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Biological Activity of Brown Semidesert Soils of the Baer Knolls

  • SOIL BIOLOGY
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Abstract

We have evaluated the biological activity of brown semidesert soils (Eutric Cambisols (Loamic, Protocalcic)) of the Baer Knolls (Astrakhan oblast) formed under different hydrothermal conditions and differing in particle-size composition. The organic carbon content, total microbial biomass, biomass of living microbial cells, and oligotrophy index of microbial communities have been determined. The organic carbon content in soils of more arid areas at the southern and western boundaries of the Baer Knolls is 1.5–2 times lower as compared to soils at their northern boundary. The highest oligotrophy index of the microbial community has been detected in the soil profile in the southern part of the Baer Knolls. It reflects the high participation of microorganisms, which are best adapted to arid conditions. The variability of total and living microbial biomass depends on the soil texture, especially in the upper horizon, where these parameters in clayey soils are 1.5–2 times higher than in sandy ones. The data on the total and living microbial biomass in brown semidesert soils of the Baer Knolls are lower than in chestnut soil (Haplic Kastanozems, Cambisols, Calcisols) and solonetzes (Solonetz). Brown semidesert soil of the Baer Knolls and eroded chestnut-like paleosols of the Subboreal xerothermic period (the 3rd–2nd millennia BC) are characterized by similar total microbial biomass, whereas the biomass of living microbial cells in eroded chestnut-like paleosols is 6–9 times higher than in brown semidesert soils of the Baer Knolls and varies at the levels of light chestnut soils (Calcisols) and solonetzes.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Russian Scientific Foundation, project no. 19-18-00406. Terrain expedition surveys were performed according to the State Task no. 0191-2019-0046.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems of Soil Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290, Pushchino, Russia

    N. N. Kashirskaya, T. S. Demkina, T. E. Khomutova, M. V. Eltsov, S. N. Udaltsov & T. V. Kuznetsova

  2. Institute of Geology, Dagestan Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, 367030, Makhachkala, Russia

    I. A. Idrisov

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  1. N. N. Kashirskaya
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  2. T. S. Demkina
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  3. T. E. Khomutova
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Correspondence to N. N. Kashirskaya.

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Translated by I. Bel’chenko

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Kashirskaya, N.N., Demkina, T.S., Khomutova, T.E. et al. Biological Activity of Brown Semidesert Soils of the Baer Knolls. Eurasian Soil Sc. 54, 1206–1214 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229321080081

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