Composition of soil water in mountain forest landscapes of the Upper Ussuri River and the estimation of export of chemical elements

Abstract

This work provides new data on the concentrations and export of chemical elements with soil waters of various plant communities of slope and valley- fl oodplain landscapes in the basin of upper reaches of the Ussuri River. The data show that the most nutrient-rich waters are formed in humus horizons of soils developed under elm-ash communities of valley- fl oodplain landscapes. More than 80% of the content of these elements are accumulated in the soil profi le and support the functioning of communities. The waters of humus horizons of valley- fl oodplain communities are a potential source of elements entering river waters during periods of maximum precipitation. Soil waters of the mineral horizons of slope under mixed coniferousdeciduous communities are more acidic and transport relatively high amounts of dissolved organic carbon, iron, aluminum and phosphorus.