Moraine Hills Research Articles

On the issue of forecasting crop yields for the purposes of adaptive landscape agriculture

Long-term monitoring (1998–2023) of the yield of clover-timothy grass stands of the first year of use was carried out in order to find patterns of influence of landscape environmental conditions on it in various agroclimatic conditions. The research was conducted within the moraine hill located at the Gubino VNIIMZ agro-testing site in the Tver region. Soil-forming rocks are two-membered deposits consisting of an upper layer composed of relatively light rocks, underlain by moraine bouldery loam. The grass stands were exploited without fertilizers in a single-cut mode on a field divided into 120 plots. Using regression analysis, the influence of landscape and soil environment factors was determined: relief, physical and agrochemical properties of soils on grass yield, as well as the dependence of the degree of this impact on climatic conditions. It was found that the yield of perennial grasses is most strongly influenced by various fractions of the granulometric composition of soils – from stones to dust (up to 16 % of its variability) and the altitude of the location (up to 38 %), since the thermal and water-air characteristics of soils and vegetation largely depend on them. Terrain characteristics such as steepness and curvature of the surface have a minor impact on grass yield (up to 12 %). The degree of influence of agro-landscape environmental factors on the growth of grasses is largely regulated by fluctuations in weather conditions. “Climate scenarios” of a specific factor – sets of weather parameters under which its effect on the production process of a crop is manifested – in the years of sowing and mowing, as a rule, do not differ fundamentally. Knowing the nature of the influence of climatic factors allows us to more accurately predict crop yields within an agricultural landscape and, thus, optimize the location of crops on the territory of a particular farm.

Correlation between perennial grass productivity and landscape and climatic conditions

The yield monitoring (1998–2023) of cloverothymothy grass stands of 1 year of use within the moraine hill was carried out in order to find patterns in the influence of weather conditions on it. The grass stands were operated in the conditions of the Tver region without fertilizers in a single-cut mode on a field divided into 120 plots. Using regression analysis, we determined the influence of temporal variability of average monthly values: average daily temperatures, their amplitude, amount of precipitation and hydrothermal coefficient on the hay yield of perennial grasses. It was revealed that in total these parameters determine about 43% of the variability in grass productivity, but fluctuations in temperature amplitudes are responsible for 32% of the temporal variability of the yield. The yield of herbs is affected by the variability of growing conditions not only in time, but also in space. The negative impact on the yield of air temperature changes is observed in all parts of the landscape, except for the flat top, where productivity responds positively to the growth of the hydrothermal coefficient and negatively to the increase in air temperatures in the pre-harvest period. The following have a negative impact on product yield: temperature changes in late summer and early autumn, especially on southern slopes, which can make it difficult for plants to overwinter; thaws in March, causing the formation of an ice crust on the soil surface and damaging the tillering nodes of plants; hot days in the pre-harvest period, accelerating the ripening of grasses and reducing the intensity of biomass accumulation. February thaws, promoting the accumulation of moisture in the soil, lead to an increase in grass yield. Measures that reduce the negative impact of temperature changes on the grass harvest include: autumn mowing of young grass, snow retention in meadows, and sprinkling of grass on the hottest days of the pre-harvest period.

Wartanian glacial sediments: insights into deglaciation of Polish Lowlands and Highlands border for geotourism

Abstract This paper presents five sites located in the marginal zone of the Wartanian stadial within the Odranian Glaciation (MIS6a) on the border of the Central Polish Uplands and Lowlands, representing different glacial forms and geological structures: terminal moraine hill, undulating moraine hill, sedimentary margin of the ice sheet, kame hill, and outwash plain. This differentiation is also reflected in the petrographic composition of the gravels and the interesting surface microstructures of the Scandinavian erratic boulders. This small study area, with its high geodiversity, which we have identified and investigated, has considerable potential for sustainable development. Geotourism is a tool for this development in a peripheral tourist region, providing both economic benefits for the local population and conservation services for the geoecosystem.

Features of the soil aciditification dynamics in agricultural landscape

The results of long-term monitoring of the spatial dynamics of soil acidification within the terminal moraine hill are presented. The studies were carried out in 1996-2020. on the agro-ecological transect (VNIIMZ, Tver region) - an array crossing the landscape positions of the hill, consisting of 10 fields with an individual history. The exchangeable acidity of soils was determined at 30 sampling points, regularly located in each field at 40 m from each other. We used pHKCl data for 1996 and 2020 and acidification indicators determined as the difference in the values of soil exchange acidity at the beginning and end of observations. Statistical processing consisted in revealing the influence of anthropogenic and natural factors on soil acidification. It was found that the soils were significantly acidified during extensive farming. In 1996-2020 the average exchangeable acidity decreased by 0.6 (0.023 per year), but the soils did not move out of the slightly acidic category, which will take another 10 years. The spatial variability of pH significantly decreased: strongly acidic and neutral soils disappeared from the soil cover. It has been established that the landscape determines 34% of the spatial variability of soil acidification, and anthropogenic factors determine 26%. There are 4 groups of territories in the agrolandscape, significantly differing in the degree of soil acidification, which is explained by the heterogeneity of the relief and parent rocks. According to the diversity of anthropogenic impact, 5 groups of fields are distinguished, where differences in soil acidification are due to their history. In general, it is impossible to single out an anthropogenic factor in the agrolandscape that significantly affects the degree of soil acidification, however, the impact is noticeable on individual substowlands, which allows developing measures to reduce the intensity of this degradation factor. It is recommended to develop crop rotations within the tops of the hills and not to place fallows, hayfields and hatching fields with eastern goat's rue. On the middle, lower parts of the slopes and in inter-hill depressions, it is not recommended to place winter and cover crops.

The effect of weather and landscape conditions on productivity of the spring wheat variety ‘Zlata’

The current study was carried out in 2010–2022 to determine the effect of weather and landscape conditions on productivity of spring wheat (Triticumaestivum) in a stationary field trial located on a drained soddy-podzolic soil within a terminal moraine hill in the Tver region (ARRIMS). The object was drained by closed pottery drainage. The distance between drains in different agricultural landscapes was 40, 30 and 20 m. In the trial there was a grain-grass crop rotation (oats+grasses – grasses of 1–2 years – winter rye – spring wheat). The crop cultivation was carried out according to extensive technology. The years of different humidity were factor A; factor B was the type of agromicrolandscape, factor C was the type of soil. There has been studied the moisture supply and temperature regime of the soil, spring wheat productivity in various agricultural landscapes. There has been established that the maximum productivity of the spring wheat variety ‘Zlata’ (2.17 t/ha) was obtained in the optimal years for the growth and plant development. In dry years, the value of this indicator decreased by 49–70 % and 51–73 % compared with excessively wet and optimal years, respectively. The variability of wheat productivity raised in dry years to 26 % and decreased to 14.5 % in optimal and excessively wet years. During the period of 2010–2022 the maximum wheat productivity (2.25 t/ha) was obtained in the transit-accumulation variant of the northern slope, its increase was 0.4 t/ha compared to the average for the trial. In years of different moisture availability, there was studied a correlation between spring wheat productivity and various soil parameters. There was obtained a direct correlation dependence of productivity in dry years with the amount of productive moisture (r = 0.70) and with the biological activity of the soil (r = 0.49); an inverse correlation was obtained in excessively wet years with aeration porosity (r = –0.66) and biological activity of the soil (r = –0.55).

Экологическая оценка варьирования состава травянистого покрова по контрастным элементам мезорельефа Лесной Опытной Дачи РГАУ-МСХА имени К.А. Тимирязева

The present paper analyzes the results of a comparative ecological study of regional typological patterns of spatial variability of the herbaceous cover composition in the conditions of a gently sloping mesorelief at the Forest Experimental Station of the Russian Timiryazev State Agricultural University – the background object of environmental monitoring for the northern part of the Moscow metropolis. Standardized descriptions of the composition and biodiversity assessments of the vegetation cover are presented on five representative sites of the orographic transect, cutting in the direction from northeast to southwest the gently sloping moraine hill dominating in the mesorelief and its opposite slopes of the northeastern and southwestern exposures, including their foots – with a total height difference not more than 15 meters. The greatest variety of herbaceous species from the 20 families represented in the studied plots was found at the foot of slopes with more stable humidification conditions, and its minimum level was at the summit of a moraine hill with pronounced summer desiccation of the topsoil of the zonal sod Podzoluvisols characteristic for the Forest Experimental Station. Other important ecological factors of herbaceous biodiversity are the exposure and shape of the slope, which affect both the temperature regime and the seasonal dynamics of the topsoil moisture – under conditions of relatively insignificant variation in the tree canopy density and pronounced recreational load on the ground vegetation and topsoil. Humus-podzolic soils dominating on the bottom of the slope of the north-eastern exposure with a steadily increased moisture level are characterized by reduced resistance to recreational load, which leads to the maximum severity of the pathway network and relatively reduced biodiversity indices. The analysis of the patterns of spatial variation in the composition of the herbaceous cover allowed one to identify the problematic environmental situations and factors of reducing its biodiversity, that has to be taken into account when further planning the regulation of recreational load at the Forest Experimental Station and similar areas of the forest infrastructure of the northern part of Moscow, as well as when assessing the projected anthropogenic impact in the conditions of the Moscow megalopolis and comparable urban ecosystems of the southern taiga and mixed-forest subzones at the European territory of Russia. Keywords: BIODIVERSITY, URBAN FOREST PARKS, FOREST ECOSYSTEMS, MOSCOW, IMPACT ASSESSMENT, RECREATIONAL LOAD, HERBACEOUS COVER, ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, URBAN ECOSYSTEMS

Some Features of Potassium Migration in the Agro-Landscape

Relevance. The problem of the influence of land use methods on the loss of potassium by soils, one of the main elements in the triad of plant nutrition, is considered.Methods. The studies were carried out in 1996–2020 on the basis of monitoring the potassium content in the soils of the Gubino VNIIMZ agro-polygon located within the limits of a finite moraine hill. The monitoring was carried out on an agro-ecological transect — an industrial array that crosses the main landscape positions of the hill and consists of 10 parallel fields, each of which has an individual history. Potassium was determined in each field at 30 sampling points located 40 m apart, which made it possible to assess the impact of natural and anthropogenic conditions on it. Correlation coefficients and regression models of the dependence of potassium losses on the totality of anthropogenic factors in various microlandscapes were calculated.Results. It is established that the nature of potassium migration depends on time, the characteristics of the natural conditions of the field and the history of its use. In the mode of extensive cultivation of crops, its content in soils is significantly reduced. Within the agricultural landscape, the spatial dynamics of losses is influenced by the diversity of natural conditions, while the nature of the history of fields affects migration flows only in certain parts of it. The features of the agricultural landscape that intensify potassium losses are a light granulometric composition and the dominance of eluvial processes. In transit and accumulative geocomplexes, potassium losses are lower. Based on the regularities obtained, it is possible to develop measures for the adaptive placement of land and crops, which makes it possible to minimize the loss of potassium.

Dynamics of Diversity of Woody Species Taxa under Human Impact in the Upper Volga Region (NW Russia) According to Pedoanthracological Data

We studied charcoal from several types of natural soil archives, including cultural layers of archaeological sites (hillforts), surrounding forest and arable soils, and sediments in lower parts of the slopes associated with hillforts and moraine hills. The stratigraphy of the charcoals was described, and 41 samples were radiocarbon-dated. Analysis of 2277 charcoals showed the presence of 13 taxa of woody species; Pinus and Picea charcoals dominated. Charcoals older than 300 BC were found only in sediment and in several pits formed after treefalls with uprooting. The greatest diversity of woody species was found in the hillforts’ cultural layers composed of Anthropogenic Dark Earth soils formed between 300 BC and 300 cal. AD (Early Iron Age). All charcoals from ancient arable soils were younger than charcoals from the hillforts. Charcoals indicated that burning for arable farming started in the study region in the 6th century AD. Woody taxa exhibited a decrease in number of species and a decrease in the proportion of nemoral (broadleaved) species from the Early Iron Age to the Middle Ages and to the present. Quercus, Tilia, and Corylus have become relatively rare, although they still occur in the study region. Ulmus and Acer are now rare in the Upper Volga region and were not found in the vicinity of the study sites.

Palaeogeographic reconstruction of the Late Weichselian ice sheet in north‐central Poland based on relief analysis

ABSTRACTNorth‐central Poland was originally shaped by the Płock lobe of the ice sheet formed during the Weichselian Glaciation. The majority of the studied area comprises the Dobrzyń Lakeland, where numerous terminal moraine hills preserve a record of recession of the ice sheet from the maximum extent of the last glaciation (LGM). Analysis of a digital elevation model enabled the determination of a network of morpholineaments, referring to the formation of linear glacial forms. Recession of the ice sheet from the LGM extent in north‐central Poland was uneven and proceeded in stages. Ice‐sheet recession stages were interspersed with local or regional ice‐sheet advance stages. During these individual periods of ice‐sheet behaviour, ice‐sheet movement changed direction from WNW–ESE to NNW–SSE. Transgression of the ice sheet into the central part of the study area as well as the Kujawy–Dobrzyń subphase may be related to cooling of the climate during 18.5–17.7 ka before ad 2000.

The Need to Maintain Sustainability in the Dynamic Anthropogenic Changes in the Natural Landscape of the Bay of Pomerania in Poland

This article presents a research study into the dynamics of negative changes to the almost untouched coastal landscape of the Bay of Pomerania on the south-western coast of the Baltic Sea, taking into consideration the impact of the spatial development of the port of Świnoujście and of the development of leisure facilities in the small fishing villages of the Baltic coast. The authors highlight the natural landscape dynamics resulting from the topography, the aggression of the Baltic Sea against the beaches and sandy moraine hills, the dynamics of phyto-biological development in the endemic natural environment, and the dynamics of anthropogenic landscape changes resulting from the oversized spatial development of both residential and industrial buildings, as well as intermodal and port infrastructure development. The study analyzes natural values and their importance for both health and recreational purposes and shows the disproportional impact of economic/industrial development on the study area in recent times. The research was undertaken to verify the necessity of maintaining sustainability in the anthropogenic and industrial development undertaken in those areas, in order to protect sensitive ecological areas and to provide environmental compensation for the negative landscape changes already produced.

МОНИТОРИНГ КАК НАУЧНАЯ ОСНОВА СОВРЕМЕННОГО КОРМОПРОИЗВОДСТВА

Sown grasses stand height was monitored in an agricultural landscape in 2019–2021. The agroecological test plot was located within a terminal moraine hill. The aim of monitoring was to study the influence of the characteristic features of various landscape structures (differentially exposed slopes, landscape sections within them, and soil cover variegation) on plant height. The studies were carried out across an agroecological transect (a field crossing the main landscape positions of a moraine hill) at 120 sample points located 10 m apart. The height of red clover and timothy grass was determined nine times during the development of the perennial herbage over 1 to 3 years of its life. The statistical treatment of data revealed that the maximum effect on the spatial variability of plant height is produced by slope exposure. A significant influence of landscape factors has been proved only for the temporal dynamics of timothy grass height, whereas the features of clover growth do not depend on relief and soils parameters. Based on the results obtained, it is possible to develop a system of adaptive placement of grass stands in an agricultural landscape making it possible to manage the quantity and quality of fodder.

Экологическая оценка сезонной динамики почвенных потоков CO2 и содержания гумуса дерново-подзолистых почв на склоновой катене лесопарка при разных уровнях рекреационной нагрузки

The article presents the results of monitoring the spatial and temporal variability of the main diagnostic parameters of the humus state (humus content, soil CO2 fluxes and carbon stock) of Podzoluvisols in conditions of typical for the northern part of Moscow urban forest “Forest Experimental Station” of the Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, formed 160 years ago on the basis of a natural forest area, with the introduction of monocultural plantings of various tree species typical for subzones of southern taiga and mixed forests of the European part of Russia and Western Siberia. As the main unregulated and regulated factors of the spatio-temporal variability of the humus state of the studied soils, the following ones are considered: (a) their position in the mesorelief (the summit of the gentle moraine hill – the middle part of the slope – the lower part (foot) of the slope); (b) the forest composition; (c) the level of recreational load (estimated by the severity of the path network); (d) the state of the herbage (estimated by the index of the projective cover); (e) the topsoil bulk density; (e) the topsoil moisture; (g) the topsoil temperature. Three levels of recreational load are considered: minimal (background), medium and strong. Soil samples were taken during three seasons in 2021: in spring, summer and autumn – from a depth of 0-5, 5-10 and 10-15 cm. The intensity of the soil CO2 flux, temperature and soil moisture were determined 2 times a month. The content of organic carbon in the topsoil and the topsoil bulk density – once a month. A mobile infrared gas analyzer (IRGA) Li-820 was used to analyze the CO2 flux. For statistical data analysis – Excel and SPSS programs. The conducted studies revealed a pronounced seasonal dynamics of soil CO2 fluxes and the content of humus (soil organic matter) in the upper horizons of the studied soils – with a clear differentiation according to the mesorelief forms and the level of recreational load. Summer maxima of CO2 fluxes reach 35-40 g/m2 per day, and by the end of October they fall in 3-5 times. The humus content in the topsoil horizons (A1 – A1A2 – A2) within the total analyzed thickness of 15 cm in most cases after the April maximum significantly decreases (by 0.5–0.7%) to the seasonal minimum in August. With an increase in recreational load, on the contrary, there is a gradual decrease in the humus content by 10-20 relative percent. The average intensity of soil CO2 emissions increases downhill by 5-7 g/m2 per day and decreases with increasing recreational load by 5-10 g/m2 per day. The established regularities significantly clarify the existing ideas about the spatial and temporal variability of the diagnostic parameters of the humus state of Podzoluvisols in an urban forest park with a pronounced recreational load and allow for a more reasonable selection of background environmental monitoring objects with an analysis of greenhouse gases and soil carbon balance. Keywords: ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT, SEASONAL DYNAMICS, SOIL CO2 FLUXES, HUMUS CONTENT, PODZOLUVISOLS, SOIL SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIABILITY, SOIL CARBON STOCKS, CATENA, FOREST PARK, MOSCOW, RECREATIONAL LOAD

Influence of agro-landscape on the ecological sustainability of cover oats and perennial herbs phytocenoes

Biodiversity is the cornerstone of modern agro-phytocinology. Based on its records, the ecological sustainability of agricultural landscapes is predicted. The aim of the research was to study the influence of soils and the topography of the terminal moraine hill, as well as the age of phytocenoses, on the value of the coefficient of floristic similarity of oat communities with over-sowing of grasses (2019) and clover-and-timothy herbage of 1 year of use (2020). Monitoring of the botanical composition of phytocenoses was carried out on a transect – a field crossing slopes of different exposures and soils of varying degrees of swampiness, located at the agroecological station All-Russian Research Institute of Reclaimed Lands (VNIIMZ; Tver region, Russia). The standing density of oats, red clover, timothy grass, weed species, as well as other environmental parameters were taken into account on 30 systematically located land plots. It is shown that only a few plant species affect the Jaccard coefficient. The topography and soil features of the agricultural landscape, as well as the age of the plant community, have a significant impact on the stability and productivity of the agrocenosis. The main factor affecting the variability of the floristic similarity indicator is soil hydromorphism. An increase in the index of the floristic similarity coefficient is observed on all soils and slopes as the herbage matures. Productivity of grasses depends to the greatest extent on the nature of the interaction of the relief and soils – on the southern slope of the hill, a low hay yield was noted (on average, 5.34 t/ha), the minimum of which was observed on highly swampy soils (4.92 t/ha), on the northern slope, the yield of hay was higher (on average 6.57 t/ha), the minimum of which was noted on moderately swampy soils (6.26 t/ha). Based on the revealed patterns, it is possible to develop measures to adapt technologies for growing perennial grasses to the natural conditions of farms in the mode of adaptive landscape fodder production.

Сезонная динамика влажности и плотности дерново-подзолистых почв на склоновой катене ЛОД РГАУ-МСХА им. К.А. Тимирязева при различных уровнях рекреационной нагрузки

The seasonal dynamics of soil moisture, bulk density and moisture reserve in the topsoil of Podzoluvisol representative variants at the Forest Experimental Station of the RSAU-MTAA at various levels of recreational load is investigated. The assessment of the influence of recreational load on the surface horizons (A1, A1A2, A2) of Podzoluvisols within the slope catena (the summit of the moraine hill – the middle part of the slope – the lower part of the slope) is given. Three levels of recreational load are considered: minimal (background), medium and strong. The analysis of soil moisture was carried out by the thermal weight method, one of the bulk density – according to N.A. Kachinsky method, using 100 cm3 mortise cylinders – in triple repetition. The results were statistically processed using ANOVA in accordance with the GLM (IBM SPSS) version 25 procedure. The conducted research revealed a pronounced seasonal dynamic of the studied properties of Podzoluvisols with a clear differentiation according to their position in the catena and the level of recreational load. Summer soil moisture values of the surface A1 horizons can be 2.5 times lower than spring ones. Soil moisture at the slope foot is 1.1–1.5 times higher than at the summit of the moraine hill. The main consequence of the recreational load increasing is a significant rise in the bulk density of the topsoil horizons A1 – A2, maximally expressed in conditions of increased soil moisture in the lower part of the catena. Moisture reserves in the topsoil significantly decrease with an increase in recreational load and the associated soil bulk density. The soil bulk density is higher in summer than in spring and early autumn. The established dependences of seasonal dynamics of soil moisture, bulk density and moisture reserve in the topsoil on the slope steepness and recreational load will be useful for planning and environmentally safe regulation of spatially differentiated recreational load in different parts of the urban slope landscape, even in case of a slight slope steepness (up to 3-4 °) and of the presence of vegetation cover close to natural conditions. Keywords: RECREATIONAL LOAD, ECOLOGY OF FOREST SOILS, HETEROGENEITY OF FOREST SOILS, SEASONAL DYNAMICS OF SOILS, SOIL MOISTURE, SOIL BULK DENSITY, PODZOLUVISOLS, CATENA

Study of the dynamics of grass yield within the agricultural landscape based on long-term monitoring

Yield monitoring of a five-component grass stand in a breeding field within a moraine hill was carried out in 2003- 2018 in order to find patterns of its dynamics in the agrolandscape. The grass was used in the conditions of the Tver region without fertilizers in a single-cut mode in a field crossing all microlandscape positions of the hill (transcct) and divided into 30 plots. Annual data on productivity of grass mixture on each plot are presented in the form of: 1) absolute yield (specific hay yield); 2) relative yield (expressed as a percentage to maximum yield on a transect in a definite year). It was revealed that the yield of grasses is maximum in the central parts (≈ 6.5 t/ha) and minimal in the upper parts of the hillsides and at the top (≈ 5.2 t/ha). Time variability of yield depends on the geological structure of the soils ‒ increases with the transition from powerful binomials (≈ 40 %) to low-powerful ones (≈ 65 %). Correlation analysis showed that the transition to relative units (% of the yield) can significantly reduce the impact of climate on data variability. The maximum coincidence of temporal dynamics of different yield indicators is noted at the upper elevations ‒ here climatic conditions do not have a significant impact on the yield, as on slopes. Changes in the sum of the active temperatures have the greatest influence on the yield. Average indicators of correlation coefficients of yield and temperature sums are negative on the plots of soil distribution on powerful and medium-powerful binomials and positive on soils of low-powerful binomials. There has been found an inversely proportional dependence of the absolute yield of grasses on the sums of active temperatures in the pre-cut periods and in September and directly proportional in the second half of summer. Increasing the sum of temperatures contributes to a decrease in relative yields on sandy soils and optimizes the production process on loams and light loams. Dispersion analysis has shown that the main influence of temperatures on absolute yield is exerted by soil hydromorphism. The degree of impact of temperatures on relative yield depends on the nature of water exchange in the agrolandscape, the exposure of slopes (energy) and granulometric composition of soils. The results will make it possible to adapt measures for the placement of grass stands, regulation of water and thermal regimes of soils to farm conditions.

Study of the dynamics of herbs productivity based on long-term monitoring data

The paper shows methods for studying the data bank for monitoring the yield of grasses within the agrolandscape. Monitoring of the yield of different-aged (1, 2 and 3 years of use) grass legumes was carried out in 2001-2019 at an agroecological test site located within a finite moraine hill at permanent sampling points on a transect that crosses all the main micropositions of the agricultural landscape. The influence of the features of various landscape structures (slopes of different exposure, landscape plots within their limits and the variegation of the soil cover) on the dynamics of grass yield was studied. The data array was processed using the methods of Variable Components Analysis, principal components, and correlation analysis. It is shown that the productivity of grasses is reliably influenced by the features of the landscape, agroclimatic conditions of the year and the age of the grass stand. The formation of the spatial variegation of the herb yield is most influenced by the nature of the soil cover (≈ 21 %), to a lesser extent by the features of individual parts of the slopes (≈ 17 %). It was found that with the aging of the herbage, there is a noticeable increase in the influence of exposure (from 3.4 to 8.0 %) and microlandscape (from 16 to 22 %) factors on the spatial variability of their productivity, and a decrease in the influence of soil cover characteristics (from 24 to 18 %). It was revealed that the dynamics of agroclimatic parameters noticeably affects only the dependence of the variegated yield on the exposure factor. An attempt has been made to divide the years of research by the nature of the dynamics of the yield of grasses into agro climatically homogeneous groups. It has been determined that different groups of observation years differ in productivity and in the nature of its spatio-temporal variability, as well as in the factors that determine them and in the conditions that affect these factors. This makes, when predicting the yield of grasses of different ages, to create mathematical models of its dependence on landscape conditions for different time clusters.

Efficiency of application of multipurpose composition application in grain and grain circulation

Relevance . In recent years, much attention has been paid development of the use of new types of highly effective environmentally friendly organic fertilizers. Methods and results . The results of monitoring the productivity of grain-grass crop rotation in various natural conditions are shown. The research was carried out in 2013-2019 at the agroecological polygon of All-Russian Research Institute of Reclaimed Lands, within the transect that intersects all the main micro-landscape positions of the course-moraine ridge. In a field where 12 tons of multipurpose compost were once added to the soil for spring wheat, the yield of seven crops of grain-grass crop rotation was determined in various natural conditions of the drained agricultural landscape. Changes in the agro-climatic environment during the research were also taken into account. It was found that the introduction of multipurpose compost and its aftereffect contributes to an increase in the productivity of crop rotation by an average of 0.65 t/ha. Under its influence, crop rotation productivity increased in the central and upper parts of the southern slope, as well as on the top of the moraine hill. The maximum increase from the introduction of multipurpose compost was observed on spring rape and perennial grasses 1 and 3 g. p. In General, the increase in crop productivity was observed only within the southern slope. There is a close correlation between economic indicators and productivity of crop turnover - with the cost of production r = 0.89, with conditional net income r = 0.83, with the availability and level of profitability r = 0.82, and with direct costs slightly weaker than r = 0.71. Using new knowledge about the impact of non-traditional fertilizers in various landscape conditions on the productivity of various crops, it is possible to develop measures for adaptive placement of crops within farms when using

Мониторинг последействия компоста многоцелевого назначения в различных агромикроландшафтных условиях

Abstract. At All-Russian Research Institute of Reclaimed Lands – a branch of the FRC V. V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute developed and successfully used multi-purpose compost obtained by fermentation of organic raw materials. The purpose of this work was to monitor the aftereffect of KMN, which consists in studying the productivity of seven-year crop rotation in various agrolandscape conditions and determining some biological indicators of soils at the end of rotation. Methodology and research methods. The studies were carried out on the agroecological transect of the All-Russian Research Institute of Reclaimed Lands testing ground, which intersects all landscape micropositions of the end moraine hill. The transect is divided into two parallel options (test field and control), identical in landscape terms. On the test field, under the laying of a seven-year grain-grass crop rotation, 12 t / ha of multi-purpose compost was added. Subsequent agrotechnological operations on the options were the same. Results. It has been established that over several years the highest productivity of crop rotation crops was obtained at eluvial and eluvial-transit positions of the test field. Further, the dependence of agromicrolandscape – multi-purpose compost – productivity of cultivated crops weakened. After the rotation of the crop rotation was completed, some biological indicators of soils were monitored. It was found that the number of nitrogen-transforming and phosphate-mobilizing microorganisms, as well as the activity of catalase and dehydrogenase enzymes in the test field is generally higher than in the control. Correlation analysis revealed several reliable relationships between the studied parameters on the test field. The main conclusion is that the effective aftereffect of multi-purpose compost is limited to five years of cultivating crops on soils with eluvial processes. Moreover, the application of KMN for seven years contributed to the preservation of soil fertility, ensured the formation of a more stable soil-microbial system, which is confirmed by the revealed correlation dependencies. Scientific novelty. New knowledge was gained about the long-term effect of compost on crop rotation productivity and biological indicators of soil properties at the end of rotation.

Tapelių ežero morfometrija ir baseino fizinės geografinės ypatybės / Morphometry of Lake Tapeliai and Physicalgeographical Characteristics of its Catchment

Depth measurements of Lake Tapeliai (located in Vilnius, Lithuania) were taken in February 2019. At the same time, the shoreline of the lake was revised. Measurements were made from ice in 767 spots. Depth measurement accuracy up to 0,05 m, accuracy of spot coordinates and water surface elevation measurement using GNSS device Topcon Hiper SR up to 1–2 cm. Later, a detailed (1 x 1 m) digital lake bottom model (DEM) was developed, a bathymetric plan of the lake was created, the main morphometric features were calculated, the boundaries and area of the lake catchment were adjusted, and the physi cal-geographical characteristics of the lake and its catchment were examined based on various data. Morphometric features of Lake Tapeliai measured and calculated in 2019 are as follows: coordinates of mean center 54.774378, 25.4468 (WGS), water surface elevation 136.48 m (in Height System LAS07 of Lithuania), surface area 13.14 ha, shoreline length 1689 m, maximum length 687 m, maximum width 295 m, mean width 191 m, shoreline development 1.31, maximum depth 9.45, mean depth 4.36, volume 573.8 thousands m3, mean width of littoral zone 17,4 m, catchment area (including the lake itself) 2,93 km2. Lake Tapeliai catchment is located in the moraine and limnoglacial plains of Vilija, it is characterized by a rather diverse relief, which consists of a section of Tapeliai glacial tunnel valley, limnoglacial and fliuvioglacial plains, aeolian landforms and moraine hills. Average annual precipitation is ~686 mm. Significant portion (45 %) of the annual precipitation replenishes the lake, mostly through groundwater discharge. Water residence time in the Lake Tapeliai is 0.63 years. Lake Tapeliai covers 4.5 % of the catchment area. Forests cover as much as 79.4 % of the catchment area, pine forests predominate (82.3 %). Built-up areas occupy 11.3 % of the catchment area. The predominantly sandy soils in the catchment area result in abundant groundwater inseeping, which is reflected in the springs found at the bottom of the lake. Abundant groundwater inseeping also reduces lake water level fluctuations, whose estimated amplitude from June 2018 to May 2020 reached just 21 cm. Keywords: Tapeliai Landscape Reserve, Tapeliai, Lake, Vilnius, Lithuania, bathymetric chart, morphometry.

Lake sedimentation as an agent of postglacial transformation of interfluves and fluvial landscapes of the Borisoglebsk Upland, Central European Russia

Abstract. Borisoglebsk Upland is considered an example of a secondary upland plain in the marginal zone of the last Middle Pleistocene glaciation. Moraine hills and kames were reworked by glaciofluvial processes and incised by small fluvial forms later. Its postglacial surface drift cover is regularly defined as an undivided complex of mantle loams of dominantly subaerial origin with characteristic cryogenic features and remnants of paleosols. However, some previous studies suggest that lake sedimentation played an important role in the postglacial history of the Borisoglebsk Upland. This paper presents results of a detailed investigation of postglacial sedimentary cover of the eastern part of the Borisoglebsk Upland aimed to reconstruct the co-evolution of surface deposits, soil cover and geomorphic landscapes since degradation of the last Middle Pleistocene glaciation about 150 ka (MIS-6). The study is essentially based on a comprehensive lithological, pedological and geocryological description of postglacial deposits in cores (hand or machine-driven) and open sections, systematic sampling for grain size analysis and selective sampling for 14C absolute dating and monoliths structural examination. The results indicate that most of the surface drifts in this feature consists of stratified lacustrine deposits. Their Late Pleistocene age is stratigraphically confined by the underlying paleosols and incorporated peats of the Mikulino interglacial age (MIS-5) and several organic-rich layers within the lake sequence 14C dated to the Middle Valdai interstadial (MIS-3). Overlying mantle loams and colluvial deposits with cryogenic features and low organic matter content those facially substitute lacustrine sediments were attributed to the Late Valdai stadial (MIS-2). After the Mid-Holocene stabilization, relatively thin colluvial cover identified by the increased amount of organic matter also deposited. We conclude that lacustrine sedimentation is the primary Late Pleistocene agent that transformed the initial glacial topography and most characteristic type of lithodynamics of the eastern Borisoglebsk Upland.