostly of remote sensing data. Local models were generally more effective for predicting SOC stock after testing on independent validation data. Using the group of covariates together with NFSI data indicated that such covariates have limited predictive strength but that site-specific covariates from the NFSI showed better explanatory strength for SOC stocks. The most important covariates that influence the humus layer, mineral soil (0–50 cm), and total SOC stock were related to the site-characteristic covariates and include the soil moisture class, vegetation type, soil type, and soil texture. This study showed that local calibration has the potential to improve prediction accuracy, which will vary depending on the type of available covariates.

How to Restore Invertebrate Diversity of Degraded Heathlands? A Case Study on the Reproductive Performance of the Field Cricket Gryllus campestris (L.)

BackgroundNitrogen (NOx, NHy) and acidifying (NOx, NHy, SOx) deposition has reduced the biodiversity of European dry heathlands. Restoration efforts such as sod-cutting (removal of vegetation, litter and humus layer) often shifted these systems from N to P limitation and have had limited success in restoring the invertebrate community. Possible reasons for this include the unresolved acidification and a change in food plant stoichiometry. Here, we investigate how liming and P addition change food nutritional quality and their consequences for invertebrate performance.MethodsWe performed feeding experiments with field crickets (Gryllus campestris), using plant material collected from a full factorial field experiment with liming and P addition. We related female reproduction as measure of individual fitness to elemental ratios of plants fed to the crickets.ResultsP addition stimulated cricket daily reproduction and shortened their reproductive period, resulting in no difference in total reproduction. Liming greatly reduced both daily and total reproduction and resulted in more females cannibalizing on their male mates. Females that did so could partly offset the liming induced reduction in reproduction, suggesting dietary deficiency. P-addition improved food quality (lower N:P ratios) while liming led to skewed Mn:Mg and Fe:Mg ratios that compare unfavorably to ratios found in terrestrial invertebrates.ConclusionIncreased plant N:P ratio following sod-cutting constrains the reproductive potential in Gryllus campestris in a non-linear way. Liming reduced nutritional quality, likely by inducing deficiencies in Fe or Mn.Management ImplicationsHigh-impact restoration management practices such as sod cutting and liming cause new problems for invertebrates rooted in ecological stoichiometry. Since P-addition only partially offsets these negative effects, we instead advocate the use of less intensive N removal management and weaker buffering agents to reduce soil acidification. Furthermore, a reduction in N emission is paramount as it will remove the need for disruptive interventions.

Formation of ecological component of consumer properties of roads

Problem. The issue of the impact of construction projects on the environment is extremely relevant and complex. Analysis of publications. The study of the negative impact of rolling stock, dust, noise, vibration, emissions during the operation of engines, as well as the impact of construction processes on the environment were engaged in such scientists as I.Ye. Evgeniev, RA Kizima, D.W. Зерка-лов, М.В. Немчинов, О.Л. Boychenko and others [1, 3, 4, 8, 9]. The aim is to assess the degree of impact of the road and transport on the environment. Presenting main material. Consumer properties of roads are a set of indicators that directly meet the needs of road users: safety, speed, continuity, comfort of traffic; road capacity, in particular the ability to pass cars and road trains with permitted axle loads, total weight and dimensions; ecological and aesthetic condition of the road; level of service and information support [2]. Ecological safety of the highway depends on the technical level, operational condition of the road and road structures, intensity and composition of traffic and characterizes the impact of the road on the environment within the limits of environmental standards, including harmful vehicle emissions, noise pollution, migration of animals, reptiles etc. [6]. Cars with gasoline engines are especially harmful in this regard. Diesel engines have a much lower level of toxicity and contain much less harmful substances. On the entire area of land occupied by the road and the construction of the road complex, on temporarily allotted land for reserves, quarries and other developments should be removed fertile layer of soil with bulldozers that cut and move the soil some distance. In the course of performance of this work the soil is exposed to mechanical disturbance. The construction area becomes a category of disturbed lands, which include lands with a removed or covered humus layer, not suitable for agricultural and forestry use without prior restoration of fertility [3, 7, 10, 11]. Conclusions. In order to protect the environment, many countries around the world are introducing laws designed to limit the negative impact of vehicles on the state of the biosphere, which requires the creation of modern environmental legislation and regulatory framework for environmental safety.

Varieties and hybrids of red cabbage for re-culture in Uzbekistan

Проведение исследований по подбору сортов краснокочанной капусты – актуальная научная и практическая проблема для сельского хозяйства Узбекистана. Цель исследований: подбор сортов и гибридов краснокочанной капусты при возделывании ее в качестве повторной культуры в летне-осенний период. Исследования проводили на кафедре овощеводства, бахчеводства и картофелеводства Ташкентского государственного аграрного университета. Полевые опыты закладывали на экспериментальной базе НИИ генетических ресурсов растений, расположенной в Кибрайском районе Ташкентской области. Почвы – типичные сероземы давнего орошения с мощностью гумусового горизонта 0,6–1,0 м. В 2015–2019 годах была изучена коллекция из 24 различных сортообразцов краснокочанной капусты, стандант – гибрид F1Primero. Выделены следующие сортообразцы: F1 Red Dynasty, F1Super red, б/н из Китая, F1 Romanov, F1 Royal. Вместе со стандартом и гибридом F1 Omero, популярным на семенном рынке Узбекистана, они были включены в предварительное сортоиспытание. Было выявлено, что все испытанные сортообразцы по продолжительности вегетационного периода относятся к группе ранних (от посадки до первого сбора 84–92 дня). В конкурсное сортоиспытание были включены вместе со стандартом 4 сортообразца: три наиболее урожайных (б/н из Китая, F1 Ranchero, F1Red Dynasty) и гибрид F1 Omero, отличавшийся высокой завязываемостью и товарностью кочанов. Установлено, что наибольшей облиственностью отличались сортообразцы: F1 Ranchero, б/н из Китая и F1 Red Dynasty, наименьшей – F1 Omero. Лучшей завязываемостью кочанов отличались сортообразцы б/н из Китая и F1Omero, худшей – F1 Red Dynasty. Наиболее крупные кочаны в питомнике конкурсного сортоиспытания сформировали F1 Ranchero (1,13 кг) и б/н из Китая (1,12 кг), наиболее мелкие – F1Omero (0,98 кг). В питомнике конкурсного сортоиспытания стандарт по общей и товарной урожайности превзошли сортообразцы F1 Ranchero (42,8 и 34,3 т/га), б/н из Китая (40,3 и 30,8 т/га) и F1Omero (38,2 и 31,7 т/га соответственно). Для возделывания в повторной культуре рекомендуется использовать гибрид F1 Ranchero и сортообразец б/н из Китая. Conducting research on the selection of varieties of red cabbage is an actual scientific and practical problem for the agriculture of Uzbekistan. The purpose of the research: selection of varieties and hybrids of red cabbage in the cultivation of its repeated culture in the summer-autumn period. The research was carried out at the Department of Vegetable Growing, Melon Growing and Potato Growing of the Tashkent State Agrarian University. Field experiments were conducted at the experimental base of the Research Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, located in Kibraisk district, Tashkent region. The soils are typical grey desert soil of long-standing irrigation with a humus layer thickness of 0.6–1.0 m. In 2015–2019, a collection of 24 different cultivars of red cabbage, a standant hybrid F1 Primero, was studied. The following varieties are distinguished: F1 Red Dynasty, F1 Super red, untitled from China, F1 Romanov, F1 Royal. Together with the standard and the F1 Omero hybrid, which is popular in the seed market of Uzbekistan, they were included in the preliminary variety testing. It was revealed that all the varieties tested in it belong to the group of early varieties according to the duration of the growing season (from planting to the first harvest, 84–92 days). In the competitive variety testing, 4 varieties were included together with the standard: the three most productive (untitled from China, F1 Ranchero, F1 Red Dynasty) and the F1Omero hybrid, which was characterized by high tying and marketability of heads. It was found that the most leafy varieties were: F1 Ranchero, untitled from China and F1 Red Dynasty, the least – F1Omero. The best knotting of the heads was distinguished by untitled cultivars from China and F1 Omero, the worst – F1 Red Dynasty. The largest heads in the nursery of the competitive variety test were formed by F1 Ranchero (1.13 kg) and untitled from China (1.12 kg), the smallest – F1 Omero (0.98 kg). In the nursery of competitive variety testing, the standard for total and commercial yield was surpassed by the varieties F1 Ranchero (42.8 and 34.3 t/ha), untitled from China (40.3 and 30.8 t/ha) and F1 Omero (38.2 and 31.7 t/ha, respectively). For cultivation in repeated culture, it is recommended to use the F1 Ranchero hybrid and the untitled variety from China.

Effects of liming on soil structure and GHG fluxes at three spruce sites in SW Germany

<p>Forest soils in Central Europe received massive atmospheric deposition of SO<sub>2</sub> and NO<sub>x</sub> during the second half of the 20<sup>th</sup> century. The resulting fast acidification of the soils was accompanied by massive forest dieback and problematic nutrient imbalances at some sites. After the emissions of SO<sub>2</sub> have been reduced in the 80´s and 90´s, the situation of acidic deposition has been gradually improving. Yet, the deposition of N compounds remains high and still has an impact on forest ecosystems. Natural soil development and “regeneration” is a slow process, which is why other options were investigated to recover heavily affected forest soils. A well-known means to mitigate the observed effects of the anthropogenic acidification surges is liming, i.e. the application of minerals such as CaCO<sub>3</sub> and CaMg(CO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub> that are able to buffer strong acids. Liming directly affects soil pH which is a “master variable” of the soil. Soil pH, and thus, liming, affects and interacts with many soil processes from mineralization of organic matter and humification, to (de-) stabilization soil structure, nutrient availability and mobility, plant growth and more.</p><p>Several study sites were established in the 1980 in Baden-Wuerttemberg to study long term effects of liming on soil structure and forest growth. At all sites a “control” plot and a “limed” plot were established next to each other. The limed plots were treated with approx. 3 t ha<sup>-1</sup> of CaCO<sub>3</sub> in the 1980´s and 6 t ha<sup>-1</sup> of Ca/MgCO<sub>3 </sub>in 2003. Here we report on results from three sites (Bad Waldsee, Hospital, Herzogenweiler) with Spruce stands (70-110 years), where long term effects of liming on the physical soil structure and soil gas profiles (2017-2019) were studied (Jansone et al., 2020). Liming resulted in a reduction of the thickness of the humus layer and a blurring of the previously clearly separated boundary between the mineral soil and the humus layer. Even though total pore space in the top soil was slightly reduced at the limed plots, soil gas diffusivity was higher at a given air-filled pore-space. This indicates a better connectivity in the air-filled pores, that means more larger pores connecting the atmosphere at the soil surface and the mineral soil. Soil CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations showed clear seasonal patterns and a typical increase with depth. Higher CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations tend to be found in the un-limed control plots. Soil CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations at the soil–humus interface were closer to atmospheric concentrations in the limed plots compared to the control plots. This can be interpreted as an effect of the decrease in the thickness of the humus layer and the increase in the soil gas diffusivity (better aeration) or in a reduced activity of the methanotrophic community.</p><p> </p><p>Acknowledgement</p><p>This research was financially supported by Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft (BMEL), grant number 28W-B-4-075-02 (2018–2021).</p><p><em>Literature</em></p><p><em>Jansone, L., von Wilpert, K. and Hartmann, P., 2020. Natural Recovery and Liming Effects in Acidified Forest Soils in SW-Germany. Soil Systems, 4(38): 1-35.</em></p>