Agroecological assessment of fallow soils in the north‐west of the Republic of Bashkortostan

Abstract

Aim. To analyse samples of fallow soils in the north‐west of the Republic of Bashkortostan in order to identify the main characteristics and properties of the soil cover. Material and Methods. Field studies were carried out in November 2021 and August 2022. A key site was chosen, an abandoned agricultural land in the territory of the Nizhnekaryshevsky village council of the Baltachevsky district. During the work, 45 soil samples were taken from the PY horizon (depth 10–20 cm). A morphological description of the soil was also carried out for the key area studied. During laboratory studies, the following properties were investigated: actual acidity, potential acidity, organic matter content, basal soil respiration. Results. The results obtained showed the spatial heterogeneity of the distribution of soil cover properties (actual and potential acidity, basal respiration, carbon and humus content) in the study area. Such heterogeneity is formed under the influence of a complex of physical and geographical factors. Conclusion. In the future, our research will also be devoted to the study of fallow lands on grey forest soils. Emphasis should be placed on studying the relationship between soil cover properties and plant communities and geological and geomorphological conditions. The study of various physical and geographical factors affecting the soil cover will make it possible to describe in more detail the entire mechanism and evolution of soils of abandoned agricultural lands.

Keywords

• fallow soils
• agricultural lands
• chemical characteristics
• southern cis‐urals
• food security
• agroecosystem