Soil Reproduction in Steppe Ecosystems of Different Ages F
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ISSN 19954255, Contemporary Problems of Ecology, 2012, Vol. 5, No. 6, pp. 580–588. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2012. Original Russian Text © F.N. Lisetskii, 2012, published in Sibirskii Ekologicheskii Zhurnal, 2012, No. 6, pp. 819–829. Soil Reproduction in Steppe Ecosystems of Different Ages F. N. Lisetskii Belgorod State National Research University, ul. Pobedy 85, Belgorod, 308015 Russia email: [email protected] Abstract—Features of the development of steppe chernozems were established based on the study of soils of different age groups at archaeological sites. Differences in the formation of phytomass and morphological maturity of the soil profile in the recovery of different age successions were shown. A regional model of the humus horizon steppe soil over time allowed us to estimate the time interval at which the processes of humus accumulation and morphological maturity of the soil profile are relatively at equilibrium, viz., 1700– 1900years. Keywords: steppe ecosystem, the reproduction of soils, human disturbance, archaeological monuments, Late Holocene DOI: 10.1134/S1995425512060108 INTRODUCTION An effective solution of this problem can contribute to a deeper understanding of interdependent (synge Ecological restoration of steppe biomes, first of all, netic) bonds in the soil–plant system. Identification of implies the management of revegetation. Due to the environmental and soil relationships at the quantita different durations of the reproduction processes of tive level, taking the regional and local features of sce plant and soil cover, steppe vegetation plays a pivotal nic areas into account, is among the most important role, although it is clear that the results of ecological and urgent problems of soil ecology [6], which is one restoration measures are strongly dependent on the of the independent sciences of the biospheric class. soil system. Since the soil is a bioskeletal system, nat ural fertility as a result of the development of natural soil formation processes, including biogeochemical MATERIALS AND METHODS transformation of a mineral soil, should be considered as a resource that is difficult to create. By analogy with A field study of landscapes that formed during the biological and landscape diversity, it has been sug late Holocene was conducted in the Republic of gested [1] that one should emphasize “soil diversity,” Crimea (Ukraine) and Krasnodar region (Russia). viz., exhaustible nonrenewable resources. In the The organization of soilevolutionary studies on the steppe zone, such unique soils as those with different Kerch and Taman peninsulas is favored by the abun times on the barrows, settlements, and fortification dance of ancient monuments of different times with earth structures, along with their fully Holocene coun formed soils in a peculiar but quite homogeneous bio terparts that usually occur in specially protected natu climatic situation. In the reality of the ancient times, ral areas, should be included in the Red Book of soils. the European and Asian parts of the Bosporan state correspond to two subregions that are distinctive in The experience from such developments already their geological, soil, geographic and bioclimatic fea exists [2–3]. The floristic variety on just one mound is tures. The Kerch hilly ridge steppe as a physical geo impressive: for 44 mounds in the study (with ages from graphic area differs from the area to the west (the 700 to 5000 years), out of 900 Ukrainian steppe species Steppe Crimea) and the Taman Peninsula is not like of flora we found 209 species of plants in various micro other parts of the Kuban that are located to the east. zonation habitats [4]. In addition, when sorted by the On the Kerch peninsula the average annual precip time axis in the form of chronosequence the land cover itation ranges from 330–350 to 400 mm. The climate changes that recover after heterochronic anthropogenic is very dry, moderately hot (the average annual tem disturbances provide informative space–time process perature is 11°C, the average temperature in July is models of ecological renaturation. 22.6–23.3°C) with a mild winter. According to the According to the recommendations of EURO mean annual values, the coefficient of humidity (of SITE, Toolkit Management Planning [5] in the areas Ivanov–Vysotskii) varies from 0.50 in the northwest of environmental planning should be conducted as and 0.38 in the south. Typically in the Kerch montic active management to maintain habitats and biodiver ulate area, a feather grasssagebrush steppe in the sity and full control of the reproduction of biotopes. southern and calcareous chernozems and chestnut 580 SOIL REPRODUCTION IN STEPPE ECOSYSTEMS OF DIFFERENT AGES 581 and alkaline soils are combined with petrophytic noted, AB1 (28–74 cm), from 66 cm the first signs of shrub–forb–grass steppes on undeveloped gravel soils illuviation occur, B1Ca (74–93 cm) below the of the chernozem type and chestnut soils. On the BC horizon. Kerch Peninsula the beginning of the formation of a Recently, in soil and evolutionary studies a method soil cover out of chernozems of a modern type for studying uneven soils has been evaluated. These occurred 5200 years ago [7] (according to calibrated soils are grouped according to scales of the internal dates, 6000 years ago). time of the studied process in chronorows (a set of With the variety of original landscapes on the terri analyzed soils that formed on the same substrate under tory of the Kerch Peninsula the following ecological similar bioclimatic conditions but that differ in their situation is the closest to studied objects. It is associ relative ages).The next stage, which contributes to the ated with lowlying geocomplexes with dark brown understanding of the laws of the development of soils, and southern chernozem soils under the xero, petro is connected with the transition to soil chronofunc and halophytic varieties of bunchgrass steppes with the tions. To perform this task, the change of soil proper significant participation of semi shrubs of wormwood ties is coordinated with the ages that are established by and osier stands [8]. Many unplowed areas can con quantified dating methods (e.g., archaeological meth tribute to the rapid restoration of disturbed lands. One ods). of the biggest sites (6000–7000 hectares) of feather Studies of the morphological structure of soil pro grass steppes, Chigini, which is preserved near the vil files on archaeological sites were performed in soil lage in the Zolotoe Leninskii district in Crimea con profiles, thus revealing a set of new soil horizons after tains formations of Stipeta braunerii, S. grafiana, the end of the existence of residential areas or the last S. capillatae, and S. borysthenicae [9]. filling for embankments. Analytical works were per On the Taman Peninsula, whose conditional bor formed according to standard procedures: humus by der goes from Anapa to the west coast of Kurchanskii the Turin method, gross nitrogen (N) by the Kjeldahl liman, the climate is softened because of the coastal method, soil acidity (pH) was determined potentio position (less contrast occurs). Heatsupply condi metrically, and carbonates by the acidimetric method. tions are characterized by a high sum of positive tem Dated succession was characterized through the peratures (up to 3600–3800°C). Average annual tem ° ° type of phytocenosis and total projective cover (TPC). peratures range between 10–14 C, on average 11 C. To a certain extent, this diagnoses the arrival of plant Summer is hot (the average temperature in July is 21– material that enters the soil and participates in the for 24°C). The average temperature in the winter period is ° mation of humus, as well as the degree of protection of minus 0.3 C (in the coldest month (January) – 2 to soil from water erosion and deflation. ⎯4°C). To obtain the dependence of the humus horizon of The Taman climate is not very humid (the annual soils on their age it is appropriate to form a soil chro precipitation is 350–430 mm of rainfall and averages norow on anthropogenic structures in the maximum about 400 mm) and has a mild winter. The precipita possible time range. Therefore, the objects of this tion maximum falls in two seasons: winter and autumn study were the territories of ancient cities, villages, and [10].The typical prolixity of the humus soil profiles settlements, burial mounds, ancient earth mounds and can be explained by the significant participation of earth mounds of World War II in socalled belligerent descending currents of moisture during periods of low (from Latin belligero: to wage war) landscapes [11], evaporation (72% of the annual precipitation falls in and mining dumps. The studied soils of different ages the winter, spring, and autumn). are characterized by a chronointerval of soil formation On the Taman Peninsula the power consumption from 15 to 3500 years. For comparison, we used data for soil formation (according to V.R. Volobuev) is 954 on the morphology of zonal (fully Holocene) soils. ⋅ 2 (843–1013) MJ/(year m ). These values are higher The research objects are listed according to the geo than in the Kerch peninsula, due to higher moisture graphical principle and are marked in Fig. 1. and a better degree of heat supply. In the soil cover of the Taman Peninsula, southern chernozems domi 1. Crimean Republic. Romanov bay. Semenovka, a nate. These are predominantly slightly argillaceous settlement. Chernozem on heavy clay. Different grass mycelialcalcareous powerful and medium thick cher association. nozems on loess loams, partly on sandy clay alluvial 2. Peninsula Kazantip, Quarantine (Zhelyaevsky) deposits and antequaternary salt clays. The brown cape. Mysovka (Mysovoye II). Settlement 2nd c. B.C. chernozems of Taman (chernozems of the South Chernozem on ash pan. Sparse grass vegetation. European facies) contain 3–3.5% humus in their 3. Kazantip peninsula, the coast of the Tatar bay. upper layer [10].