Geoecological Features of the Distribution of Sulfur and Manganese in Agroecosystems of the Belgorod Region

Abstract

The aim of the study was to conduct agroecological monitoring of sulfur and manganese content in the ecosystems of the forest-steppe and steppe zones of the Central Chernozem region of Russia (on the example of the Belgorod region). The current data on the gross content and content of mobile forms of sulfur and manganese in the soil cover of the region, plant products, organic fertilizers. A comparative analysis of the content of elements in the soils of different climatic zones on arable land and virgin lands was carried out, the intensity of accumulation of sulfur and manganese by cultivated plants and vegetation of protected ecosystems was established. The increase in the volume of organic fertilizers in the agroecosystems of the region has led to a steady trend towards an increase in the weighted average content of mobile forms of sulfur and manganese in arable soils, however, a significant proportion of arable land continues to be characterized by a low content of sulfur available to plants (90.3 %) and manganese (38.8 %), which negatively affects soil productivity. Among agricultural crops, perennial leguminous grasses accumulate sulfur most intensively, and Lupinus albus plants accumulate manganese. When studying the chemical composition of the vegetation cover of nature reserves, it was found that sulfur and manganese accumulated more in the grasslands of the steppe zone than in the forest-steppe zone. The highest values of the biological absorption coefficient (BAC) of manganese were characteristic of white lupine plants, and sulfur – for perennial grasses cultivated on arable land.