Soil steppes and their properties. What kind of soil is in the steppe?

Steppe soil from the point of view of economic use is the most favorable platform. It is these zones that form the main part of the productive land fund, although, of course, not every steppe can please the farmer with nutrient black earth. This is confirmed by the soil of the steppes of Russia, which are also represented by arid regions and mid-humus northern territories. Nevertheless, in the southern part of the country there are many fertile treeless areas that are rich in useful substances.

The main characteristics of the steppe soil

For all types of steppe soils, there is a lack of forest massifs and a low level of groundwater. These factors largely determined the balance of the conditions under which this cover is formed. One of the main indicators that help to qualify the appearance of steppe soil is the humus content. For example, the chernozems of the forest-steppe zones have a higher thickness of humus horizons than ordinary chestnut and chernozem covers. To determine which soil in the steppe will be most favorable for agricultural activities, it is important to consider the content of other nutrients. For example, old-arable areas require additional manure and mineral fertilizers. Experienced farmers also recommend using phosphorus, and in some places - nitrogen and potassium supplements.

Conditions of soil formation in the steppes

The development of zones of steppe soils usually occurs under the influence of a warm, dry or moderate climate. For example, in Russia the formation of the southern steppe cover occurs at an average annual temperature of 0 ... + 10 ° C. With regard to precipitation, their average annual number varies from 300 to 500 mm. The most abundant fallout occurs in the region of Ciscaucasia, and to the northern part this level varies markedly. The maximum fallout occurs in the first half of the summer - often precipitation during this period is of a stormy nature, although the steppe soils can not be called excessively moist. The largest reserves of moisture are observed in the spring, which is facilitated by the process of melting snow. But this is typical for the northern regions, and the southern steppes are characterized by water shortages. For this reason, a non-wash type of water regime is formed in some areas.

Soil-forming rocks

In Russia, the formation of soil in terms of rocks and sediments occurs in different ways depending on the region. For example, loess in the Black Sea lowland is quite common, and heavy loess-like loams are observed in the steppes of the Stavropol Plateau. The predominance of sandy sandy loam is characteristic of the Volga platform - in this region the steppe soils are formed under the influence of eluvium rocks and yellow quaternary loam. On the territory of the Caspian zone, saline loams and various marine deposits are found.

Since the lack of forest tracts gives access to winds, weathering products are also found - in particular, the Kulunda plain is rich in particles of bedrock. To the general features of the listed rocks, which form the steppe soils, can be attributed to the high content of readily soluble salts, carbonate and gypsum elements.

Vegetative cover

Steppe relief as such has little impact on the development of the flora. In this regard, one should rely on the type of soil and the external conditions. For example, in dry regions, the vegetation cover is complex. These are the thinned, undersized plants which can make an order of 70% from all flora. Dark chestnut soils are optimal for the development of herbs and grasses. This once again confirms that in determining which soil in the steppe is better suited for cultivating a particular crop, several factors should be considered. In this case, the main criterion for assessing fertility is the type of soil cover. In the central regions chestnut soils and light chestnut soils prevail, respectively, in these zones it is possible to grow ephemeroids and ephemerals. In particular, flower growers can plant irises and tulips here. On solonetzic soils, black wormwood, camphorosma and biyurgun are often found, and moistened soil covers become a favorable platform for herbaceous plant groupings.

Relief properties

Usually the plain relief dominates as the main for all steppe zones. These are spaces that have practically no outstanding elevations, depressions and ravines. At the same time, the steppes are not flooded with hollow waters, they do not swam, which also allows preserving a single surface structure over large areas. However, the Central Russian steppe zone is still characterized by the dismemberment of the relief . The soil in this region can be covered with dense gully-girder nets, which causes serious difficulties in the development of virgin land. There may also be small saucer-shaped slides, but this is more likely an exception to the rules.

Characteristics of the soil in dry steppes

Soils of this type are distinguished by the most pronounced deficiencies of steppe soil. Low rainfall, windiness and drought - these and other factors predetermined the problems associated with the exploitation of this cover. The basis of vegetation is meadow-steppe group, under which there is a process of turf soil formation. In summer, the ephemera and meadow plants die, as a result of which the soil of the dry steppes is covered with grassy felt with signs of decomposition. On the one hand, this process is useful for the formation of humic acids, but on the other - under the influence of sunlight, dehydration and coagulation of useful elements occurs. In conditions of drought, with a small depth of soaking, the processes of washing away the salts of sodium, magnesium and calcium are also observed, as a result of which a soil horizon is formed.

Properties of the chernozem soil of the steppes

The development of chernozem soils occurs against the background of an abundant manifestation of mixed-steppe vegetation. Therefore, the main feature of such a cover is the richness of organic substances. In the profile section of chernozems, a dark-colored saturated humus layer can be distinguished, which is also emphasized by a characteristic lumpy or granular structure. The chernozem soils of the steppe can contain large amounts of ash elements and nitrogen, which is the main difference of this cover. The supply of these components occurs annually in the process of decomposition of plant litter. The hydrothermal conditions that provoke reactions in complex humic compounds of the same humic acid also contribute to this phenomenon.

A few words in conclusion

The conditions for the formation of the steppe zones are largely contradictory and at least diverse in their influence on the soil cover. It is because of the convergence of the opposite factors that the steppe soils are saturated with nutrients. So, drought promotes the rapid decomposition of vegetation, resulting in the formation of humus. Further, under abundant precipitation, the production of humic acids is stimulated, which subsequently form the basis for the development of the fertile black earth layer.