Soil resource and ecological potential of forest landscapes of Irkutsk-city and its surroundings

• Published in: Почвы и окружающая среда
• Main Authors: Мартынова, Наталья Александровна, Пушкарева, Валерия Сергеевна
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Russian
• Published: ФГБУН Институт почвоведения и агрохимии СО РАН 2019
• Subjects: экологическая устойчивость; сохранение ландшафтов; зеленый каркас; охрана почв; soil-environmental capacity; ecological sustainability; landscape conservation; green frame; conservation of soil; taiga
• Online Access: https://soils-journal.ru/index.php/POS/article/view/48

The forest soils (burozems, sod podzolic soils, gray and gray metamorphic soils) and plant communities, altogether performing important environmental protection functions, were investigated in the vicinity of Irkutsk city in Russia (N52º17'24.03'', E 104º16’50.62"). The preservation of natural forest sites in the residential areas, as well as enhancing of the “green” infrastructure of the city by creating artificial forest stands with sustainable coenotic composition will significantly decrease contamination and pollution. The study assessed the potential of environmental susceptibility of soils in different districts of Irkutsk and its vicinity. The natural soil sustainability potential of the region results from the diversity of parent bedrock material, relief of the terrain, loamy and clay granulometry, derived from the Pleistocene loess-like loams and the Miocene clays, relatively high humus content of predominantly humate-fulvate composition, dense vegetation cover of pronounced biodiversity of trees (pine, aspen and birch), etc. Gray and gray metamorphic soils can be characterized as being environmentally the most sustainable. Taiga biocenoses were shown to contribute significantly to the improvement of the sanitary-hygienic and environmental status of the studied areas. The result underscores an urgent need to take into account soil and soil cover sustainability potential while creating a green environmental protection framework in the city and its vicinity. Sufficient fertility and environmental sustainability of soils in the studied area serve as a stable basis for the preservation of relic park forests and for the development of cultural and recreational landscapes in the region. В окрестностях г. Иркутска исследованы лесные почвенно-растительные сообщества с буроземами, дерново-подзолистыми, серыми и серыми метаморфическими почвами, выполняющими важные средо-защитные функции. Сохранение природных дендрокомплексов и их внедрение в структуру жилой застройки, а также укрепление зеленого каркаса города ...