Influence of forest vegetation on color, reflectivity and humus content in ordinary chernozems

Abstract

The effect of acacia and oak plantations on the color, reflectivity and humus content in ordinary chernozems was investigated. As a result, it was found that among the humus horizons of the studied soils, the darkest are the horizons H1 and H2 of the chernozem under steppe vegetation and oak planting, and the least dark – the horizon H of the chernozem under acacia plantation. These horizons are distinguished by the smallest values ​​of H, S, B, R, G, B, L and the reflectivity and the highest values ​​of C, M, Y, K. Chernozem under oak stands has the greatest variability of color characteristics, the smallest – chernozem under acacia planting and chernozem under the steppe vegetation occupies an intermediate position. In general, the lowest values ​​of H, S, B, R, G, B, L and the highest values ​​of C, M, Y, K are characteristic of the horizons H1 and H2 of chernozem under oak. The highest content of total humus (4.58%) was found in the H1 horizon of chernozem under the steppe vegetation. In the H1 horizon of chernozem under oak planting, the content of total humus is slightly lower (3.76%), but this indicator is the maximum for the soil. The lowest total humus content in the upper humus horizon (2.63%) was found in chernozem under acacia. On the whole, the highest content of total humus is observed in the upper horizons, and its content decreases with depth. The calculation of the correlation coefficients allowed to establish for the soil samples in the air-dry state the existence of a close feedback between the humus content and the values ​​of the color indices H, S, B, R, G, B, L, and, to the greatest extent, the reflectivity (Δρ = ρ650– ρ480 and ρ750). The existence of a direct close relationship was found between humus content and C, M, and K values, and to a certain extent Y. The calculation of correlation coefficients revealed for soil samples in the wet state a close feedback between humus content and H, S, B, R, G, B, L and Y values. The existence of a direct close relationship is found between humus content and color values ​​C, M and K. In general, the effect of oak planting on chernozem is manifested in a greater intensification of the intensity of dark color, a decrease in reflectivity and an increase in the humus content in the upper horizons compared to acacia planting.