Effect of zoogenic litter on soil’s chemical properties in forest biogeocoenoses of steppe Prydniprovia

Abstract

The aspects of the process of decomposition and recycling of zoogenic litter (dead animals of different classes) were first ascertained for the steppe Prydniprovia. Influence of destruction of necrotic organic matter on soil properties (pH, NPK-complex) in forest ecosystems in the steppe zone of Ukraine was estimated. Decomposition and recycling processes of dead animals (chickens, rats) on the experimental plots in biogeocoenoses with artificial oak plantations, sampling soil under dead bodies after the active stages of decomposition with different soil horizons at the same time with control samples, its chemical analysis allowed to determine the effect of degradation necrotic organic matter on the pH value and the content of some chemical elements (N, P, K) in the soil studied ecosystems. In this article the results of investigation of the effect of zoogenic litter on some chemical properties of soil in forest biogeocoenoses of steppe Prydniprovia are presented. The effect of chickens and rats corpses’ decomposition on the pH of soil, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium indexes in the soil is analyzed. The influence of the expansion of animal carcasses on soil chemical properties in different soil horizons compared with control values (without the presence of animal carcasses) is identified. It was found that under the effect of decomposition of animals’ corpses the pH of the soil increases. Under the corpses of chickens pH increases by 6,4–16,7 %, and rats – 2,2–14,2 % compared to control values. The content of nitrogen in the soil under the corpses of chickens increases by 9,5–42,2 %, and under the corpses of rats – to 25,5–25,7 %. Phosphorus content under the corpses of chickens increases by 28,4–107,7 % of rats – to 57,5–75,7 %. The content of potassium in the soil under the corpses of chickens increased by 3,63 % to 69,8 %, and the corpses of rats – by 6,8–23,0 %. Consequently zoogenic litter is an important factor in the accumulation of NPK-complex in the soil. Thus process of animal corpse decomposition has positive effect for chemical properties of forest soil and biogeocoenoses generally.