The Dynamics of Carbon Pools and Biological Activity of Retic Albic Podzols in Southern Taiga during the Postagrogenic Evolution

• Published in: Eurasian soil science 2021-03, Vol.54 (3), p.337-351
• Main Authors: Kurganova, I. N., Telesnina, V. M., Lopes de Gerenyu, V. O., Lichko, V. I., Karavanova, E. I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural land; Analysis; Arable land; Bioclimatology; Biological activity; Carbon; Carbon content; Case studies; Dissolved organic carbon; Dissolved organic matter; Dynamics; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Ecological function; Ecological succession; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; Horizon; Humification; Microorganisms; Natural vegetation; Nitrogen; Organic carbon; Organic soils; Podzolic soils; Podzols; Properties; Restoration; Soil; Soil characteristics; Soil Chemistry; Soil dynamics; Soil layers; Soils; Statistical analysis; Stratification; Taiga; Taiga & tundra
• ISSN: 1064-2293; 1556-195X
• DOI: 10.1134/S1064229321030108

The succession of natural vegetation on the former arable soils triggers the processes of postagrogenic restoration of soil ecological functions specific of a particular bioclimatic zone. We analyze the postagrogenic dynamics of a set of soil characteristics in the upper (0–5 and 5–10 cm) layers of former arable horizon by the case study of the chronosequence of Retic Albic Podzols (agrosoddy podzols, southern taiga, Kostroma oblast, Russia) withdrawn from agricultural use 15, 20, and 45 years ago. The following soil characteristics are determined: pH KCl ; the contents of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and dissolved carbon and nitrogen (DOC and DON); basal respiration (BR) rate; carbon of microbial biomass (C mic ); and relative indicators of the state of microbial community. In addition, absolute (HIX1) and relative (HIX2) humification indices of dissolved organic matter (DOM) are assessed for the soil layer of 0–5 cm in the studied soil chronosequence, as well as the stratification ratio (SR (0–5 : 5–10)). The following changes are observed in the upper layers of the former arable horizon over 45 years of postagrogenic succession: (1) a statistically significant decrease in the pH KCl and humification index of DOM; (2) an increase in the SOC, TN, and C mic contents and BR rate; and (3) a considerable stratification according to the SOC and TN contents and microbial properties. The highest values of SR for the SOC and TN are observed in the soil of the old-aged forest; for the microbial properties, in the 45-yr-old abandoned soil. Thus, the main characteristics and ecological functions of Retic Albic Podzol gradually restore during the secondary succession on the former arable land in the southern taiga zone.