Environmental monitoring of sod-podzolic soils under the forest stands over one hundred year period: The case study at the forest experimental station in Moscow, Russia

This study of forest soil ecology conducted in the forest experimental station of the Russian State Agrarian University of Moscow Agricultural Academy reveals the evolution of a soil profile over a 100-year period influenced by a change from pine and spruce stands to two-tier mixed plantations of birch, maple, linden and oak. The rates of formation of the humus horizon and the reduction of the thickness of the podzolic horizon was determined by this change. Native pine tree growth enhances the podzol development process resulting in the development of an admixture of deciduous tree populations. This growth of hardwoods succeeding into the pine forest turn reduces the rate of accumulation of the upper horizon by 3 times. Humus horizon under these mixed stands was found to be the thickest in the locations, hardwood dominated. Comparison of the taxonomic properties with the soil characteristics will help in developing criteria for the vegetation stability and productivity in urban and suburban areas. This study reveals that the composition of tree species and their successions influences the main soil forming processes in the profile of sod-podzolic soil. The results of the study can be used to predict the soil-forming processes and the states of the forests. The ability to assess and predict these conditions is extremely important for soil-ecological monitoring in recreational forests for ecological landscape mapping. © Springer International Publishing AG 2018.