Ecological assessment of soils in high-mountain landscapes of northeastern part of the Greater Caucasus (Azerbaijan)

Abstract

The current state of soils and bioproductivity of high-mountain pastures and hayfields in the northeastern part of Great Caucasus within Azerbaijan were studied, and the quality assessment of soils was performed. The ecological evaluation of soils was based on special assessment scales and soil bonitet scores. The soils suitable for the development of meadow vegetation were identified. The highest score (89 points) was given to mountainous meadow chernozemlike soils (Eutric Mollic Leptosols); these soils are most suitable for pasturing. Mountainous meadow soddy soils (Dystric Umbric Leptosols) ranked second (76 points). Mountainous meadow-steppe soils (Eutric Mollic Leptosols) were estimated at 72 points; these soils are suitable for plant communities of subalpine meadows. Mountainous meadow soddy–peaty soils (Brunic Umbric Leptosols) had the lowest score of 68 points mostly because of the excessive precipitation against the background of relatively low mean annual temperature limiting the biological productivity of alpine meadows.