Transformation Of The Mineralogical Composition Of The Oozy Matter In The Soils Of Polesye And Opolye Exposed To Intensive Agrarian Activity

Abstract

The present article is the first study of the mineralogical composition of the oozy matter of the soils of the west of European Russia of natural and intensive agrarian ecosystems of Polesye and Opolye. The purpose of the research is to study the mineralogical composition of the oozy matter of the soils of Polesye and Opolye in the west of European Russia and to assess the regional features of transformation of the most active mineral part of soils. The objects of the research are soils of the key soil areas located in the western part of European Russia. The methods of the research included taking of soil samples from the walls of soil pits along all genetic horizons. The oozy fraction was extracted by the method of N.I. Gorbunov, the oriented oozy fraction preparations were examined by the X-ray diffractometric method. The study results showed that the most active fraction of the oozy matter of the tested soils consists of hydromicas, chlorite, mixed-layer mica-smectite and mica-vermiculite formations with feldspar and quartz as accompanying minerals. In the natural ecosystems of Polesye, the mineralogical composition of the oozy matter of soils is generic. In the intensive ecosystems of Polesye, the mineralogical composition of the oozy matter of soils has been changed. In the agrarian horizons of Polesye and Opolye soils, significant transformations of the mineralogical composition and the change in the type of particle arrangement has been established, as well as an increase in the smectite content as compared with the illuvial part of soil crossovers and matrix rocks. Conclusion: intensive agrarian activity significantly increase the smectite content and change the type of particle arrangement in the agrarian horizons of the studied soils, except for the grey forest soils with a second line of humus.  At deeper soil levels the agrarian impact on the mineralogical composition of the oozy soil matter disappears.