Current State of Haplic Chernozems in Specially Protected Natural Areas of the Steppe Zone

Abstract

The current ecological state of Haplic Chernozems has been studied in three Specially Protected Natural Areas (SPNAs) of the Steppe zone in South of Russia. It has been found that the content of organic matter, texture and elements content of soils depend on the period and conditions of reservation in the SPNA. In accordance with the content and reserve of organic matter, the thickness of the humus-accumulative (A) and humus (A + B) horizons and the supply with macro- and micronutrients, the Haplic Chernozems of the SPNAs under study can be arranged in the following series: Persianovskaya Reserved Steppe > Botanical Garden of the Southern Federal University > Reserved Fallow land “Priazovskaya Steppe”, which corresponds to the duration of their reservation periods. The Botanical Garden, which is located in the center of a megalopolis (Rostov-on-Don, Russia), has higher contents of lead in the upper horizon of Haplic Chernozem than other soils on the plots considered.