Dynamics of agrochemical properties of gray forest soil of the Western Siberia’s sub-boreal zone affected by a long-term agricultural exploitation

Abstract

We studied the changes in the agrochemical properties of the gray forest soil in the territory of Western Siberia’s sub-boreal zone affected by the long-term use of the organomineral fertilizers in the grain-follow-row crop rotation and in its absence. We used virgin areas of gray forest soil situated in the immediate proximity to the fields as a control. The anthropogenic changes of morphological features throughout the gray forest soil profile were identified based on the use of fixed permanent plots laid down in 1960. This paper describes the dynamics of the actual, exchange, and hydrolytic acidity as well as the amount of absorbed bases, together with the base exchange capacity and the degree of base saturation. The study of arable gray forest soil for the period 1960-2020 was performed. This provided an opportunity to identify the causes of its chemical degradation in the sub-boreal zone of the Trans-Urals under the conditions of a plant residue shortage. The systematic use of mineral fertilizers affects the base exchange capacity and triggers an increase in the arable layer’s acidity. The use of an organic fertilizer system stabilizes the chemical properties of gray forest soil.