Peculiarities of profile and spatial distribution of nitrate nitrogen in soils of erosion landscapes

L. G. Smirnova, I. I. Mikhaylenko, G. V. Smirnov, A. A. Kuvshinova
Belgorod Federal Agrarian Scientific Center of the RAS, ul. Oktyabr’skaya, 58, Belgorod, 308001, Russian Federation

Abstract. The studies to identify patterns of the profile and spatial distribution of nitrate nitrogen in chernozem soils of erosion landscapes on adjoining lands (arable and virgin lands) were conducted under conditions of the Belgorod region on a gentle straight slope of the southwestern exposure. A total of 6 catenas were laid out. In them, we drilled 60 deep wells. The maximum depth was 1 m. Soil samples were taken from the layers of 0–20 cm, 20–40 cm, 40–60 cm, 60–80 cm, and 80–100 cm. The average nitrate nitrogen content in a meter layer of soil in arable land was higher than in virgin land by 16.2 mg/kg. Moreover, its distribution along the profile on the arable land was more uniform. The coefficient of variation in the content of nitrate nitrogen varied from 52% to 86% regardless of the land type. In general, the nitrate nitrogen content in arable land varied from 0 mg/kg to 60 mg/kg; on virgin land, it varied from 0 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg. Moreover, in 87–100% of profile samples of virgin land, it amounted to 0–10.0 mg/kg; the concentration of nitrate nitrogen in arable land reached 20.1–40.0 mg/kg in 20–42% of cases; in 19–28% of cases, it was at the level of 5.1–10.0 mg/kg. The accumulation of nitrate nitrogen by the end of the growing season in an arable slope land can reach 0.2 t/ha; in virgin land, it can reach 0.03 t/ha. A microzone with a high content of nitrate nitrogen is distinguished at the foot of the slope, regardless of the land type, whereas in the arable land in the lower part of the slope there is a microzone with a low concentration.

Keywords: nitrate nitrogen; erosion landscape; virgin land; arable land; slope microzone.

Author Details: L. G. Smirnova, D. Sc. (Biol.), academic secretary (e-mail: Этот адрес электронной почты защищён от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра.); I. I. Mikhaylenko, Cand. Sc. (Biol.), research fellow; G. V. Smirnov, junior research fellow; A. A. Kuvshinova, junior research fellow junior researcher.

For citation: Smirnova LG, Mikhaylenko II, Smirnov GV, et al. [Peculiarities of profile and spatial distribution of nitrate nitrogen in soils of erosion landscapes]. Dostizheniya nauki i tekhniki APK. 2020;34(5):13-7. Russian. doi: 10.24411/0235-2451-2020-10502.