Abstract
The seasonal dynamics of soil moisture, bulk density and moisture reserve in the topsoil of Podzoluvisol representative variants at the Forest Experimental Station of the RSAU-MTAA at various levels of recreational load is investigated. The assessment of the influence of recreational load on the surface horizons (A1, A1A2, A2) of Podzoluvisols within the slope catena (the summit of the moraine hill – the middle part of the slope – the lower part of the slope) is given. Three levels of recreational load are considered: minimal (background), medium and strong. The analysis of soil moisture was carried out by the thermal weight method, one of the bulk density – according to N.A. Kachinsky method, using 100 cm3 mortise cylinders – in triple repetition. The results were statistically processed using ANOVA in accordance with the GLM (IBM SPSS) version 25 procedure. The conducted research revealed a pronounced seasonal dynamic of the studied properties of Podzoluvisols with a clear differentiation according to their position in the catena and the level of recreational load. Summer soil moisture values of the surface A1 horizons can be 2.5 times lower than spring ones. Soil moisture at the slope foot is 1.1–1.5 times higher than at the summit of the moraine hill. The main consequence of the recreational load increasing is a significant rise in the bulk density of the topsoil horizons A1 – A2, maximally expressed in conditions of increased soil moisture in the lower part of the catena. Moisture reserves in the topsoil significantly decrease with an increase in recreational load and the associated soil bulk density. The soil bulk density is higher in summer than in spring and early autumn. The established dependences of seasonal dynamics of soil moisture, bulk density and moisture reserve in the topsoil on the slope steepness and recreational load will be useful for planning and environmentally safe regulation of spatially differentiated recreational load in different parts of the urban slope landscape, even in case of a slight slope steepness (up to 3-4 °) and of the presence of vegetation cover close to natural conditions. Keywords: RECREATIONAL LOAD, ECOLOGY OF FOREST SOILS, HETEROGENEITY OF FOREST SOILS, SEASONAL DYNAMICS OF SOILS, SOIL MOISTURE, SOIL BULK DENSITY, PODZOLUVISOLS, CATENA
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