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The article analyzes the results of statistical processing of morphometric and agrochemical indicators of zonal soils of the Republic of Tatarstan based on the accumulated information of large-scale soil studies. The boundaries of genetic horizons are examined, the content of humus and its reserves within the limits of heavy loamy and clay varieties of arable soil subtypes is estimated. Arithmetic averages allow us to generalize the humus content in soils. So, in the series of sod-podzolic soils – light gray forest-gray forest – dark gray forest-podzolic chernozems – leached chernozems-typical soils in a layer of 0-30 cm on average contains 2,20; 2,58; 3,76; 4,76; 6,8; 7,6; 7,2 % humus. The observed patterns of humus accumulation in soils are also preserved in the distribution of its reserves – 85; 97; 140; 162; 233; 257; 240 tons per he-1. It is proposed to characterize the general population along the boundaries of typical values that fit into the 50% confidence interval to assess the overall range of spatial variability of humus indicators. The upper limit of the typicity will correspond to the greatest accumulation of humus with a combination of local features of soil formation factors and can serve as a guide for predicting carbon sequestration in the soils of this region. Accordingly, the carbon-sequestering potential of sod-podzolic soil and typical chernozem is-20 tons per he-1, light gray forest soil-22 tons per he-1, gray forest soil and leached chernozem-27 tons per he-1, the highest values in dark gray forest soil are more than 30 tons per he-1

Algeria, like other arid and semi-arid African countries, is confronted by problems related to rapid population growth and water stress (water short-age). This stress fosters raw wastewater reuse in market gardening and hor-ticulture. The advantages of this wastewater consist of their nutrients whose organic materials contribute to soils enrichment with humus, as well as their availability in large quantities. However, raw wastewater reuse entails a po-tential risk of environmental and water resources pollution. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the parasite load of raw wastewater from the city of Biskra’s discharge outfalls (Biskra valley and Z'mor valley), while consider-ing the demographic and socio-economic profile of populations connected to these outfalls. Our results revealed a variety of parasites in the form of hel-minths eggs at the following average concentrations: Ascaris sp. (33.66 eggs/L,), Trichuris sp. (22 eggs/L), Enterobius vermicularis (19.58 eggs/L), Ancy-lostoma sp. (17.41 eggs/L), Nematodirus sp. 17.83 (eggs/L), Hymenolepis nana (21.66 eggs/L), Moniezia expansa (16.5 eggs/L), Taenia sp. (18.5 eggs/L), Fasciola hepatica (0.58 eggs/L) and Strongyloides spp (17.11 eggs/L). The parasitic helminths eggs distribution varies according to the size of urban areas and the socio-economic level of populations connected to each outfall. This study also highlighted the qualitative and quantitative seasonal varia-tions of helminths eggs in wastewater from Biskra’s two outfalls.

The article considers the issues of increasing fertility in the agricultural system, taking into account the ecological and meliorative state of irrigated regions and methods for optimizing models of soil fertility modernization. From the analysis of the above materials, it is established that under the influence of vegetation, the number and qualitative composition of microorganisms changes, and, consequently, the intensity of the processes in which they participate. Such changes in soils are the result of the interaction of plants and microorganisms that determine the degree of development and nutrition of agricultural crops. In this regard, we believe that there is a need to study the microflora of the rhizosphere to develop techniques that favorably affect its development and composition, to improve plant nutrition and obtain high yields, taking into account the energy resources of a particular area.Studies have established that the content of humus formed as a result of diverse and complex physical and chemical processes contributed to the improvement of the water-physical and chemical properties of the soil of the experimental site. The studied crops allowed an increase in the humus content in the arable layer from 1.43 to 1.75%. In the arable layer, the total nitrogen was 0.088-0.112, phosphorus 0.110 - 0.153%.Studies revealed that the structure formation of the natural environment, the level of humification of the soil (MP), which shows that the maximum number of factors affecting soil formation process, focused on the level of the landscape area and the geographic area described by the following expression:Mr= (0,42 RL + 0,15 s +0,09 Sn + 0,09 TV + 0,08 WB + VB 0,04+0,04 OS + Mor 0,03+0,03 gr)*0,1 µ

Organic matter of modern and buried humus horizons was studied in the soils at the following archaeological sites: the Akberdinskoe II, Shipovskoe, and Okhlebininskoe II ancient settlements (Kara–Abyz culture, early Iron Age, 4th century BC to the cusp of the 2nd and 1st centuries BC). The archaeological sites are located in the forest–steppe zone (Iglino district, Republic of Bashkortostan). The morphological and physicochemical properties of the soils were determined. Spectrophotometry and 13C NMR spectroscopy were also used. The archaeological sites feature dark gray forest soils with loamy granulometric composition. The topside and buried humus horizons are 11–30 cm thick. Organic matter is represented by fulvate–humate, humate, and humate–fulvate humus types. Humic acids predominate in the group composition; the HA-2 fraction predominates among the humic acid fractions. The spectrophotometric data indicate that aromatic parts of humic acid molecules are more mature in buried humus horizons in comparison with modern humus horizons. According to the 13C NMR spectroscopy data, humic acid molecules in organic matter of modern humus horizons conform to the conditions of the chernozem soil formation type. Archaeological data indicate that the current intensification of the climate aridization trend in the forest–steppe zone of the Republic of Bashkortostan dates back to the middle of the 4th century BC and the cusp of the 2nd and 1st centuries BC. No changes in the soil formation type were registered in the soil cover of the archaeological sites at the time of the survey.

Goal. To establish features of the influence of differentiation (address rationing) of mineral nitrogen fertilizers application on agrochemical indicators of dark chestnut weakly alkaline soil (the content of mineral nitrogen and humus) and crop yield. Methods. Field — to study the effect of gypsum and nitrogen fertilizer on the properties of dark chestnut soil and crop yields, laboratory analysis — o determine the content of mineral nitrogen and humus, mathematical — to assess the reliability of research results. Results. The application of mineral nitrogen fertilizers has led to a tendency to increase the content of mineral nitrogen in dark chestnut weakly alkaline soil. Fertilization and cultivation of crops did not affect the variability of mineral nitrogen content, which in general in the experiment remained moderate, the coefficient of variation did not change. Although the average amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied to the plots in the variant of differentiated application is 92.1 kg/ha, was less than in the plots with the maximum level of fertilizer, the yield did not differ from that with the maximum level of application and was reliably higher than in the variant with the average level of application. Conclusions. It is established that under the influence of growing crops and applying nitrogen fertilizers, the supply of dark chestnut weakly alkaline soil with mineral nitrogen improves at medium and maximum levels of fertilizer. It is established that the lack of fertilizer or low doses of nitrogen fertilizers increase the variability of the soil in terms of mineral nitrogen content, and the high level of application (390 kg/ha) for 6 years under 3 crops equalizes this indicator. There was a decrease in the variability of dark chestnut weakly alkaline soil in terms of humus content in the arable layer. A stable significant increase in the yield of grain and fodder crops depending on the levels of nitrogen fertilizer application has been also established. Differentiation of nitrogen fertilizers allows saving nitrogen fertilizers in the amount equivalent to almost 15 kg/ha of active substance per year in grain-feed 6-field crop rotation in the absence of a significant reduction in yield on dark chestnut weakly alkaline non-irrigated soils.

Relevance. According to the Federal Law of 16.07.1998 No. 101-FZ (as amended on 05.04.2016) "On State Regulation of Ensuring the Fertility of Agricultural Land", owners, owners, users, including tenants of land plots are obliged to: carry out the production of agricultural products in ways that ensure the reproduction of the fertility of agricultural land, as well as excluding or limiting the adverse impact of such activities on the environment. Environment.Materials and methods.The research was carried out on a stationary field experience in the Podolsk district of the Moscow region in 2011-2012. On experience, five-floor crop rotation will be deployed in time: 1) oats; 2) barley with planted perennial herbs; 3) perennial herbs of the first year of use; 4) perennial herbs of the second year of use; 5) winter wheat. The plots were located in the upper part of the slope with a slope of 14% (weakly pitched) and in the lower part of the slope with a slope of 7% (gentle).Results. It was found that on average annually in the slope areas of the non-chernozem region soils lose from the layer 0-40 cm with a surface runoff of phosphorus 0.7-6.0 kg / ha, potassium 2.3-28.9 kg / ha, calcium 7.3-45.8 kg / ha. With anti-erosion methods of tillage on a slope with a steepness of 7%, the migration of chemical elements was 2.2 times less compared to similar options on the slope with a steepness of 14%. Surface runoff redistributes substances along the length of the slope, therefore, it is necessary to take this into account during chemical reclamation of the slopes soils and carry out differentiated application of fertilizers and lime. After chemical analysis of the arable layer of soil, it turned out that the maximum content of humus, mobile forms of phosphorus and exchange potassium is noted in the lower part of the slope, which is associated with the processes of washing and alluvium of the soil.

A quantitative morphological study of pores in a dark gray soil with the second humus horizon (Luvic Retic Greyzemic Phaeozem (Loamic) [14]) in Kashira district of Moscow oblast was performed. This study was aimed at establishing specific features of the spatial organization of soil pores as new diagnostic features of polygenetic soils with the second humus horizon (SHH) in the East European Plain. A laboratory microtomograph Bruker SkyScan 1172 was applied. It was shown that the level of mesopores and fine macropores is more informative than the level of coarse macropores to diagnose the pore-structural state of the SHH. For pores of d = 0.03–2 mm, the analysis of closed tomographic porosity revealed the dual nature of the SHH: the volume of closed porosity in the SHH differed little from that in the AU3el horizon, whereas the proportion of closed porosity in the pore space was close to that in the to the BT1el horizon. The diagnostic significance of the shape of soil pores was confirmed. In the SHH, more than half of the pores of d = 0.1–2 mm were represented by isometric dissected packing voids of crumb-granular aggregates. Because of this, the arithmetic mean of the pore shape factor F reached 0.5 for fine macropores in this horizon. The difference between the SHH and the modern humus horizon in the shape of fine macropores can be regarded as an additional argument in favor of the relict origin of the SHH.

The land use type and agricultural practices significantly affect the aggregate state and many physical properties of soils. In this study, we provide a comparative assessment of the bulk density, water holding capacity of disturbed samples (WHC), and structural state (dry sieving method) of Luvic Greyzemic Chernozems under different land uses (long-used arable land, newly developed arable land, 27-yr-old abandoned land, and virgin steppe) in the Cis-Altai forest-steppe soil province of Western Siberia. At each site, three mixed samples were taken from the layers of 0–5, 5–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm of the humus horizon. The influence of land use on the bulk density was only seen for the upper 5-cm layer, in which the decompaction after 27 years of abandonment was statistically significant. Differences in the bulk density between the two croplands and between the abandoned and virgin lands were insignificant. Changes in the WHC under the impact of land use were manifested for the upper 20-cm layer. In six years of using the previously abandoned land for growing cereals, the aggregate-size distribution of the soil became almost identical to that in the old-arable soil. Judging the amount of agronomically valuable aggregates and the structural coefficient value, the aggregate state of all the studied soils can be assessed as excellent. Thus, Luvic Greyzemic Chernozems of the forest-steppe zone in Western Siberia are characterized by the high tolerance towards agrogenic impact and retain their natural crumb–granular structure for a long time of their using for crop production.

Thermal diffusivity of the cryomorphic soils formed on limestone in the Orenburg oblast (Russia) has been studied. Soils are identified as cryomorphic basing on the morphological features, such as polygonal microrelief, ground wedges, involutions, accumulations of coarse fraction, and platy structure. The complex soil cover comprises Calcaric Regosols on microhighs, Calcaric Regosols (Ochric) on microslopes, and Rendzic Calcaric Phaeozems in microdepressions. Soils are characterized by high spatial variability of basic physical properties: the soil texture varies from sandy loams to clays and soil bulk density ranges from 1.07 to 1.53 g/cm3. The objective of present study was to investigate soil thermal diffusivity versus water content dependencies for different soil horizons in the examined complex. Thermal diffusivity was measured using the unsteady-state method in the range from the maximum soil water content after the saturation of samples under pressure to the air-dry state. A relatively low thermal diffusivity (1.53 × 10–7 to 2.88 × 10–7 m2/s) is typical for humus horizons in a microdepression; the soil horizons on microslope and microhigh have higher thermal diffusivities (1.76 × 10–7 to 5.06 × 10–7 m2/s). Soil thermal diffusivity positively correlates with soil bulk density, thickness of platy aggregates, and content of limestone fragments (gravel and stones) and negatively correlates with the contents of organic matter and clay.

Aggregates and capillary-saturated pastes from loamy soddy-podzolic soils (Albic Glossic Retisol (Lomic, Cutanic)), typical and vertic chernozems (Haplic Chernozems (Loamic, Aric, Pachic) and Vertisols), and yellow soils (Alisols) were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and on a Reotest-2 rotary viscometer with a coaxial cylindrical system. Aggregates of plow horizons of Retisols and Chernozems have less pronounced porosity and denser packing of their microaggregates in comparison with native soils. Microaggregation of the plow layer of Vertisols is observed at high magnifications, while in the humus horizon of the fallowed Vertisol, the section of the aggregate has a massive structure. The study of the rheological behavior of the soils revealed the predominance of condensation-crystallization structural bonds in the plow layers, whereas coagulation structures prevailed in the deeper horizons. However, in the upper horizons of Vertisols, coagulation structure is well developed and thixotropy occurs. The limit of a plastic-viscous breakdown of the structure is higher in soils that are not involved in agricultural use, and the Shvedov limit corresponding to the beginning of deformation processes, on the contrary, is lower. All studied soil samples had several strength limits, which indicates the hierarchical organization of the structure of soil aggregates.

In order to determine the changes in microbial community due to termites, soil microorganisms surrounding the termites were investigated. First, bacterial communities from soil with termites collected at Seonamsa temple, Suncheon city, Korea were compared by next-generation sequencing (NGS, Illumina Miseq). The bacterial composition of soil from Daeungjeon without termites and the soil from Josadang, Palsangjeon, and Samjeon with termites were compared. Next, the bacterial composition of these soils was also compared with that of humus soil cultured with termites. A total high-quality sequences of 71,942 and 72,429 reads were identified in Seonamsa temple’s soil and humus soil, respectively. The dominant phyla in the collected Seonamsa temple’s soil were Proteobacteria (27%), Firmicutes (24%) and Actinobacteria (21%), whereas those in the humus soil were Bacteriodetes (56%) and Proteobacteria (37%). Using a two-dimensional plot to explain the principal coordinate analysis of operational taxonomic unit compositions of the soil samples, it was confirmed that the samples were divided into soil with and without termites, and it was especially confirmed that the Proteobacteria phylum was increased in humus soil with termites than in humus soil without termites.

The colloidal complex of soils is the fine and supreme functional section of the organic and inorganic soil particles where most of the chemical properties take place. The inorganic or clay colloidal complex of soils occurs as too fine particles and organic colloidal complex happen in the form of humus particles.

Changes in the macro-, meso-, and micromorphological properties of plowed migration-mycelial chernozems (Haplic Chernozems) after their conversion into permanent unmanaged fallow state are discussed. The research objects are located in Kursk oblast. The results of the study indicate that changes in the soil morphology are most pronounced in the plow and carbonate-accumulative horizons. As a result of self-restoration processes, the structure of plow horizons improves, and their color becomes darker. Cracks formed as a result of seasonal soil drying disappear, and the structural degradation of plowed soils is stopped. Hard carbonate nodules formed in deep horizons of plowed soils due to seepage and stagnation of moisture in cracks in the periods of bare land disappear over 25–50 years of fallowing. Transitional forms—relatively soft calcareous nodules (beloglazka, white eyes) with a hard core—may be formed. Upon the uptake of soil solutions by roots, the accumulation of carbonates in the form of fibrous calcite takes place in the humus-containing material around the roots. Carbonate incrustations consisting of fibrous calcite are seen along cracks in plowed soils and in young fallows and are thin and fragmentary in the soils of old fallows and in virgin chernozem. The results of the studies of chronosequences of fallowed soils in Belgorod, Rostov, Lipetsk, and Kursk oblasts are generalized. The main features of transformation of the carbonate status of fallow soils are specified: (a) disappearance of hard carbonate pedofeatures in the lower soil horizons, (b) lowering of the lines of effervescence, and (c) a general decrease in the content and total pool of carbonate carbon. The change in the humus state of fallowed soils after the end of plowing are differently directed: the content of stock of humus decrease in gray soils (Phaeozems) and increase in chernozems and dark gray soils.

A comparative analysis of the chemical composition and properties of water-soluble compounds of the soils on calcareous rocks, aboveground phytomass, and waters is performed for the northern part of the Bolshoi Paipudynsky Ridge (Polar Urals, Russia). Potassium and calcium ions (45–60 and 30–45%, respectively) are prevalent in the water extracts of plant material. From the O horizon to mineral horizons, the content of Ca2+ ions in water extracts increases from 50–70 to 80–90% with a concurrent decrease in the content of K+ ions from 12–34% (O horizon) to zero (mineral horizons). Uniform compositions of surface waters and water extracts of lower soil horizons reflect the specific features inherited from the soils of the catchment area. The properties of the group of humus horizons—gray-humus (AY), mucky–dark-humus (AH), and mucky (H)—are most variable. The water extracts of the phytomass contain 8–106 g/kg Corg, 0.4–5.8 g/kg Norg, and 1.5–32 g/kg soluble salts. The contents of all these components in water extracts by the O horizon decreases by 1–1.5 orders of magnitude and further by 1–2 orders of magnitude in the mineral horizons. The surface waters are ultrafresh. In the absence of organic compounds, their acid–base properties are mainly controlled by carbonates and bicarbonates of alkaline and alkaline- earth metals.

The total content of rare earth elements in the soil profile of saline agricultural landscapes catena of the Baraba plain within Novosibirsk region was studied. The total content of zirconium, yttrium, scandium, gallium, including lanthanides - cerium, lanthanum and ytterbium was determined. Rare earth elements are extremely poorly analyzed. At present, their influence on plants, organisms of animals and humans is being actively studied, although the maximum permissible and tentatively permissible concentrations for them have not yet been developed. The total content of rare earth elements, determined in the soils of the catena, depends on the granulometric composition and the degree of humus content of the soil horizons. It was revealed that in the studied soils they are mainly contained in the number of clarkes of the earth's crust, with the exception of lanthanum in the humus horizons, where its content is almost 1.5 times (44-48 mg/kg) higher than the clarke in the earth's crust (29 mg/kg), and ytterbium (10 times higher than the clarke). Along the soil profile, an insignificant movement of rare earth elements in both vertical and horizontal directions was noted, which indicates a low mobility of their compounds. Zirconium predominates in the profile of the studied soils from the group of rare earth elements. Its content in the humus horizons of soils of eluvial positions is within the clarke of the earth's crust; variations along the profile are insignificant. Ytterbium is contained in large quantities - from 1.89 to 4.05 mg/kg of soil, which is significantly higher than the clarke of the earth's crust (0.3 mg/kg of soil). The role of lanthanides in the soil -plant - animal - human system requires further in-depth study.

The enzymatic activity (catalase, cellulase) of soils and technogenic sand on the territory of the former Dzhida tungsten-molybdenum combine (Western Transbaikalia) was studied. The objects of the study were the surface 0-10 cm layers of alluvial dark humus soil (Fluvisols) as a background, man-made sand (waste after mining and processing of tungsten and molybdenum ores) and soils of recultivated contours № 1, 3, 4. At the same depth, linen cloths were laid to assess the activity of cellulase. Differences in the activity of soil enzymes of the background soil and soils on the studied contours were established, depending on the level of heavy metals content in them and the technologies used for reclamation.

The results of agroecological monitoring of arable and fallow lands are considered. It has been established that the content of humus and mobile phosphorus in the soils of the fallow, as well as the value of the salt pH, is lower than on arable land; mobile potassium is higher. This may be due to the migration of deposited potassium from the lower soil horizons into the humus horizon and its release from the absorbed state during the decomposition of organic matter. It was revealed that in fallow soils, the content of mobile phosphorus in the range of 150–600 mg/kg directly correlates with the value of salt pH (4–6 pH units), while this dependence is not observed on arable land.

Aim. To assess the interrelations of chemical and physical-chemical parameters of soil cover properties with climatic factors of soil formation in agricultural landscapes of the Central Chernozem Region (CCR) of Russia.Materials and Methods. The research was carried out using a systemic analysis of the complex of agroclimatic and soil parameters. Soil properties were assessed by the weighted average characteristics of arable soils for the areas of the Central Chernozem Region. Hydrothermal conditions were taken into account by rainfall, temperature and the amount of active temperatures for the period 1960-2000.Results. Estimated excess of annual precipitation (440-640 mm) over evaporation (407-500 mm) in the average annual cycle ensures the formation of total runoff and soil washability in the amount of 40-150 and 17-104 mm. This determines soil acidity (pHKCL, R2 = 0.36...0.73). Optimal conditions of humus accumulation are formed when the humidity factor is 0.8-0.9. Mesorelief is a factor of spatial heterogeneity of the total soil composition with which 85% of physical-chemical properties and up to 70% of nutrient availability are associated.Conclusion. The differences in the hydration of the territories both at the scale of the CCR and local levels determine the intensity of geochemical runoff, the oxidation-reduction regime and total chemical soil composition which constitute the basis of heterogeneity in the content of organic matter, acidic-base and other properties.

The operation of stationary soil lysimeters is largely determined by the areal and vertical limitations of the soil mass. The areal spatial limitations of large lysimeters operating at the Moscow State University Soil Station and the proximity of phytocoenoses developing in them to each other contribute to the additional transport of plant litterfall by wind, while the vertical limitations eliminate the role of groundwaters and their soil-forming effects. The absence of lateral subsurface flow that is typical for natural landscapes and the increased inflow of alkaline-earth elements with atmospheric precipitation and dust reduce the manifestation of the eluvial–illuvial process. Comparative analysis of lysimetric waters in 1967–1968 and in 2014–2015 shows a significant increase in concentrations of such cations as calcium, sodium, magnesium, and potassium and such anions as chloride and sulfate over this period. The local spatial geochemical contrast of lysimetric waters caused by the impact of deicing agents does not affect the relative migration capacity of elements. Based on their biogeochemical accumulation levels in the soil, macroelements form the following series Ca > K > Al > Mg > N; microelements: Zn > Sr > Cu > Ba. The above patterns persist in all types of lysimeters. The calcium concentration in soils increases in the series: broadleaf forest > mixed forest > spruce forest > black fallow. The increased accumulation of elements in soils of spruce forests correlates with the humus type (moder-like) formed under them; this humus type is determined by the combination of coniferous and deciduous litterfall.

The migration of water-soluble fraction of petroleum hydrocarbons in typical soils of Bashkortostan is studied. The possibility of their water migration in Fluvic Phaeozems, Haplic Phaeozems, and Amphiskeletic Pantocalcic Chernozems is determined by data of a lysimetric model experiment. Dissolved organic substances, which pass into lysimetric waters from oil-contaminated soils, include the components that are not extracted by hexane, but are characterized by fluorescence in water at the wavelengths typical for petroleum products. These substances differ from soluble organic matter of background soils by higher HIX (humification indices) and presumably represent oxidized transformation products of petroleum hydrocarbons. Lysimetric waters from all oil-contaminated soils are biotoxic, regardless of the presence of nonpolar petroleum hydrocarbons. The toxicity T-index is in positive correlation with the content of dissolved organic carbon and chloride ions, accompanying oil pollution of soils.

The objective of this paper is to highlight the results of assessing the impact of soil quality on the sustainable competitiveness of agricultural enterprises in Ukraine. The general hypothesis of the research is based on the assumption of available positive relations between soil quality and sustainable competitiveness of enterprises. The average content of humus is taken as an integral index of soil quality. The authors used correlation analysis (for determine the relationship density between content of humus and subindexes of sustainable competitiveness), econometric modeling (for study of the dependence between content of humus and subindexes of sustainable competitiveness), economic-statistical (for evaluation and analysis of the impact of content of humus on the sustainable competitiveness), abstract-and-logical (for theoretical generalization and analysis of the research results), and graphical (for the visual representation of the revealed dependencies). To receive the results, the statistical software package STATISTICA is used. The obtained results prove the hypothesis of a positive relationship between content of humus and sustainable competitiveness only in the area of sufficient moisture. For example, the research reveals a high direct correlation relation (r = 0.735) between the subindexes of competitiveness by the yield of cereals and content of humus in soil in Chernihiv region. For the first time, one- and two-factor linear and quadratic econometric models were developed, which made it possible to carry out quantitative estimation of the impact of content of humus on the formation of sustainable competitiveness.

Materials are presented for route, stationary soil, and ecological studies carried out in the high-mountainous zone of Dagestan with the characteristics of (a) the modern features of the development of the soil cover and (b) the ecological parameters of the soil cover and their changes under the influence of climatic warming. The variety of natural and economic conditions of the object of study resulted in significant diversity of the soil cover. The soil distribution was greatly influenced by the terrain height and the exposure and steepness of slopes. Based on soil erosion studies from previous periods, it can be noted that improper land use and climatic warming have led to radical changes in the composition of the soil cover in terms of defining indicators—soil erosion. In recent years, the area of eroded land has doubled, and the area with heavily eroded soils has increased by a third. This led to a decrease in the thickness of humus horizons in almost all soils to an average of 20 cm, and the loss of humus reserves in soils amounted to 60% of the original content. The presented analysis of soil-cover degradation and the established patterns of soil evolution on the slope lands of high mountains serve as a theoretical basis for the reproduction of soil fertility and preservation of the ecological role of soil protection from erosion and other degradation processes.

The radial migration of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in soil and their inflow into lysimetric leachates have been estimated to determine the permissible residual content of TPH (PRCTPH) in the main soil types of Sakhalin Island. The maximal concentrations of TPH, of their medium- and high-boiling fractions in particular, are allocated to peat and humus horizons, as well as to soil horizons of heavy loamy granulometric composition, which represent radial geochemical barriers for migrating pollutants. Benzene and its homologues are detected in filtrates from soil lysimeters after the percolation of water in the amount of three-quarters of the annual precipitation. After the filtration of the water amount equal to the annual precipitation, these compounds are not revealed. The toxicity of leachates has been assessed by bioassay, using ceriodaphnia and ciliates. The PRCTPH in soils with respect to the water migration index may be determined by the concentration of TPH and the content of monoaromatic compounds in leachates and their toxicity for hydrobionts in lysimetric experiments.

We have revealed the dependence of current soil-forming processes in laylands on the period of theirs overgrowing, landform, and cultivation intensity. The main object of research is represented by regraded agrosoddy-podzolic soils (Albic Glossic Retisols (Loamic, Aric, Cutanic, Ochric)), differing in the overgrowing period, cultivation rate, and texture, and located on transit and accumulative elements of the landscape. The soils have been studied during soil-ecological surveys in the Udmurt Republic and in a long-term field experiment. It has been revealed that all major changes in layland soils occur in the former plowed layer, which is subdivided into two sublayers. Humus formation is intensive in the upper 10-cm-thick part of the plow layer, which results in higher humus content, total exchangeable bases, and structure coefficient. The zonal podzolization process is activated in the lower part of the plow layer (from 10- to 20-cm-thick) and results in lower content of humus and exchangeable basis, and in higher acidity. After the 40-year-long period of overgrowing, the properties of these sublayers become similar to those of the AY (gray-humus) and EL (eluvial) horizons of virgin soils, respectively. The changes of all the parameters during layland overgrowing are stepwise. Differentiation of the formed plow layer is the most intensive in soils on transit elements of the catena. More favorable moisture conditions of the accumulative positions in catena result in higher productivity of biocenoses and more intensive humus formation. Differentiation of the former plow layer is more intensive in soils of the increased and high cultivation rate.

Based on archival data on the soils of the Kuznetsk–Salair geomorphological province (within Novosibirsk oblast) and the results of processing digital elevation models, a soil-geomorphological database (SGDB) has been developed for collecting, storing, and processing spatially distributed information. The SGDB consists of tables and related vector and raster cartographic data with information on the chemical and physical properties of soil horizons, morphometric characteristics of topography (height, steepness, topographic wetness index, risk factor for the development of erosion, stream power index, terrain ruggedness index, topographic position index, etc.). The following soils are widespread in the study area: leached chernozems (Luvic Chernozems) and podzolized chernozems (Luvic Greyzemic Chernozems); ordinary meadow-chernozemic soils (Gleyic Chernozems) and podzolized meadow-chernozemic soils (Greyzemic Gleyic Chernozems); podzolized light gray, gray and dark gray forest soils (Luvic Greyzemic Phaeozems); calcareous meadow soils (Eutric Gleysols); podzolized meadow soils (Haplic Gleysols); solonchakous meadow soils (Haplic Gleysols (Protosalic)); meadow alluvial soils (Eutric Fluvisols); and meadow solonetzes (Gleyic Solonetzes). The analysis of the created maps made it possible to identify a trend of an increase in the humus content, physical clay, and clay in the upper soil horizon from the northeast to the southwest of the study area. A similar trend was noted for the topographic wetness index. The opposite trend was detected for the content of physical clay and clay in the parent rock, i.e., an increase in the content of physical clay and clay from the southwest to the northeast. It was found that the soils in river valleys and on plains are characterized by higher contents of humus, physical clay, and clay in comparison with the soils of the upper parts of slopes and tops of local hills. No significant correlations were found between the morphometric parameters of the relief and the contents of humus, physical clay, and clay in the topsoil horizons and parent rocks.

Introduction The soils of the forest and agrarian experimental sites in the State Enterprise ‘Mariupol Forest Research Station’ have been influenced by the ameliorative system of rare protective forest stands, the history of which is more than 125 years. Therefore, it is urgent to study a current chemical composition of the soils. The aim of the research was to study and analyse chemical characteristics of the soils on the arable land and in the forest shelterbelts in the State Enterprise ‘Mariupol Forest Research Station’ as well as in the farm of the Donetsk Region. Materials and Methods The object of the research was medium-humus chernozems formed on heavy loamy soils under forb-fescue-feather grass vegetation on agricultural land and those under the shelterbelts in studied farms. To do the research, we used field, laboratory-analytical, and statistical methods. A chemical analysis was carried out on 33 soil samples. The forest stands were inspected with commonly accepted methods. The results were analysed by means of statistical methods. Results Inspected field shelterbelts are dominated by Quercus robur L. of 50–126 years old. Their area makes 0.7–3.8 ha; the relative density of stocking is 0.6–0.8. The arable land occupies from 9.8 to 34.0 ha. The forested index of the arable land in SE ‘Mariupol Forest Research Station’ is from 9.0 to 13.9 km·km-2, that of the farm land is 3.2 km·km-2. The highest humus content was found in the soils under field shelterbelts in the permanent forest and agrarian experimental site (8.44–17.36%). It was 5.08–6.96% on the arable land. The difference of average values is 6.06%. This value varies more in the stands than in the field. In the soil of the fields and stands of the farm, the content of humus is about 6.0%. The reduction of humus content in the soil in the fields for 60 years is 0.51–0.82%, in the field shelterbelts it is about 2%. At the studied sites, pH of the soil-water extract for the arable soil is 6.8–7.75 (actual soil acidity) and pH of the salt extract is 5.7–6.8 (exchangeable soil acidity). In the field shelterbelts the values were 6.2–7.75 and 5.25–7.0, respectively. The content of nitrogen and potassium is higher in the shelterbelt soil while that of phosphorus is higher in arable land. Conclusions The highest content of humus was found in the 0–10-cm layer of chernozems under the forest shelterbelts in the permanent forest and agrarian experimental site (from 8.44 to 17.36%); on arable land this value varies from 5.08 to 6.96%. The content of humus in the soils in 92–126-year-old forest shelterbelts (SE ‘Mariupol Forest Research Station’) exceeds the value on arable land by 6.06%. In the soils of the farm, the contents of humus in the field and in the stands do not differ significantly (about 6.0%). There has been a decrease in the content of humus in the soil of some fields of agricultural land (about 1.0%) and forest shelterbelts (about 2%) of the permanent forest and agrarian experimental site for the last 60 years. The soil pH in the sites is mostly neutral. The content of nitrogen and potassium is higher in soils in the shelterbelts, while that of is higher in arable land.

Studies were conducted to determine such indicators as humus, heavy metals, and enzymatic activity in the soils of uncultivated farmlands of the Vladimir region located in the Klyazma river basin. In the course of field research in 2018, soil samples were selected at 13 points representing various landscape areas belonging to the Klyazma river basin. According to the results of research, a positive relationship between the activity of soil enzymes and the content of humus was established. In the soils of uncultivated farmland, where there is a high concentration of soil enzymes, a high percentage of humus was found from 2.88% to 3.96%. The dependence between the indicators of activity of soil enzymes and anthropogenic impact was revealed. Thus, the transition from deposits to the meadow, i.e. reduce anthropogenic impact on the soil, there is a sharp increase in the activity of soil invertase, catalase and dehydrogenase, an active process of humification of soil. The detected concentrations of heavy metals in soil samples of uncultivated farmland do not exceed the standards set for the approximate permissible concentrations, but their quantitative content has increased significantly over the past decade, their accumulation occurs and there is a potential danger in the case of secondary input of these soils into agricultural use.

The studies carried out and the results obtained on the humus state of meadow brown soils are fully consistent with the literature. The change in the humus content in the soils of the meadow soil formation process depends on the effect of surface and ground moisture on humus formation. Studies have revealed that the humus content in meadow brown soils decreases gradually and relatively evenly with depth. For meadow soils with a meadow process of soil formation, there is a general tendency for a decrease in humus from the upper horizons to the lower ones.

An increasing anthropogenic impact on soils leads to qualitative and quantitative changes in chernozems, the richest soils on Earth. In this regard, the understanding of modern soil-forming processes is undoubtedly relevant because it will allow predicting the future state of not only soils, but also nature as a whole. The methodology for studying the evolution of chernozems is based on a process-factor analysis of genetically conjugated and agrogenic series of chernozems of different taxonomic levels. The objects of the study were system complexes of soil series, including subtypes of virgin, arable, and irrigated chernozems in the central regions of Russia. The data obtained made it possible to identify patterns of variation in the composition and properties of virgin chernozems in a genetically conjugated series at a subtype level and in the series virgin land – arable land – irrigated arable land; we also detected the processes and factors that determine the nature and direction of changes in the composition and properties of chernozems in the studied series and determined the direction of anthropogenic evolution of chernozems. The main provisions of the work conceptually develop the theory of the chernozem-forming process and serve as a theoretical basis for the development of models for the formation of the chernozem profile. Established quantitative and qualitative indicators of humus profiles of chernozems are important diagnostic features in the classification of these soils. The nature and direction of the chernozem evolution disclosed in the work can serve as the basis for long-term forecasting of the state of these soils and the development of a set of measures for their rational use and protection.’’

The changes in the physical properties and carbon stocks of dark-humus podbels (Luvic Albic Mollic Planosols (Epiloamic, Endoclayic, Aric)) during long-term agricultural use and postagrogenic evolution were studied. Soil samples were taken in three trials: control (without fertilizers), high rates of mineral fertilizers, and mineral fertilizers + manure + lime (Chaika Experimental Field Station of the Federal Research Center for Agrobiotechnology of the Far East, Primorsky region) and in the abandoned fields (15, 20, and 35 years ago). It was shown that the long-term application of mineral fertilizers increases the soil bulk density. Application of organic and mineral fertilizers and lime had a positive effect on the bulk density and structural characteristics of soils. The abandonment of agricultural fields and the cessation of mechanical tillage resulted in the restoration of the natural soil structure. The content of agronomically valuable aggregates increased, while their mean weighted diameter decreased in the upper horizon of studied fallow soils. The carbon content and stock in the upper soil layer decreased in the first years of the conversion of arable fields to unmanaged fallow. The carbon stock in the upper 50-cm layer increased with time.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is one of the most important oil plants in Hungary, with a sown area of more than 627.000 ha in 2019. Sunflower cultivation is primarily important for use in the oil industry, but its role in feed and beekeeping cannot be neglected either. Sunflower adapts well to different production areas in terms of soil demand, yet, as important fact, it must be grown on soils with poorer conditions with intensive nutrient replenishment. From the agri-environmental point of view, in addition to the use of pelleted poultry manure products, which are also new to the consumer market, is of paramount importance. Their advantages include a wide range of nutrients as well as a soil structure improving effect. In our research, we investigated the starter effect of pelleted poultry manure products applied at different doses (200 kg ha-1 and 400 kg ha-1) on sandy soil with humus using a sunflower plant. The aim of our research to investigate the effect of using pelleted fertilizer products as starter fertilizers on sunflower plant germination, and investigate the effect of poultry manure products on soils. Based on our results, it can be stated that the pigment content (chlorophyll and carotenoid content) was positively influenced by the higher dose treatments (400 kg ha-1), thus increasing the photosynthetically active leaf area. Compared to the control, the carotenoid content in the test plants of the treatments increased, and the differences of this treatment proved to be significant (p

Vizsgálatunk célja az volt, hogy egy Somogyban elhelyezkedő, dombvidéki mintaterület szántóin elemezzük a mért talaj-vezetőképesség (EC) értékek és lehatárolt termőhelyi (művelési) zónák talajtulajdonságai közötti összefüggéseket. A vizsgált szántóterületek löszön kialakult, típusos Ramann-féle barna erdőtalajon és karbonátos csernozjom barna erdőtalajon helyezkednek el. Feltalajuk döntően vályog és agyagos vályog fizikai féleségű. A talaj vezetőképességét 50 és 100 cm-es talajmélységben mértük.A mintaterület talajadatait térinformatikai állományba foglaltuk, az adatok rendezését és azok összekapcsolását az ESRI ArcGIS 10.0 programmal végeztük el. A táblák heterogenitását mutató laboratóriumi talajvizsgálatok eredményeit a mért EC értékekkel összevetettük, amelyhez az IBM SPSS Statistics 20 szoftver segítségével stepwise-típusú lineáris regressziót alkalmaztunk. A regressziókat a talajvizsgálatok csoportosításával megegyezően: alap („a” eset), bővített („b” eset) és teljeskörű („c”eset) alapján futtattuk le. A számításoknál az „a” eset a talajtulajdonságokat meghatározó fontosabb talajparaméterek (kötöttség, humusz- és mésztartalom, kémhatás), a „b” eset az alap talajparamétereket és a makro tápanyagok (NPK ellátottságot), valamint a „c” eset az előző kettőt és mikro tápanyagok (Mg2+, Na+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Mn2+, SO42–, Fe2+ + Fe3+) körét jelenti.A különböző csoportosításban elvégzett elemzések során arra voltunk kíváncsiak, hogy a vizsgálati talajparaméterek körének változtatásával szorosabb kapcsolatokat találunk-e a mért átlagos EC értékek és a talajtulajdonságok között. Az eredményeink által kaphatunk-e olyan kellő pontosságú és megbízhatóságú becslőmodellt, amely a talajok térbeli heterogenitását megmutatja az EC értékek alapján, így a módszer nagyban meggyorsíthatja és leegyszerűsítheti a „hagyományos” talajvizsgálatokhoz képest a termőhelyi zónák elkülönítését.A vizsgálati eredményeink alapján elmondható, hogy mindhárom regressziós csoportosítás esetén a tengerszint feletti magasság csökkenésével arányosan nő a talaj-vezetőképesség, illetve az EC értékek növekedésével nő a talajok kötöttsége, amellyel együtt növekszik az agyagtartalom is. Ez a folyamat 100 cm-es talajmélységben a nagyobb víztartalom miatt erőteljesebben jelentkezik, mint az 50 cm-es talajmélységben. A termőhelyi zónák termékenységi viszonyait az elsődleges talajtulajdonságokon, illetve a makro és a mikro tápanyag-ellátottságokon kívül a domborzati viszonyok is módosíthatják. A talajellenállás mérése bárki számára elérhető, gyors és egyszerű módszer. A laboratóriumi talajvizsgálatokat kiegészítve alkalmas arra, hogy a precíziós növénytermesztésben segítséget nyújtson a termőhelyi zónák lehatárolásában.Our aim was to analyse the relationships between the measured soil electrical conductivity (EC) and the soil properties of different delimited production (tillage) zones in a hillside sample area situated in Somogy county. The examined arable lands are situated in typical Ramann-type brown forest soil and chernozem-brown forest soil mostly with loam and clay loam formed on loess. For the investigations, two soil resistance values (measured at 50 cm and 100 cm depth) were used.Soil data of the sample area were incorporated into a GIS file, the ordering and connection of the data was performed by ESRI ArcGIS 10.0 program. The results of the soil laboratory tests (which show soil heterogeneity) were correlated to the measured EC-values with stepwise linear regression using IBM SPSS Statistics 20 software. The regression were run in line with the alignment of soil investigations: basic (case „a”), extended (case „b”) and completed (case „c”). By the calculations, case „a” means the group of the most important soil parameters which are determinative soil characteristics (upper limit of plasticity or KA, humus-, lime content, pH), case „b” means the previous one plus the group of macronutrients (NPK-content), while case „c” means case „b” plus the group of micronutrients (Mg2+, Na+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Mn2+, SO42–, Fe2+ + Fe3+).With the analyses made in different alignments our aim was to determine whether with the changing of examined soil parameters there will be tighter relationships between the measured EC-values and soil properties. Further aim was to examine whether it is possible to make a properly accurate and reliable estimation model, which can show the real soil circumstances (spatial heterogeneity of soils) based on EC-values, since this method can accelerate and simplify the separation of productivity zones compared to the conventional soil examinations.Based on the results it can be concluded that in case of all the three regression groups the electrical conductivity increases proportionally with the decreasing of elevation. Besides, with the increasing of EC-values the KA – and with it, the clay content also – increases. This process develops in a more significant way in the depth of 100 cm than in 50 cm because of the higher water content. Besides the primary soil characteristics and the amount of macro- and micronutrients, the fertility conditions of the production zones can be affected by the geographical circumstances as well. The measurement of soil resistance is a fast, easy and generally available method, which is suitable – with the completion of laboratory examinations – for giving assistance to delineate the production zones in the precision crop production.

The article analyzes the change in the indicator of the cation exchange capacity (CEC) in the humus of the latitudinal series of soils in Western Siberia. It is shown that not all humus substances are able to perform the function of cation exchange and participate in the formation of the organic part of the soil EC. It is shown that the organic matter in the latitudinal range of soils in Western Siberia is distributed in accordance with the known geographical pattern of the distribution of the total humus stock and the main characteristics of this stock. An unconventional evaluation method for determining the EC is proposed using analytical data on the content of acidic functional groups in humic acids and the composition of humic substances, which allows us to separately assess the contribution of humic and fulvic acids in the composition of the EC of the soil.

At present, the genesis, nomenclature, and classification of granuzems remain debatable, which is explained by scarce data on these soils. In this paper, data on granuzems described in the forest-tundra of the Norilsk depression, in the valleys of the Tukalanda, Akkit, and Khantaika rivers (68°30′ N, 88°15′ E) and in the northern taiga within the lower reaches of the Nizhnyaya Tunguska River (66°20′ N, 89°00′ E) are discussed. Genetic and geographic features of granuzems are closely related to the mineralogy and texture of their parent materials represented by moraine and glaciofluvial loamy and clayey sediments derived from quartz-containing dolerites. Granuzems are characterized by the strongly acid or acid to neutral reaction and, accordingly, by the low base saturation in the upper horizons and moderate base saturation in the lower horizons. Granuzems are characterized by the elevated content of humus of the fulvate composition (Cha/Cfa < 1) and by the high content of oxalate-extractable iron. The main soil-forming processes are weathering and aggregation of the coagulative cryochemogenic nature. The horizon with strong rounded-grain or crumb–granular structure serves as a diagnostic horizon of granuzems. The surface litter horizon may have different thickness and decomposition degree.

The importance of the Red Data Book of Soils compilation is substantiated. The idea is based on some fundamental principles interpreted for the regional level: phenomenological, of the equivalence of components, the priority of virgin soil objects, representativeness, rarity of soil cover components, regional, zonal, azonal, catenary, and natural-historical. The main soil objects, which correspond to the zonal standards, i.e. rare, unique and endangered soils of high priority to be included in these environmental documents, have been identified by the example of the soil cover of Kirov oblast. It is proposed to assign podzolic, soddy-podzolic, and gray soils on mantle loams widely spread in the region to the zonal standards of the middle and southern taiga and mixed forests. Polygenic soils with a complicated humus profile, which includes the second relic residual and buried humus horizons are rare soils, which should be included in the regional Red Data Soil Book. A specific list of priority objects for the future regional Red Data Soil Book is presented, and the main areas of their occurrence are specified. In addition to soil reserves, it is proposed to distinguish the category of pedogenic natural monuments in places accessible for a direct observation of scientifically valuable soil objects, outcropping in river valley banks. These materials may be used to develop a local network of protected areas by including in it a new category of natural heritage: soil. These materials are of interest for environmental services of Kirov oblast and for other members of the Russian Federation.

In this paper, we present a novel approach, enabling the measurement of nitrate concentrations in natural soil porewater containing natural soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The method is based on UV absorbance spectroscopy, combined with fluorescence spectroscopy, for simultaneous analysis of DOC and nitrate concentrations. The analytical procedure involves deduction of the absorption caused by the DOC from the total absorbance in the UV range that is attributed to both DOC and nitrate in the water solution. The analytical concept has been successfully tested in soil water samples obtained from five agricultural sites, as well as in water samples obtained from a commercial humus soil mixture. We believe that the new analytical concept can provide a scientific foundation for developing a sensor for real-time nitrate concentration measurements in agricultural soils. As such, it can play a significant role in reducing nitrate pollution in water resources, optimizing input application in agriculture, and decreasing food production costs.

The humus condition of soils of Chernihiv region has been studied. The dynamics of humus content in the soils of the region during six rounds (1986–2015) of agrochemical certification of agricultural lands is generalized and analyzed. In comparison with the 5th round (1986–1990), there was a discrepancy between the processes of stabilization and increase of humus content in most districts and in the region as a whole in the ninth round (2006–2010), and in some districts in the tenth round (2011–2015) against the background of a sharp decrease in the application of organic fertilizers. It was found that the stabilization of humus content in the soils of the region during the V–VIII rounds of agrochemical certification and a sharp increase in its content in the ninth round, against a significant reduction of organic matter, correlates with the withdrawal of eroded, low-yielding lands with low humus content (r=0.76). Analyzing the dynamics of humus content over thirty years of research,it was found that its content has increased in all climatic zones, as well as in nineteen of the twenty-two districts of the region. The increase of the indicator is in the range of 0.01–0.72%, while in all districts there is a significant reduction of the surveyed areas and only in three districts of the region there is a decrease in the humus content. According to the results of the 10th round of agrochemical certification, the soils of Chernihiv region are characterized by an average humus content of 2.41%. The highest humus content is characterized by the soils of Bakhmatsky (3.56%), Talalaivsky (3.33%) and Pryluky (3.32%) districts, and the lowest — NovgorodSiversky (1.57%). Increasing the sown area of green manure crops, plowing straw and the use of other elements of biologization of agriculture are important factors in increasing the weighted average humus content in the soils of Chernihiv region.

The research was conducted in the European northeast of Russia (Komi Republic), in the reclaimed quarries for mining construction sand in the middle taiga subzone, in the course of two decades after the forest reclamation (Pinus sylvestris) had been applied. The specific features of initial pedogenesis on substrates of different textures have been revealed. On sands and sandy loams, the dynamic soil sequence is composed by abralith (the 0-moment) → residual-calcareous humus psammozem (11th yr) → humus-raw-humus residual-calcareous podzolized humus gleyic psammozem (18th yr). On the loamy substrate, the following soil sequence is formed: abralith → humus residual-calcareous pelozem (3rd and 11th yr) → humus-raw-humus residual-calcareous eluviated gleyic pelozem (the 18th year). The formation of litter and humus-accumulative horizons are the leading soil forming processes. Their intensity is determined by the degree of plant community development. By the end of the second decade, the humus-accumulative horizon (0–20 cm thick) of sandy loamy soils accumulates up to 2.7 t/ha of organic carbon. Organic carbon pool in loamy soils reaches 6.3 t/ha. The stocks of soil nitrogen reach 0.1 and 0.4 t/ha, respectively. The rate of organic carbon accumulation in soil reaches 0.16 (sandy-loamy substrates) and 0.37 t/ha per year (loamy substrates). The organic matter of humus-accumulative horizons in the young soils of quarries is characterized by a higher content of water-soluble and labile components of humus and a low degree of condensation of humic acids as compared to the background soils. Initial pedogenesis on quarry substrata is characterized by an increase in the acidity of soil water extracts from pH 8.0 in abralith to pH 6.3–6.7 in the W horizon of the forming soils. The rate of acidification in loamy soils is lower than in sandy and sandy loamy soils. Carbonate leaching is confirmed by the absence of calcite and dolomite in the mineral composition of the upper W horizons of the forming soils, a decrease in the total content of calcium oxide from 4% in abralith to 2–3% in the W soil horizon and in the content of calcium carbonates (3 and

The soils of archaeological sites on river floodplains with contrasting history of the Holocene soil evolution in the south and north of the forest-steppe zone on the Central Russian Upland have been studied. The conditions for the meadow-chernozemic soil development on the high floodplain in the lower course of the Savala River (Voronezh oblast) were most favorable in the Early Holocene (10.3–9 ka BP); 9 ka BP, the soil humus profile was two times deeper than it is today. The most intensive alluvial sedimentation (0.5 mm/yr) was typical of the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene (11–8.3 ka BP), while in the Middle and Late Holocene, the rate of the upward growth of soils decreased to 0.05 mm/yr. The underdevelopment of modern chernozemic-meadow soil profiles suggests an alternation of accumulation and denudation (including deflation) of fine-earth particles on the soil surface in the Late Holocene. On the floodplain in the upper course of the Oka River (Orel oblast), the development of a monogenetic profile of medium-deep leached chernozems with the humus content of more than 7% and humus stocks in the upper meter of at least 450 t/ha took place in the Holocene. Before the beginning of the second millennium AD, the alluvium sedimentation rate was no more than 0.02 mm/yr; in the recent millennium, it has increased up to 1 mm/yr. The specificity of changes in the bioclimatic conditions and spatiotemporal specificity of anthropogenic disturbances of the natural environment caused the metachronous Holocene evolution of floodplain soils in the studied regions. The importance of radiocarbon dating of organic matter of uneven-aged soils for paleopedological and paleogeographic reconstructions is shown.

Studies in the article have shown that productivity increases with improved structure. This is explained by the fact that in soils with 0.25 mm diameter water-resistant aggregates of 14%, grain yield is 22.2 cents / ha, while water-resistant aggregates are 8%. In soils, this figure decreased to 18.4 cents / ha (3.8 cents / ha). It is also known that alfalfa plays a key role in improving the water-physical properties of the soil, as well as its agrochemical composition. The author's research shows that the amount of water-resistant aggregates under the clover is much higher than in the cotton fields. This can be clearly seen from the following comparison. Thus, the amount of water-resistant aggregates in 0-10 cm of soil in the cotton field is 4.0-18.5; While 0.5 cm is 6.5-11.2 and 20-30 cm is 4.5-18.2, in clover crops this indicator is 35.0; Increased to 24.7 and 27.0. In addition, it revealed the accumulation of more organic and mineral substances under alfalfa cultivation. They proved this by the analysis of soil samples taken from the one-year and two-year plots. It was found that 1.66% humus and 0.112% total nitrogen were accumulated in the topsoil of the annual alfalfa field, while the amount of humus accumulated in the topsoil in the biennial clover field was 1.70% and the total nitrogen content was 0.150%. It should be noted. that the development of irrigation erosion in irrigated arable lands depends on the fact that the surface of the area is covered with a large cover. This was clearly shown by the observations. It was found that both relatively weak (0.4 mm / min) and very (1.4 mm / min) heavy rains protect clover soil from further washing. Thus, 0.4 mm / min. In heavy rains, the depth of the furrow under alfalfa is 14.4 mm, 31 mm at 1.4 mm / min, 50.9 and 64.2 mm between rows of cotton, respectively, and 78.6 and 113 mm along the row. 6 mm

Based on the screening of some heavy metals (HMs) content in the humus soil horizon of the Transcarpathian region, the regularities of the distribution of HMs in the soils of different landscape zones have been established. It is shown that increasing of the terrain height, the content of HMs in soils decreases (except for Mn and Hg) and for the total HMs content the values of the Spearman correlation coefficient are: Cu – (-0.84); Zn – (-0.83); Mn 0.77; Mo – (-0.91); Co – (-0.82); Pb – (-0.83); Hg – absent; for the content of acid-soluble forms: Cu – absent; Zn – (-0.72); Mn 0.75; Mo – (-0.89); Co – (-0.86); Pb – (-0.77); Hg is absent. This pattern is associated with the tectonic and geological features of the different landscape zones. The calculation of the migration coefficient (the ratio of the content of acid-soluble forms to the gross content) has been shown that in mountainous regions this indicator has the highest value for Zn, Pb, and Cu. That means the potential danger of migration of these heavy me­tals and their bioavailability. This is probably connected to the type of soil in the mountai­nous areas of the region. A pronounced inter-element correlation of the HMs content in soils (except for Hg) has been established and the corresponding values of Pearson’s coefficients for the gross content are: Cu:Zn – 0,96; Cu:Mn – (-0,84); Cu:Mo – 0,89; Cu:Co – 0,99; Cu:Pb – 0,87; Zn:Mn – (-0,79); Zn:Mo – 0,91; Zn:Co – 0,96; Zn:Pb – 0,86; Mn:Mo – (-0,86); Mn:Co – (-0,84); Mn:Pb – (-0,75); Mo:Co – 0,87; Mo:Pb – 0,81; Co:Pb – 0,87. This makes it possible to predict the content of several HMs in the soils of the Transcarpathian region based on the results of determining one of them. In general, the content of HMs in the humus soil horizon (total content and content of mobile forms) is lower than the corresponding values of maximum permissible concentrations.

Among the methods of cultivation that increase the productivity of crops, a prominent role is assigned to crop rotation. In a properly constructed crop rotation, the efficiency of all agrotechnical methods aimed at improving the use of land increases, the biological needs of crops are satisfied, the rational use of technology is achieved, and the cost of production is reduced [1]. The soils are low in nitrogen, medium in phosphorus and high in potassium. The humus content is 1.2–2.0%, pH = 7–8. Studies have shown that green manure (sweet clover, oats, phacelia) have a positive effect on the balance of organic matter. The negative balance of organic matter is noted for pure steam. The stock of productive moisture in the 0–0.3 cm soil layer varied from 4.1 to 29.5 mm for winter wheat, 28.1–32.7 mm for chickpea and 28–35.3 mm for spring barley, depending on the weather conditions. conditions and methods of biologization. On average, over three years, the highest yield was in winter wheat for a busy fallow (phacelia) and amounted to 1.0 t/ha, which depended on weather conditions. A reliable correlation was revealed for the factors of yield-precipitation; temperature; batteries, etc.

The study investigated the possibility of growth-promoting rhizobacteria to enhance plant growth capacities of Amaranthus hybridus and A. viridis in ferruginous ultisols comparative to humus. The experimental setup was divided into two groups; the first comprised of 2 weeks old plants that were inoculated using the rhizobacteria – Pseudomonas putida, P. fluorescence and a combination of both in the ratio of 1:1, in both humus (HMS) and ferruginous red (FRS) soils. The second consisted of seeds of the test plants bioprimed with the bacteria in filtrates of HMS and FRS respectively. Germination percentage in the Pseudomonas-exposed seeds was better when seeds were primed for 24 h than for 3 h in both plant species. Further, results showed that plants sown in the ferruginous soil were short-lived compared to those sown in humus containing soil irrespective of microbial treatments. The growth parameters of plants inoculated with the Pseudomonas species were better than the uninoculated plants and plants sown in the humus soil. Qualitative assessment of phytochemicals showed the presence of saponins, phenolic, tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, and flavonoids in both species notwithstanding inoculation. The presence of glycosides in plants inoculated with P. pseudomonas was reported, but not in the control plants. Significant reduction in total phenols upon inoculation of plants with P. putida was also reported. Following the failure of FRS-exposed plants to subsist, in-vitro growth studies were conducted to compare seed growth response. Results suggest that seeds sown in FRS-filtrates performed better than those in HMS-filtrates. Pseudomonas species improves the growth, development and stress tolerance of Amaranthus species in humus soil.

The response of the microbial community (microbial biomass carbon (Cmic), basal respiration (BR), and functional diversity (FD)) of agrosoddy-podzolic soil (Albic Glossic Retisols (Loamic, Aric Cutanic, Ochric)) to pollution by heavy metals (HMs: Cu 660, Zn 1100, Pb 650 mg/kg) and carbon-containing preparations (5% of biochar and 0.25% of lignohumate) was studied in model experiment (30 days). Soils with different organic carbon contents (Corg 3.86 and 1.30%) were sampled at two sites (Chashnikovo, Moscow oblast). We determined Cmic by the substrate-induced respiration method and FD by multisubstrate testing (47 substrates). It was found that HMs application reduced Cmic on average by 49–57%, BR by 23–52%, and FD by 45%, but, on the contrary, increased the microbial metabolic quotient (qCO2 = BR/Cmic) by 9–46%. The changes of these properties were most significant in the soil with low Corg content (1.30%). Carbon-containing preparations did not contribute to variations in Cmic, BR, and qCO2 in both soils with HMs, but increased their FD. It is concluded that the studied microbiological parameters may be used as indicators for optimal assessment of soil quality: FD and Cmic are the more sensitive to HMs than BR and qCO2.