The territory of Russia is quite extensive. This is the largest state in terms of space. Its lands stretch for almost eleven thousand kilometers from west to east. The climate and soil in the country are quite different. Climate - from harsh arctic to subtropical. Soils, in turn, range from cold snowy Arctic deserts in the north to arid semi-deserts in the south of the country.
Forest Steppe Zones
Depending on the zonality and climatic conditions of the country, a soil cover is formed that differs in its mechanical composition and fertility.
The territory of Russia is divided into the following natural zones :
- arctic deserts;
- tundra;
- forest tundra;
- taiga;
- broadleaf and mixed forests ;
- forest-steppe;
- steppes;
- Deserts
- subtropics.
The optimal zones for agricultural activities are considered regions of the forest-steppe, steppe and subtropics.
The forest-steppe zone is characterized by the alternation of forest and steppe lands. On this territory sod-podzolic, marsh, gray forest, podzolized, solonetzes and typical chernozem soils are found.
Forest-steppe soils and their formation
Forest-steppe is a natural zone located between forest and steppe zones of zoning. The forest-steppe region stretches across the East European Plain and the West Siberian Plain, as well as through the territory of the Southern Urals. Some sections of the forest-steppe are located within the Central Danube Plain.
The soil of the forest-steppe of Russia was formed during a long pedogenesis cycle. The beginning of the formation of this zone is associated with the end of the ice age. In Eastern Europe and Western Siberia, the forest-steppe zone is quite well formed and is divided into three areas from the east to the west: Far Eastern, Siberian and Eastern European.
The properties of the forest-steppe soil are different in composition and origin, this, in turn, determines the conduct of human agricultural activity and its specificity.
Forest-steppes - a strategic resource of Russia
The total land area of this zone is about 150 million hectares, or about 7% of all state land. Climatic conditions of a zonal nature affect what soil prevails in the forest-steppe, depending on precipitation, temperature and vegetation cover. Climatic conditions in the forest-steppe vary from north to south, are characterized by provincial differences, which determines how the soil of the forest-steppe of Russia can radically differ in mechanical composition and suitability. Soil types are determined by the thickness of the humus horizon.
The presence of a humus layer of less than twenty centimeters is considered a sign of bad soil. More than forty - the soil is considered suitable for farming.
The largest area of suitable land is in the forest-steppes of Russia. The soils of this zone have been plowed by eighty percent. Due to its high fertility and the presence of a large humus layer, most of the crops are grown here. For the main part of grain crops, the forest-steppe soil is favorable. In this zone, wheat, rye, corn, and buckwheat are grown. The cultivation of industrial crops is quite well developed: sunflower, beets, rape.
Soil formation and types in the forest-steppe zone of the country
The soils of the forest-steppe formed in the conditions of the growth of forests and meadows.
The soil cover of the forest-steppe zone was formed in the process of decay of the plant remains of trees of shrubs and grasses.
The biomass of deciduous regions is slightly larger than field agrocenoses and reaches from 100 to 500 tons per hectare, depending on the age of the trees. With forest residues, the forest-steppe soil receives annually from 2 to 30 tons per hectare of dry matter, containing from 50 to 700 kilograms per hectare of ash elements. The richness of hardwood residues with nitrogen (50-85 kg / ha) and calcium (70-95 kg / ha) determines the presence of good conditions for the formation of
fertile soils.In the northern parts of the forest-steppe zone, the soil cover is mainly determined by gray forest lands, leached and podzolized chernozems. On gray forest soils, intensive agriculture is being carried out. Plowed up 55% of the area, and on chernozem - about 40%.
On the bottoms of ravines, gullies, hollows and hollows, provided that the groundwater level is close (1-2 meters), humus-gley soils and sod-gley soils are formed against the background of meadow and meadow-shrub vegetation. Used as hayfields and pastures.
In the plains, the area of medium and heavily washed soils does not exceed 5%, while in the hills it reaches 20% or more.
In the southern parts of the forest-steppe, agricultural land is mainly located on leached and typical chernozems. About 87% of the total land area is cultivated. The main part of the arable land is located on the sloping slopes. About thirty percent of arable land is subject to severe water erosion, in some areas it reaches 40-50%.
Decreased soil fertility is a disaster for the future
A strong decrease in the fertility of chernozems is facilitated by a constant decrease in nutrients.
The reason for this is intensive farming. A sharp decrease in the content of humus, an increase in the physical density of the soil, deterioration of the structure and water-physical properties due to processing by heavy agricultural machinery.
Today, the soil of the forest-steppe of Russia in the process of intensive agriculture has more than 30% lost its fertility. This process is considered irreversible. The formation of one centimeter of the fertile layer in natural conditions takes about 125-400 years. The damage caused by man is enormous. Subsequently, without observing the proper attitude to the strategic reserves of the country's lands, the ecosystem of nature will be violated. This will lead to the disappearance of fertile land in the next 40-50 years. Let us hope that the rationality and rationality of society will not allow such a catastrophe of a global order in the pursuit of a long ruble.