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34 pages, 3314 KiB  
Article
Soil Indicators of Terroir and Their Importance for Adaptive and Sustainable Viticulture
by Fedor Lisetskii, Arseniy Poletaev and Evgenia Zelenskaya
Sustainability 2025, 17(7), 3166; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17073166 - 2 Apr 2025
Viewed by 764
Abstract
The comparison of equally important prerequisites for viticulture development (climatope and edaphotope) in two historical regions has shown that both in the historical era and the present day, the less favorable conditions of a temperate climate (riskier in terms of frost danger) and [...] Read more.
The comparison of equally important prerequisites for viticulture development (climatope and edaphotope) in two historical regions has shown that both in the historical era and the present day, the less favorable conditions of a temperate climate (riskier in terms of frost danger) and poorer biogeochemical properties of soils and rocks in the steppe region compared to the conditions of the Sub-Mediterranean region have had a decisive influence on the volume and quality of wine products. This is supported by historical data on the local consumption of produced wine and imports of higher-quality wine from Sub-Mediterranean vineyards (Tauric Chersonesos). Both regions of Western Crimea are characterized by the active bioaccumulation of iron, copper, and manganese in the humus horizon of soils, which creates a specific regional geochemical background with the potential to approach the ecological threshold of danger during long-term viticulture. The specific features of modern agricultural technology in viticulture lead to high concentrations of elements such as Cu, V, Cr, and Ni, which can exceed the MPC levels 20–25 years after the vineyard is planted, earlier than other elements. This makes it possible to identify this list of heavy metals as a priority in agroecological monitoring systems for vineyard lands and set the task of adjusting current agricultural technologies for sustainable viticultural practices in specific soil and climatic conditions. The authors see prospects for further studies both on improving methods for assessing components of a wine terroir, especially biogeochemical indicators of soils for a specific geographic region, as well as improving technology for obtaining conjugate assessments of viticulture products and wine materials connected with a given edaphotope. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil Conservation and Sustainability)
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14 pages, 11678 KiB  
Article
Evolution of Forest Humipedon Following a Severe Windstorm in the Italian Alps: A Focus on Organic Horizon Dynamics
by Francesca Visentin, Augusto Zanella, Sara Remelli and Cristina Menta
Forests 2024, 15(12), 2176; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15122176 - 11 Dec 2024
Viewed by 819
Abstract
This study investigates the effects of the 2018 Vaia windstorm on the evolution of humus profiles in forest soils of the north-eastern Italian Alps five years after the disturbance. The humipedon in five soil conditions was compared: intact forest (IF) and permanent meadow [...] Read more.
This study investigates the effects of the 2018 Vaia windstorm on the evolution of humus profiles in forest soils of the north-eastern Italian Alps five years after the disturbance. The humipedon in five soil conditions was compared: intact forest (IF) and permanent meadow (M) for undisturbed soils, and soil under herbaceous cover (G), under dead wood (W), and bare soil (B) for windthrow-affected areas. No difference in pH and soil organic matter content (SOM) emerged within the same soil horizon between IF and windthrow-affected soils. When compared to IF, however, in G and B, a thinning of all O horizons (OL, OF, and OH) was detected, resulting in SOM loss and an increase in pH in the top 15 cm of the humipedon, conditions approaching the values found in M. Amphi was the most frequently occurring humus system in IF, with a shift towards a Mull system observed in all windthrow-affected soils—a shift more marked in G and B, approaching M conditions, but less marked in W, where the O horizon remained thicker. This study underscores the importance of considering soil heterogeneity and humus dynamics when assessing forest recovery and resilience after a severe disturbance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Soil)
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19 pages, 5923 KiB  
Article
Distribution and Pools of Soil Organic Carbon in Chernozemic Soils Impacted by Intensive Farming and Erosion in the Loess Plateau in South-East Poland
by Beata Labaz, Joanna Beata Kowalska, Cezary Kabala, Mirosław Kobierski, Jaroslaw Waroszewski, Michal Dudek, Katarzyna Szopka and Dariusz Gruszka
Agronomy 2024, 14(11), 2544; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14112544 - 29 Oct 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1358
Abstract
Soil erosion and the loss of soil organic carbon (SOC) pools are considered serious environmental problems in undulating landscapes on loess covers, accompanied in some areas, such as south Poland, by the physical degradation of chernozemic soils. The aim of the present study [...] Read more.
Soil erosion and the loss of soil organic carbon (SOC) pools are considered serious environmental problems in undulating landscapes on loess covers, accompanied in some areas, such as south Poland, by the physical degradation of chernozemic soils. The aim of the present study was to identify the scale and reasons for spatial variation of the SOC pools in the intensely cultivated Luvic Phaeozems in one of the unique patches of chernozemic soils in Poland. This study, carried out in a soil catena located in the undulating Carpathian Foreland in south-east Poland, has demonstrated that the SOC pools can greatly differ on a very small scale, even in relatively less differentiated landscapes and in soils classified into the same group. The scale and reasons for the differentiation of the SOC pools depend on the method (depth) of calculation. The spatial differences were smaller and were mainly related to the SOC concentrations and the bulk density of the topsoil horizons, when calculated for depths of 0–30 cm and 0–50 cm. On the other hand, the SOC pools calculated for the 0–100 cm soil layer differed most significantly between the profiles in the catena, representing a continuous growing trend from the uppermost towards the lowermost part of the catena, and were clearly related to the total thickness of the humus horizon(s). The latter findings confirm that sheet erosion has a major impact on the spatial variation of SOC pools in an agricultural landscape. However, soil morphology and the distribution of SOC across the soil profiles suggest additional influences from historical pedogenesis and modern farming technology. The presence of black, thick and humus-rich chernic horizons in all soils across the catena indicates that modern farming must not degrade the soils, but, on the contrary, it can help in the restoration of even neo-formation of chernozemic soils (Phaeozems), if oriented towards the conservation of humus content, soil structure, and biological activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Organic Matter Contributes to Soil Health)
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19 pages, 5656 KiB  
Article
Study on the Factors Affecting the Humus Horizon Thickness in the Black Soil Region of Liaoning Province, China
by Ying-Ying Jiang, Jia-Yi Tang and Zhong-Xiu Sun
Agronomy 2024, 14(9), 2106; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14092106 - 15 Sep 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1413
Abstract
Understanding the spatial variability and driving mechanisms of humus horizon thickness (HHT) degradation is crucial for effective soil degradation prevention in black soil regions. The study compared ordinary kriging interpolation (OK), inverse distance weighted interpolation (IDW), and regression kriging interpolation (RK) using mean [...] Read more.
Understanding the spatial variability and driving mechanisms of humus horizon thickness (HHT) degradation is crucial for effective soil degradation prevention in black soil regions. The study compared ordinary kriging interpolation (OK), inverse distance weighted interpolation (IDW), and regression kriging interpolation (RK) using mean error (ME), mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and relative RMSE to select the most accurate model. Environmental variables were then integrated to predict HHT characteristics. Results indicate that: (1) RK was superior to OK and IDW in characterizing HHT with the smallest ME (11.45), RMSE (14.98), MAE (11.45), and RRMSE (0.44). (2) The average annual temperature (0.29), precipitation (0.27), and digital elevation model (DEM) (0.21) were the primary factors influencing the spatial variability of HHT. (3) The HHT exhibited notable variability, with an increasing trend from the southeast towards the central and northern directions, being the thinnest in the southeast. It was thicker in the northeast and southwest regions, thicker but less dense along the southern Bohai coast, thicker yet sporadically distributed in the northwest (especially Chaoyang and Fuxin), and thick with aggregated distribution over a smaller area in the northeastern direction (e.g., Tieling). These findings provide a scientific basis for accurate soil management in Liaoning Province. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
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18 pages, 12011 KiB  
Article
Windthrow Impact on Alpine Forest Humipedon: Soil Microarthropod Communities and Humus Dynamics Five Years after an Extreme Windstorm Event
by Francesca Visentin, Sara Remelli, Augusto Zanella and Cristina Menta
Land 2024, 13(9), 1458; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13091458 - 7 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1319
Abstract
The ecological impact of windthrow disturbance on humipedons and soil microarthropod communities is examined in two areas of the Italian Alps (Val di Fassa and Cansiglio) five years after the Vaia Storm. The following soil coverage conditions were identified: herbaceous vegetation (G), decaying [...] Read more.
The ecological impact of windthrow disturbance on humipedons and soil microarthropod communities is examined in two areas of the Italian Alps (Val di Fassa and Cansiglio) five years after the Vaia Storm. The following soil coverage conditions were identified: herbaceous vegetation (G), decaying wood (W), no vegetation (B) in windthrow areas; and these were compared with conditions in adjacent undisturbed intact forests (IF) and, only in Val di Fassa, with permanent meadows (M). Soil pH, soil organic matter content (SOM), humus systems and microarthropod communities were analyzed. In Val di Fassa, SOM loss was observed in windthrow areas vs. IF, moving toward a Mull humus system, while G evolved toward M-like conditions, W maintained a thicker O horizon and lower pH and B exhibited severe soil erosion and the lowest SOM. In Cansiglio, windthrow areas showed a slower transition to a Mull system, with a trend toward increasing pH and decreasing SOM. A clear relationship between microarthropod communities and humus systems could not be established because the consistency and biological origins of the humus diagnostic horizons were not considered. Microarthropod communities under different conditions exhibited significant dissimilarity, with varying responses across groups; Shannon and QBS-ar indices remained stable except for a significant decrease in B. Community dissimilarity thus appears to be enhanced by post-windthrow disturbance, suggesting that destructive windstorms may also present an opportunity for enriched microarthropod diversity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Extreme Weather on Land Degradation and Conservation)
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15 pages, 3237 KiB  
Article
Influence of Water Erosion on Soil Aggregates and Organic Matter in Arable Chernozems: Case Study
by O. O. Plotnikova, V. V. Demidov, Yu. R. Farkhodov, P. R. Tsymbarovich and I. N. Semenkov
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1607; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081607 - 23 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1549
Abstract
Since Chernozems are among the most fertile soils in the world, the study of their degradation is of great interest. However, the microstructure and composition of the soil organic matter (SOM) in eroded Chernozems have not yet been sufficiently studied. We studied the [...] Read more.
Since Chernozems are among the most fertile soils in the world, the study of their degradation is of great interest. However, the microstructure and composition of the soil organic matter (SOM) in eroded Chernozems have not yet been sufficiently studied. We studied the SOM and aggregate states of eroded Chernozems using the example of two catenas with arable Haplic Chernozems in the Kursk region of Russia. In the plow horizons (the part of the soil most susceptible to water erosion), we determined the mean-weighted aggregate diameter (MWD), structure and water stability coefficients (SC and WS; dry and wet sieving, respectively), soil organic carbon (SOC) content, and SOM composition and content (qualitative and quantitative micromorphological analyses, respectively). It was shown that with an increase in the degree of erosion, the content of SOC decreased significantly, according to both chemical and micromorphological methods of evaluation. No significant relationships were found between the degree of erosion and the indicators of the structure (except for WS, which was significantly lower in non-eroded Chernozem than in slightly and moderately eroded soils). With the increasing degree of erosion, the humus state of these soils deteriorates at the microlevel, the intensity of humification decreases, the depth of the appearance of assimilated biogenic aggregates with finely dispersed calcite in the profile increases, the structure is destroyed, lumpy aggregates form, and the proportion of planar voids increases. The downslope transport of the soil solid phase under the impact of erosion is accompanied by the accumulation of the transformation products of carbohydrates in the Chernozems in the lower part of the catena. In the Chernozems located in the transit position of the slope, the composition of SOM is characterized by the predominance of lipids and nitrogen-containing compounds. Our unique results contribute to a deeper understanding of the formation of structure and water resistance in eroded soils. Full article
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11 pages, 3364 KiB  
Article
Introducing a New Pyrogenic Podzolic Sub-Horizon to Clarify Organic Matter Pools in Pine Forest Soils
by Marina Nadporozhskaya, Denis Mirin, Vladislava Zhuravleva, Ekaterina Stadnik and Kirill Yakkonen
Forests 2024, 15(1), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010040 - 23 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1355
Abstract
Pine-green moss forests on Podzols exhibit high susceptibility to fire. Subsequent to wildfire, soot and charcoal enter the soil profile and accumulate in the upper part of the podzolic horizon (E). This process results in the development of a greying pyrogenic podzol horizon [...] Read more.
Pine-green moss forests on Podzols exhibit high susceptibility to fire. Subsequent to wildfire, soot and charcoal enter the soil profile and accumulate in the upper part of the podzolic horizon (E). This process results in the development of a greying pyrogenic podzol horizon (Epyr). The maximum concentration of pyrogenic components accumulates in the surface layer of Epyr, which is 1 to 4 cm thick and the darkest in colour. The comprehensive soil descriptions showed the existence of a fine pyrogenic layer between the forest floor and mineral horizon. This layer was not analysed. The current shift in science towards assessing the environmental aspects of soil organic matter dynamics requires a more detailed study of the soil profile. We suggest distinguishing the pyrogenic organic mineral sub-horizon of the Eopyr as the upper Epyr layer. Our results show this sub-horizon contains sand, humus, detritus, and charcoal. It forms around 6%–22% of the entire organic matter pools in the biologically active part of the soil (0–30 cm). Further research is needed to obtain reliable qualitative and quantitative data on Eopyr. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Soil Carbon and Climate Change)
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19 pages, 3892 KiB  
Article
The Soils of Natural (In Situ) Coenopopulations of Taraxacum kok-saghyz L.E. Rodin in Kazakhstan
by Kairat Uteulin, Beibut Suleimenov and Konstantin Pachikin
Agronomy 2023, 13(11), 2737; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13112737 - 30 Oct 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1587
Abstract
This article studies the morphological and physicochemical properties of soils in the natural habitat of dandelion kok-saghyz (Taraxacum kok-saghyz L.E. Rodin) (TKS)—a source of high-quality rubber. The purpose of the work is to study the natural soil habitat of dandelion TKS in [...] Read more.
This article studies the morphological and physicochemical properties of soils in the natural habitat of dandelion kok-saghyz (Taraxacum kok-saghyz L.E. Rodin) (TKS)—a source of high-quality rubber. The purpose of the work is to study the natural soil habitat of dandelion TKS in comparison with the nearby area where TKS is absent. The methods of soil research are comparative, geographical, morphological, and analytical. Soil sections were laid down and georeferenced, and relief, vegetation, and morphological structures of soil profiles by genetic horizons were described. A database of the physical and chemical properties of soils by horizon was created. Landscapes and soil conditions of in situ populations have been studied in the Kegen District of the Almaty region in the territory of the Kegen River floodplain, in the areas of the Jalauly and Kegen villages, and in the zone of groundwater inclination north of Saryzhas village. The natural soil habitat of TKS was studied. It was found that TKS grows in conditions of moisture floodplains of intermountain valleys on saline floodplain meadowy soils of a sulfate–sodium composition with a high content of total humus and nutrient elements in an alkaline environment. Full article
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14 pages, 2849 KiB  
Article
A Conceptual Approach to the Histosols Profile Morphology as a Risk Indicator in Assessing the Sustainability of Their Use and Impact on Climate Change
by Jonas Volungevicius and Kristina Amaleviciute-Volunge
Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 14024; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151814024 - 21 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2410
Abstract
In the context of climate change, the questions of the sustainability of peat soil use are particularly relevant. The evaluation of changes in the properties of soils (including histosols) using chemical methods is expensive, thus, their application possibilities are limited. Analyzing the morphology [...] Read more.
In the context of climate change, the questions of the sustainability of peat soil use are particularly relevant. The evaluation of changes in the properties of soils (including histosols) using chemical methods is expensive, thus, their application possibilities are limited. Analyzing the morphology of histosol profiles would provide effective spatial analysis opportunities for assessing the extent of their anthropogenic transformation and impact on climate change. The key diagnostic horizons and their sequences for the identification of the risk group are the main results of the study. The analysis included 12 soil profiles, whose morphological structure was characterized using the WRB 2022 system of master symbols and suffixes for soil profile horizon descriptions. The analyzed profiles were excavated in forested (relatively natural), agricultural (agrogenized) and peat mining (technogenized) areas. The insights of this article in the discussion are based on the chemical analyses (pH KCl, N, P and K, soil organic carbon, dissolved organic carbon, mobile humus substance, humic and fulvo acids, C:N ratio and humification degree) of three histosol profiles. The main discussion is based on the results of the morphological analysis of the profiles. The results of this research allowed for the identification of a different structure of the histosol profile. The upper part of the histosol profile, which consists of O–H(a,e,i) horizons, indicates its naturalness. The murshic horizon (Hap) is the classic top horizon of the agricultural histosol profile, which is most affected by mineralization. The technogenized histosols have a partially destroyed profile, which is represented by the Ahτ/Haτ or only Haτ horizons at the top. The morphology of the histosol profile and the identification of the relevant horizons (Hap, Haτ and Ahτ) indicate its risks and presuppose a usage optimization solution. The most dangerous in the context of sustainable land use principles and climate change is the murshic horizon (Hap), which is uncovered after removing the horizon O. The risks of sustainable use of histosol are caused by measures that promote its microbiological activity, which is the maintenance of a drained state and cultivation. In the context of GHG emissions and sustainable use, the most favorable means would be the formation of the horizon O by applying perennial plants. Rewetting should be applied to those histosols whose removal from the agricultural or mining balance would provide maximum ecological benefits. Full article
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25 pages, 4740 KiB  
Article
Features of Soil Organic Carbon Transformations in the Southern Area of the East European Plain
by Fedor N. Lisetskii, Zhanna A. Buryak, Olga A. Marinina, Pavel A. Ukrainskiy and Pavel V. Goleusov
Geosciences 2023, 13(9), 278; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13090278 - 14 Sep 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1947
Abstract
The active development of the problems related to the assessment of the role of the pedosphere in global climate change involves the possibility of application of the quantitative determination of soil organic carbon (SOC) as one of the indicators of a climatic response. [...] Read more.
The active development of the problems related to the assessment of the role of the pedosphere in global climate change involves the possibility of application of the quantitative determination of soil organic carbon (SOC) as one of the indicators of a climatic response. Here, the authors have summarized the results of their own research over many years (1985–2023), comprising more than 500 determinations of SOC within the area of the Chernozem zone, in the south of the East European Plain (Moldova and Bessarabia, southern Ukraine, southwestern Russia), in the context of regional climate differentiation using evaluations of climatic energy consumption for soil formation. The data were structured for each of the regions through the creation of series of agrogenic soil transformations (virgin land, modern-day ploughed land (<100 years), continually ploughed land (>100 years), fallow land of the modern era (n·10 years), and post-antique long-term fallow land). It has been established, by means of statistical treatment of the data, that the intraregional differentiation of the bioclimatic conditions is the key factor determining the SOC content in the top horizon of soils in the south of the East European Plain. The comparison of the SOC content within the five variants of land use demonstrated that all the regions under study differed, with statistical significance only found in a single type of ‘continually ploughed land’ (>100 years). This fact reflects the leading role of the duration of agrarian loads in agropedogenesis. If the steppe Chernozems even 145 years ago had a SOC content of up to 4%, then the Chernozems in the forest-steppe zone, which used to have habitats with a SOC content of 4–7%, occupied the largest areas, and have now lost 30–40% of the original values in the 0–50 cm layer. Besides the rates of the SOC degradation, which are known and are comprehensively evaluated in the present work, the phenomenon of progradation was established in certain situations, in particular arising during the rotation regime of land use (from ploughing to fallow fields, and vice versa), which stimulated effective mechanisms of reproduction of organic substances. Thus, in one of the ancient agricultural regions, where in antiquity the land was cultivated by such ancient Greek states as Tauric Chersonesos and the European Bosporos in Crimea, post-antique long-term fallow lands possess higher SOC contents than their virgin analogues. It is not justified to consider virgin lands as absolute references for the evaluation of the humus conditions since the analysis of agrogenic series of Chernozems has corroborated an essential role of the soil organo-mineral matrix in the formation of the carbon protection capacity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Research in Carbon Capture and Storage)
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11 pages, 1511 KiB  
Article
Changes in Molecular Structure of Humic Substances in Cambisols under Agricultural Use
by Oksana Vishnyakova and Leonid Ubugunov
Agronomy 2023, 13(9), 2299; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13092299 - 31 Aug 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1592
Abstract
Soil organic matter stability and transformation affected by agriculture is a global problem of great concern. This study aimed to reveal structural changes in humic molecules under conventional soil tillage in Cambisols of the Transbaikal area. Humic acids were isolated from the humus [...] Read more.
Soil organic matter stability and transformation affected by agriculture is a global problem of great concern. This study aimed to reveal structural changes in humic molecules under conventional soil tillage in Cambisols of the Transbaikal area. Humic acids were isolated from the humus horizons of native and arable variants of Eutric Cambisol Cryic (gleyic, humic, loamic) from the forest steppe, and Haplic Cambisol (arenic, humic, protocalcic) from the steppe zone. The changes in the humic substances’ quality were evaluated by means of an elemental analysis and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The results indicate that different agronomic management affected the changes in the composition and molecular structure of humic acids. Soil tillage induced an increase in the carbon content, the proportion of aromatic compounds and carboxyl groups and the depletion in nitrogen. As measured by 13C NMR spectroscopy, the intensity of these changes was determined by soil properties and the hydrothermal regime. Organic matter from Eutric Cambisol Cryic was suggested as providing significant environmental resistance to the agricultural impact due to the optimization of the water regime and a loamy texture. Prolonged ploughing of sandy Haplic Cambisol under the arid conditions promoted deep changes in the humic substances’ composition and chemical structure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Matter of Arable and Anthropogenically Disturbed Soils)
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13 pages, 1614 KiB  
Article
Effects of High and Low Aerotechnogenic Emissions of Heavy Metals on Wild Plants
by Irina Lyanguzova and Paul Katjutin
Forests 2023, 14(8), 1650; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14081650 - 15 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1165
Abstract
This article presents the results of research on the influence of polymetallic-dust aerial emissions on the pollution levels in the soil and plants by heavy metals, which have been under the impact of the “Severonickel” smelter complex on the Kola peninsula (Russia) for [...] Read more.
This article presents the results of research on the influence of polymetallic-dust aerial emissions on the pollution levels in the soil and plants by heavy metals, which have been under the impact of the “Severonickel” smelter complex on the Kola peninsula (Russia) for more than 40 years. Research using soil and plant indicators was carried out at monitoring plots in the years 1980–1999 (with high aerotechnogenic emissions) and 2000–2019 (with low aerotechnogenic emissions). The organic horizon (forest litter) of the Al-Fe-humus podzol, assimilation organs of Vaccinium myrtillus L., V. vitis-idaea L., V. uliginosum L., Empetrum hermaphroditum Hagerup, and Pinus sylvestris L. as well as tree rings of Scots pine were used for bioindication research. The content of heavy metals was determined using the AAS method. During these time periods, the emissions of polymetallic dust decreased 3.5 fold, while the level of forest litter contamination with heavy metals in the buffer and impact zones increased by 2–5 times, resulting in increased phytotoxicity of the soil and reduced habitat quality for forest plants. At present, the content of Ni and Cu in the leaves (needles) of the plant indicators in the impact zone has decreased by 3–8 times compared with 1980–1999 but their elevated levels pose a potential health risk. The decrease in atmospheric emissions of pollutants led to a 1.5-fold increase in the width of the annual rings of pine trunks in the impact zone, which may indicate the beginning of the recovery of pine-trunk-wood productivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecophysiology and Biology)
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29 pages, 18926 KiB  
Article
A Concept for a Consolidated Humus Form Description—An Updated Version of German Humus Form Systematics
by Christine Wachendorf, Tina Frank, Gabriele Broll, Anneke Beylich and Gerhard Milbert
Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(3), 658-686; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14030050 - 28 Jul 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2649
Abstract
In Germany, the systematics of humus forms has been developed, which is mainly based on morphological characteristics and has been proven via detailed long-term observation. The humus form systematics presented here is an update based on a new approach, clarifying the hierarchical structure [...] Read more.
In Germany, the systematics of humus forms has been developed, which is mainly based on morphological characteristics and has been proven via detailed long-term observation. The humus form systematics presented here is an update based on a new approach, clarifying the hierarchical structure into divisions, classes, types, and subtypes. New diagnostic horizons and transition horizons are introduced, uniquely characterising types and subtypes. This paper holds that the humus form is not only a product of decomposition, humification, and bioturbation but also serves as habitat for soil organisms. The processes and the habitat are shaped by soil-forming factors with the main factor being soil water conditions. Thus, on the first level of systematics, aeromorphic and aero-hydromorphic as well as hydromorphic humus forms are differentiated. Many different features of the organic layers and the mineral topsoil can be observed in forests, open grasslands, the mountain zone above the tree line, and natural fens and bogs, as well as degraded peatlands. Features shaping the humus form, such as the proportion of organic fine material and packing of the organic matter as well as the structure of the mineral soil, have now been unambiguously described. However, site-specific soil-forming factors result in typical organic matter characteristics of individual horizons and typical combinations of different horizons. This relationship is illustrated using descriptions of distinct humus forms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Humus Forms in Plant–Soil Interactions)
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22 pages, 7620 KiB  
Review
Soil, Humipedon, Forest Life and Management
by Roberto Zampedri, Nicolas Bernier, Augusto Zanella, Raffaello Giannini, Cristina Menta, Francesca Visentin, Paola Mairota, Giacomo Mei, Gabriele Zandegiacomo, Silvio Carollo, Alessio Brandolese and Jean-François Ponge
Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(3), 571-592; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14030045 - 27 Jun 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2669
Abstract
In recent years, three sections (Humipedon, Copedon and Lithopedon) were recognized in the soil profile. It was then possible to link the first and most biologically active section to the characteristics of the environment and soil genesis. In particular, it is now possible [...] Read more.
In recent years, three sections (Humipedon, Copedon and Lithopedon) were recognized in the soil profile. It was then possible to link the first and most biologically active section to the characteristics of the environment and soil genesis. In particular, it is now possible to distinguish organic horizons, mainly produced by arthropods and enchytraeids in cold and acidic or dry and arid environments, from organo-mineral horizons produced by earthworms in more temperate and mesotrophic environments. Each set of horizons can be associated with a humus system or form, with important implications for forestry. Anecic/endogeic earthworms and Mull or Amphi systems are more abundant in the early and late stages of sylvogenesis; by completely recycling litter, earthworms accelerate the availability of organic and inorganic soil nutrients to roots and pedofauna. On the other hand, arthropods and Moder or Tangel systems characterize the intermediate stages of sylvogenesis, where thickening in the organic horizons and the parallel impoverishment/reduction in the underlying organo-mineral horizons are observed. Recognizing the humus system at the right spatial and temporal scale is crucial for the biological management of a forest. This article includes a data review, new data from a doctoral thesis, and recent comparisons of Italian and French investigations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Humus Forms in Plant–Soil Interactions)
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17 pages, 35429 KiB  
Article
Micromorphological Characteristics of Soils in the Chernevaya Taiga (Western Siberia, Russia)
by Evgeny Abakumov, Timur Nizamutdinov, Alla Lapidus, Georgy Istigechev and Sergey Loiko
Geosciences 2023, 13(6), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13060186 - 18 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2007
Abstract
The Chernevaya taiga is a unique ecosystem formed under the influence of a complex of geogenic and bioclimatic factors located in the foothill border of the southeastern part of Western Siberia. The combination of local climatic conditions and the composition of parent material [...] Read more.
The Chernevaya taiga is a unique ecosystem formed under the influence of a complex of geogenic and bioclimatic factors located in the foothill border of the southeastern part of Western Siberia. The combination of local climatic conditions and the composition of parent material led to the formation of specific soil conditions on the territory of these habitats. The soils of the Chernevaya taiga have unique morphogenesis. They have a thick podzolized horizon and are fertile, unlike the typical soils of the oligotrophic pine forests of Siberia; however, the microstructure of these soils is poorly studied. The purpose of the research is to analyze the micromorphological organization and microstructure of three types of soils in Western Siberia (two typical soils from the Chernevaya taiga (Greyzemic Phaeozem (Albic) and Albic Stagnic Luvisol (Ochric)) and one from oligotrophic pine stand (Eutric Protoargic Arenosol)). It was found that the soils of the Chernevaya taiga differ greatly from the background (zonal) soils of the region on both the macro- and microlevels. In the Phaeozems and Luvisols of the Chernevaya taiga, there are actively formed organomineral aggregates and the quantity of porous media is more than 50%. At the bottom of the podzolized part of the soil profiles, we noted illuvial processes and a sharp change in the type of microstructure. The presence of pyrogenic materials (charcoal) and coprolitic (vermicular) materials in the humus-accumulative horizon indicates a high rate of material transformation and high biological activity and bioturbation in the soil. The skeleton part of the Chernevaya taiga soils is represented by a quartz–feldspar base with an admixture of sericite; augite; biotite; and a minimal admixture of tourmaline, zircon, and glauconite. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biogeosciences)
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