Comparative analysis of agrochemical, allelopathic and microbiological characteristics of the soil environment for Actinidia arguta (Siebold et Zucc.) Planch. ex Miq. cultivated in Ukraine and two provinces of China

Abstract

Objective – to evaluate agrochemical, allelopathic and microbiological characteristics of the soil environment for Actinidia arguta (Siebold et Zucc.) Planch. ex Miq. plants cultivated in Ukraine and two provinces of China.
 Material and methods. The rhizosphere soil was sampled at 0–15 cm layer under A. arguta plants in the stage of fruit ripening in Ukraine (Kyiv city: North of Ukraine, Forest-Steppe zone, a temperate continental climate) and two provinces of China (Shandong: East China, a monsoon temperate zone; and Heilongjiang: Northeast China, continental monsoon climate). The concentrations of carbon, available forms of macro- and micronutrients, phenolic compounds in the soil samples were determined. pH and redox potential of soil were measured. Soil phytotoxicity was studied by direct bioassay method on cress (Lepidium sativum L.) root growth. Microbiological analyses of soil samples were conducted.
 Results. The dissimilarities in the concentrations of carbon, macro- and micronutrients in the examined soil samples were shown. The domination of reduction conditions (Eh < 400 mV) in the soils under A. аrguta points the deceleration in the humification processes, as well as the presence of the mobile forms of organic compounds with the allelopathic properties. The redox potential decreased with the increase of pH values. This reflects the intensifying of reduction processes. The soil phytotoxicity under A. аrguta reached 20–70% compared with the control. This is obviously due to the accumulation of phenolic compounds as well as iron and manganese. The relationship between pH, the phytotoxicity and the abundance of the main taxonomical and ecological trophic groups of microbiota in soils under A. аrguta was ascertained.
 Conclusions. Calcic Luvisols from the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine (Kyiv city, Ukraine) and Luvic Chernozems from Jiamusi (Heilongjiang province, China) were determined to be the most favorable for A. arguta cultivation. Salic Solonetz from Harbin (Heilongjiang province, China) and Haplic Luvisols from Linyi (Shandong province, China) had the least suitable soil conditions for A. arguta plants.