Soil Characteristics of Embryozems under Cover of Pine Plantations on Technogenic Residual Rocks of Kuzbass

Abstract

The article studies the edificatory role of pine growing on the technogenic landscapes of the Kuznetsk coal basin and considers the influence of plantations of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) with different crown density on the main characteristics of embryozems on the overburden dumps of the coal mining industry. The object of the study was soil samples collected in various zones of the phytogenic fields of pine growing on the transport-free dump of the Kedrovsky coal mine. When choosing test plots, the plantations were ranked according to crown density into unclosed (crown density about 30 %), medium-closed (about 60 %) and closed (about 90 %). In each gradation of closeness, the following zones of influence (phytogenic fields) of trees were identified: undercrown, near-crown (intermediate). The selection of sampling points was carried out taking into account the presence of the identification signs: solid pine litter (undercrown zone), developed moss cover (near-crown zone) and developed meadow vegetation (outer zone). External zones are not found in unclosed and medium-closed plantations. In total, according to the degree of crown density and zoning of phytogenic fields, 7 plantation sites of Pinus sylvestris were identified. Soil samples were taken at each of them from a depth of 0–20 cm in the 3rd decade of September. The enzyme activity was studied in recently collected soil in in 3-fold replications. The fractional composition of soils and their agrochemical properties were determined in dried soil on the basis of the Center for Agrochemical Service “Kemerovo”. The analysis of the results showed that pine stands contribute to accelerated disintegration of technogenic residual rocks with the formation of fine-grained fractions, which are of great soil and environmental importance. Litter combined with grassy vegetation in open pine stands favors the accumulation of total nitrogen in embryozems. It was revealed that the content of readily available forms of phosphorus and potassium depends on lithogenic rather than phytocenotic factors. The study of the enzymatic activity of soils showed that the phosphatase activity decreases with an increase in the phosphorus content, and the protease activity increases with an increase in the nitrogen content. Agrochemical indicators of embryozems are favorable for the growth of herbaceous plants due to horizontal differentiation of space under the influence of stands of Scots pine.