Features of mountain-meadow soils of Crimean mountain pastures

Abstract

Goal. To conduct a comparative analysis of the main properties of mountain meadow soils of the Crimean Yale. Methods. In samples, pH was determined by salt, hydrolytic acidity, content of total organic carbon, group composition of humus, optical density of humic acid solution. The granulometric composition of the soil was determined by the pipette method, the composition of exchange cations - by displacement of 0.2 n NH4Cl solution, the content of amorphous iron - by Tamm. Results It has been established that under the grassy cover of meadow steppes on suspended products the weathering of limestone is dominated by typical mountain-meadow chernozem-like soils, which are similar in structure to the extracted chernozems of plains. Where, at one time, forest vegetation was replaced by meadow, common mountain-meadow secondary soils, which by their basic properties occupy an intermediate position between typical mountain- like soils and forest brown soils. Conclusions The proximity of soils to the main properties in the western and eastern Yayles may indicate a lack of significant differentiation of these areas in climatic conditions.