MEADOW-STEPPER CHERNOZEMS (TYPICAL) OF LVOV REGION: GEOGRAPHY AND REGIONAL PECULIARITIES OF THE PROFILE CONSTRUCTION

Abstract

Purpose. The available cartographic and printed materials show us the presence of meadow-steppe Chernozems (Typical) in the structure of the soil cover in Lviv region as typical zonal components. This fact cannot be considered to be completely true. The main aim of research is to reveal the true nature of the spatial mosaic of Typical Chernozems, their place in the landscape structure of the region.Data & Methods. The basis of the researches are large-scale soil maps (scale 1:10 000 and 1: 5 000) of collective farms of the Lviv region, advanced schemes of geomorphological and physic-geographical zonation of Ukraine, and materials of field and laboratory researches of the Lviv region chernozems. At the base comparative-geographical method within of the Lviv region (Pidpodilskyi natural area, Sokal-Torchynska and Syansko-Dnisterska hills, Pasmove Pobuzhya and Opillya) were selected representative of key areas. Within each of them, in the way deep trenching and soil-environmental profiles, using historical-evolutionary and genetic-morphological methods, have researched formation of the soil cover structure and modern geochemical contiguity of chernozems with other soils. In order to identify quantitative parameters of regional differences of chernozems are used complex laboratory standard methods.Results. The spatial mosaic of Typical Chernozems of Lviv region has a definite regional lithological and hydrological restriction. They are the main component of soil cover found only on the left bank-side of the Western Bug river and on the Nearpodolian natural area and to a lesser extent on the Range Pobuzhzha. These soils have been formed on well aerated loess plains. Typical Chernozems are not zonal soils in Lviv region. They hold local or island positions among zonal and a little podzolized soils. These Chernozems genetically belong to a group of leached and mycelial-calcareous Chernozems.Typical Cernozems of the Sokal plateau are mostly shallow and medium profound (53-66 cm). They have a lumpy structure and the bedding line of calcium carbonate is closer to the surface (40-45 cm) with rapid boiling. There are mole drains within the transitional humus horizon. Also, there is relatively high occurrence (70-80 cm) of segregational carbonate neoformations with the humic transition horizon of clearly tongue or pocket form in the soil profile. Morever, these soils do not have a clear-accumulative carbonate horizon. Chernozems of the Range Pobuzhya are mainly medium profound, gleyey, leached without the accumulative carbonate horizon. Chernozems of the Nearpodolian region are profound and medium profound, mycelial-calcareous, not gleyey or profound-gleyey. Also, they have a strong grain structure, mainly carbonate. Chernozems typical for terrace complexes are profound or over profound, leached and have well grained structure that makes them similar to meadow-chernozemic soils, yet they are not gleying.