Quantitative diagnostics of debatable by genesis soils of floodplain river terraces of the Left Bank Forest Steppe

Abstract

Goal. To improve the diagnostics of soils of debatable genesis to determine their ecological and genetic status using a set of morphological criteria and quantitative parameters. Methods. A set of methods was used, which contained a description of the soil profile by morphological and genetic features, as well as a set of quantitative relative coefficients of humus accumulation and the ratio of calcium and magnesium exchange cations. Results. It was determined that a significant share of the land fund of pine and single-forest terraces were podzolic soils. Soils formed by different combinations of sod process with podzolization and hydromorphism were also found. A complex method of diagnosing polygenetic soils of floodplain terraces of low hypsometric level by parameters of such indicators as profile thickness, coefficient of relative accumulation of humus, coefficient of profile accumulation of humus, and regression coefficient of organoprofile was developed. Gradations of the specified criteria for identification of soils of debatable genesis were developed as well as gradations of the relation of exchange cations of calcium to magnesium for soils of floodplain terraces as a diagnostic criterion. Conclusions. Complex diagnostics of soils, in particular of debatable genesis, based on the morphological and genetic structure of soil profile, application of gradations of humus accumulation parameters in soils according to KVAG, KPNG, KRO, and ratio of calcium and magnesium metabolism were developed.