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Biological Activity of Urban Soils: Spatial Variability and Control Factors

  • SOIL BIOLOGY
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Abstract

An assessment of the spatial variability of the biological activity of anthropogenic soils on the territory of the Lomonosov Moscow State University and the factors controlling it has been performed. The properties of the upper horizon of the studied soils expectably differ from those of natural zonal soils in higher pH values (6.1–7.2), a significant increase in the total carbon content (0.9–10.6%) and its stock in the upper 10-cm-thick layer (0.7–7.2 kg m–2). Most of the urban soils are characterized by increased values of microbial respiration (up to 8 mg C–CO2 kg–1 h–1) in comparison with those in natural zonal soils at approximately the same values of the CO2 emission from the surface (230–750 mg CO2 m–2 h–1). A high spatial variability of soil properties, such as moisture content, CO2 emission, total carbon content, microbial respiration, and cellulolytic activity in urban soils is controlled by both natural and anthropogenic factors. It increases in the following series: CO2 emission < microbial respiration < cellulolytic activity. The high spatial variability of soil properties makes it difficult to determine criteria for allocating sampling sites. The closest correlative relationships with environmental factors have been found for microbial respiration. According to our data, the main predictors of microbial respiration are the contents of carbon and moisture, and the correlation with moisture is higher (r = 0.87, р = 0.0002). A significant enrichment of urban soils with carbon determines the potential for an increase in the CO2 flux upon changes in the parameters of soil functioning. Difficulties in the interpretation of the results arise due to the unaccounted anthropogenic factors of variability, which are not included to the common set for such studies.

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Funding

This study was carried out within the framework of state assignment “Parameters of the transformation of biogeochemical cycles of biogenic elements in natural and anthropogenic ecosystems” and the Development Program of the Interdisciplinary Scientific and Educational School of Lomonosov Moscow State University “The future of the planet and global environmental changes.”

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  1. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russia

    O. Yu. Goncharova, O. V. Semenyuk, G. V. Matyshak & L. G. Bogatyrev

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  1. O. Yu. Goncharova
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  2. O. V. Semenyuk
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  3. G. V. Matyshak
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  4. L. G. Bogatyrev
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Correspondence to O. Yu. Goncharova.

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Translated by V. Klyueva

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Goncharova, O.Y., Semenyuk, O.V., Matyshak, G.V. et al. Biological Activity of Urban Soils: Spatial Variability and Control Factors. Eurasian Soil Sc. 55, 1082–1094 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229322080038

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