The Influence of the Slope Exposure on the Soil Aggregation and Structure, Water Stability of Aggregates, and Ecological Microstructure Formation of the Ravine Forest Soils in Pre-Dnipro Region (Ukraine)

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The soil aggregation and structure, water stability of aggregates, and peculiarities of microstructure formation of the ravine forest soils in Dnipropetrovsk region on the example of the northern variant of the ravine forest “Kapitanivskiy” have been identified. The soil properties of southern and northern ravine exposures have been compared. The soil structure, aggregate composition, water stability of aggregates as well as soil-forming processes of the ravine ecosystem have been analyzed. Micro-morphological studies have shown a high degree of aggregation of the upper (0–60 cm) horizons of the soil profile. The structure-forming process is of a zoogenic origin. Aggregates of coprolite nature contain well-disintegrated plant remains. Dark gray, almost black color along the entire area of the micromorphological slide is due to a large amount of organic compounds, which indicates active processes of humification. Fine-dispersed humus consists of a large number of evenly spaced humus clusters. The type of humus is mull. The skeleton consists of minerals of various sizes, dominated by quartz and feldspars. Plasma is humus-clay, homogeneous throughout the entire slide, anisotropic with speckled glowing. Microstructure is mainly aggregated and, in some places, spongy, depending on a microzone of the soil slide. Elemental microstructure is of plasma-silty type. The area of the visible surface of the pores in the upper horizons of the soil profile is fairly large (40%). Pores are round and elongated, of regular shape, here and there with remains of small invertebrates. The deeper the soil slide is, the smaller the area of visible pores along with aggregation becomes. Correlating with micromorphological characteristics, water resistance of structural aggregates reaches very high (90.01% ± 3.07) values in the upper horizons of the soil slide, decreasing at depths. The coefficient of pedality is rather high (7.83 ± 0.81) in the upper horizons, decreasing at depths.</jats:p>

Mechanisms of influence of forest ecosystems on the aggregate composition and water stability of soil aggregates in the semi-arid area of southeast Ukraine

“…Until recently, researchers expressed doubts that in steppe conditions, fullfledged chernozem soils could form under natural forest vegetation (Travleev, 1996). The results of complex studies carried out by Belova & Travleev (1999), Yakovenko (2017), Bozhko & Bilova (2020), Ponomarenko et al (2022), Yakovenko et al (2024) confirm the fact of the formation of chernozem soils under natural forest vegetation in the steppe zone of Ukraine.…”

“…The main factor in the steppe that limits the growth and development of forest vegetation is the amount of moisture (Belova & Travleev, 1999). The best conditions, from this point of view, are river valleys, as well as the middle and lower parts of the slopes, which differ from each other depending on the exposure, with the most contrasting differences being characterized by the northern and southern exposures (Belova & Travleev, 1999;Bozhko & Bilova, 2020 ). Ding et al (2024) found that soils on the northern slope have better physical properties than those on the southern slope.…”

Prediction of Soc in Calcic Chernozem in the Steppe Zone of Ukraine Using Brightness and Colour Indicators

“…A detailed description of the physical, chemical and micromorphological properties of the Calcic Chernozem studied in the steppe zone of Ukraine was presented in our previous works (Bilova, Travleev, 1999;Bozhko, Bilova, 2020;Gorban, 2019;Gorban, Boloban, 2019;Gorban et al, 2020;Recio Espejo et al, 2020, etc. ).…”