Chemical Properties and Biological Activity of Soils on Akchagyl Clays in the Eastern Ciscaucasia under Conditions of Intensive Pasture Load

Abstract

At present, there is an acute problem of disturbance of ecological balance in pasture ecosystems caused by natural and anthropogenic factors. Long-term and unsystematic use of pastures without taking into account ecological features has led to the deterioration of biological diversity, the development of degradation processes. Among pasture soils, the danger of overgrazing of winter pastures soils is especially susceptible, since grazing in winter occurs on moist soils, which leads to over consolidation, erosion and negative changes in a number of soil properties. In this regard, a study of soils developed on saline Pliocene deposits of the Akchagyl stage in the arid zone of the Eastern Ciscaucasia (Republic of Dagestan) was carried out. The purpose of the study was to analyze the effect of livestock grazing on the chemical properties and biological activity of soils on different relief elements. The basic chemical properties of chestnut soils and solonetzes in various geomorphological conditions and different intensity of pasture load have been studied. For the first time, data on the biological activity of winter pastures soils within the warm non-freezing soil-climatic facies were obtained. It is shown that in all cases very high values of the microbial respiration coefficient are observed, which indicates the stressful state of the microbial community. Taking into account the sensitivity and sensitivity of the microbial community to changes in external conditions, this approach can be effective in the ecological assessment of the state and forecasts of soil development.