Agrochemical Profile of Sod-Podzolic Soil under Mixed Forrest

Abstract

The paper examines agrochemical properties and the nitrogen regimen of sod-podzolic soil under a mixed forest of the Cis-Urals. It has been established that the investigated soil is characterized by a highly acidic reaction throughout the profile. It has a pronounced podzolic horizon 10 cm in thickness depleted of calcium and magnesium cations. The humus content sharply decreases from 4.44% in the eluvial–humus horizon to 0.27% in the parent rock. It has been shown that the total nitrogen content decreases from 3318 mg/kg in the A₁ horizon to 644 mg/kg in the A₂B horizon and then changes insignificantly. The soil is characterized by a high percentage of nonhydrolyzable (64.91%) and not readily hydrolyzable nitrogen (24.81%) and a low content of mineral nitrogen assimilated by plants (2.36%) in the eluvial–humus horizon. It was revealed that the supply of nitrogen mobile forms in forest soil is high, the content of easily hydrolyzable nitrogen is 267.4 mg/kg, and content of mineral nitrogen is 73.8 mg/kg.