Influence of artificial forest plantations on dielectric constant and electrophysical parameters of southern chernozems

Abstract

The peculiarities of the influence of Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Quercus robur L. forest plantations on dielectric constant and electrophysical indicators (specific electrical conductivity, mineralization and salinity) of chernozems of the southern steppe zone of Ukraine are considered. Samples for the study were taken near the city of Zelenodolsk (Kryvyi Rih district of Dnipropetrovsk region) on 3 test plots with soil sections. Determination of electrophysical parameters (specific conductivity, mineralization and salinity) was performed using a conductometer-salt meter-thermometer Ezodo-7021, which measured these indicators in the soil extract (in the ratio of 1 part soil to 5 parts distilled water). Determination of the dielectric constant of soils was performed using a digital capacity meter CM-9601A with simultaneous determination of the density of the soil sample. As a result, it was found that among the upper horizons of the studied soils, the highest value of dielectric constant is zonal southern chernozem, and the smallest – southern chernozem under the planting of Q. robur. This may indicate an improvement in the structural and aggregate state of the southern chernozem under the influence of forest plantations. The upper horizons of the zonal southern chernozem and the southern chernozem under the planting of R. pseudoacacia do not differ significantly in terms of electrophysical parameters. The upper horizon of the southern chernozem under Q. robur is characterized by increased values ​​of specific conductivity, mineralization and salinity compared to the upper horizons of other studied soils. This may indicate a certain increase in water-soluble salts in the upper horizon of southern chernozem under Q. robur compared to the upper horizons of zonal southern chernozem and southern chernozem under R. pseudoacacia. The obtained conclusions coincide with the results of the study of the influence of forest plantations on the dielectric constant and electrophysical parameters of ordinary chernozems.