Agrophysical and Biological Properties of Drainage Soils in Land Reclamation

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the research carried out in the All-Russian Research Institute of Reclaimed Lands. It has been established that land improvement techniques increased the integral index of physical soil conditions from 0.41-0.60 to 0.80-0.86. The soil demonstrated a greater total number of microorganisms, as well as certain physiological groups such as actinomycetes, autochthonous and especially nitrogen-fixers; but the number of fungi and denitrifiers, as well as the fungi causing the Fusarium wilt of the plants, decreased.Average crops increase achieved with the help of deep reclaiming band tillage of drained gleyish soil to depth 50-60 cm was 9.0-24.1% in both wet and dry years. This land improvement technique effect lasts for two-three years or longer. The ridged plowing compared to the ordinary plowing raised the spring crops by 0.55-0.61 ton/ha (by 16.9-17.5%) without making any additional expenditures.