The Impact of Artificial Forest Plantations on Mountain-Meadow Soils of Crimea

Abstract

A significant change in the properties of mountainous meadow soils of the Ai-Petri Plateau has taken place under the impact of artificial plantations of pine, birch, and larch created in the Crimean highlands in the middle of the 20th century. In comparison with the soils under meadow vegetation, the soils under forest vegetation are characterized by an increased content of large aggregates, a decrease in the humus content, and an increase in the soil acidity and in the iron content of the organomineral compounds. The most dramatic changes in the structural state of the soils are observed under the plantations of pine. The changes in the acidity and the iron content are most pronounced under larch stands. The decrease in the humus content is observed under all tree species. Thus, in the soil layer of 0–10 cm under pine, birch, and larch stands, the content of C_org is 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4 times lower, respectively, than that in the soil under meadow vegetation.