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Soil bulk density as a factor of the microrelief formation in semideserts of the north Caspian region

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Abstract

Relative elevations of different elements of the microtopography and the soil bulk density values within the 2-m-deep layer have been measured at the same points, and the relationship between these characteristics has been analyzed. It is shown that the heights (depths) of the elements of the microtopography calculated from the data on the soil bulk density agree with their actual heights (depths). The range of calculated heights (depths) is almost equal to the actual range (34 and 40 cm, respectively). A regression analysis shows that there is a close correlation between the factual heights (depths) of microhighs and microlows and the soil bulk density values (r = 0.957). The regression curve showing the dependence of the factual heights of the elements of the microtopography on the soil bulk density is very close to the regression curve showing the same dependence for the calculated heights. A change in the average bulk density of the of the 2-m-thick soil layer by 0.10 g/cm3 is accompanied by a change in the factual and calculated height of the soil surface by 12 cm. It is argued that the dynamics of the surface microtopography in the study area are controlled by changes in the soil bulk density.

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Original Russian Text © B.D. Abaturov, 2007, published in Pochvovedenie, 2007, No. 7, pp. 831–837.

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Abaturov, B.D. Soil bulk density as a factor of the microrelief formation in semideserts of the north Caspian region. Eurasian Soil Sc. 40, 747–753 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1134/S106422930707006X

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