I. V. Ivanov

Trends of the natural evolution of chernozems on the East European Plain

A generalized chronosequence of changes in the morphometric parameters of chernozems in the past 5100 years is analyzed. It is shown that the development of chernozems in the center of the East European Plain is characterized by both long-term (interglacial, encompassing the entire Holocene) and short-term (within separate climatic periods of the Holocene) trends. The long-term trend of the evolution of ordinary chernozems developed from the loess-like calcareous loam consists of a continuous increase in the thickness of the soil humus profile and an oscillating increase in the depth of the carbonate accumulations. The Late-Holocene short-term trends of the natural evolution of chernozems are characterized by the high spatial heterogeneity related to the patterns of climatic fluctuations and to the lithological composition of parent materials. In that period, the thickness of genetic horizons in the forest-steppe chernozems was increasing faster than that in the steppe chernozems.

Soils, vegetation, and climate of the southern Transural region in the Middle Bronze Age (by the example of the Arkaim fortress)

Paleosols of the unique fortress of Arkaim located in the steppe zone of the southern Transural region (Chelyabinsk oblast) were investigated. The dating of the buried soils was performed using the radiocarbon method. The time of building this archeological monument is the Middle Bronze Age (the Sintashta culture; the calibrated dating with 1σ confidence is 3700–4000 years ago). Seven pits of paleosols and ten pits of background ordinary chernozems were studied. The soils are loamy and sandy-loamy. The morphological and chemical properties of the buried and background ordinary chernozems are similar; they differ by the lower content of readily soluble salts in the paleosols as compared to the background ones. The sporepollen spectrum of the Arkaim paleosol is transitional from the steppe to the forest-steppe type. During the existence of this settlement, pine forests with fern ground cover grew, and hygrophytic species (alder and spruce) that nowadays are not recorded in the plant cover occurred. The main feature of the paleosols is the presence of pollen of xerophytic and halophytic herbaceous plants there. The few pollen grains of broad-leaved species testify to a higher heat supply as compared to the current one. Judging by the results of the spore-pollen and microbiomorphic analyses, the climate during the time of building the walls of the settlement was somewhat moister and warmer (or less continental) than the present-day climate. The duration of this period appeared to be short; therefore, soil properties corresponding to the changed environment could not be formed. They reflect the situation of the preceding period with the climatic characteristics close to the present-day ones.

Terbium gallium garnet for high average power Faraday isolators: modern aspects of growing and characterization

Nowadays, terbium gallium garnet (TGG) single crystals are most popular media for compact Faraday rotators and Faraday isolators for visible and near infrared range. Their main advantages are high Verdet constant, high optical quality and low absorption. The main technique of TGG single crystals growing is still Czochralski method despite efforts directed to the development of new ways of obtaining these crystals. This method allows growing crystals of high optical quality with diameter up to 75 mm and length up to 150 mm (Fig.1). We test crystal lattice defects and optimize crystal growing conditions. As a result high grade optical elements may be manufactured with aperture up to 30 mm and isolation quality up to 50 dB. Investigation of influence of doping and high temperature annealing on TGG spectral characteristics allows reaching absorption as low as 0.0015cm-1at 1.06 mm wavelength.

Convergent close-coupling calculations of two-photon double ionization of helium

We apply the convergent close-coupling (CCC) formalism to the problem of two-photon double ionization of helium. The electron–photon interaction is treated perturbatively whereas the electron–electron interaction is included in full. The integrated two-photon double ionization cross-section is substantially below non-perturbative literature results. However, the pattern of the angular correlation in the two-electron continuum is remarkably close to the non-perturbative time-dependent close-coupling calculation of Hu et al (2005 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 38 L35).

Biological mineralization of organic matter in the modern virgin and plowed chernozems, buried chernozems, and fossil chernozems

The phenomenon of mineralization (biological mineralization) of organic matter in chernozems has been studied. A decrease in the content of Corg with time can be considered an index of the organic matter mineralization. It is suggested that the humus horizons of modern chernozems contain the pools of organic matter of different ages: easily decomposable organic matter, labile biologically active humus, stable biologically active humus, and relatively inert humus. The composition and mean residence times of these pools and their contribution to the total organic matter content have been estimated. The particular types of the biological mineralization have been determined on the basis of the comparison between the velocities of mineralization (M) and humification (H) processes: total unidirectional mineralization (M ≫ H), equilibrium mineralization (M ∼ H), nonequilibrium mineralization (M> <H), and zero mineralization. The separation of subtypes is based on data on the relative rates (%) of the organic matter mineralization. On the basis of available experimental data on chernozems buried under kurgans and in loess sediments (with the age of up to 800 ka), the quantitative relationship of the humus content in the buried soils on their age has been found; it has an exponential shape. During the first 100 ka after the soil burial, the soil humus content gradually (with a slowing intensity) decreases from 100–75 to 6.5% of its content in the virgin chernozems. Then, 100–1000 ka after the soil burial, the soil humus content remains approximately constant (6.5% of the initial level, or 0.3% of the soil mass). The rates of mineralization have been estimated. It is shown that the elemental composition (C, H, N, O) of humic acids remains relatively stable for a long time due to the regeneration of the chemical structure of humus (matric restoration of humus). It is suggested that several different forms of humus related to pedogenesis should be distinguished in the biosphere. The renewable humus in the equilibrium state with the environment is typical of the open biospheric (soil) systems. The fossil humus, whose content decreases with time, and whose composition remains stable, is typical of the semiclosed and closed systems. With time, it transforms into residual humus, whose content and composition remain stable. The fossilized organic matter in the fossil soils and sediments of the past geological epochs (Mesozoic and Paleozoic) considerably differs from the renewable, fossil, and residual humus.

Dynamics of the Soil Cover in the Southeast of Europe and in the Southern Trans-Ural Region during the Subboreal Period

An inventory of published data on the natural evolution of forest-steppe, steppe, and semidesert soils in the southern part of the East European Plain and in the southern Trans-Ural region during the Subboreal period of the Holocene has been performed. Schematic maps of the thickness of soil humus profiles and the depth of soil carbonates have been developed for the chronosections of 5000–4200, 4100–3900, and 3800–3200 years ago. On this basis, the areas with specific patterns of natural evolution of soils in the Subboreal period are delineated.

Rapid changes in root HvPIP2;2 aquaporins abundance and ABA concentration are required to enhance root hydraulic conductivity and maintain leaf water potential in response to increased evaporative demand

To address the involvement of abscisic acid (ABA) in regulating transpiration and root hydraulic conductivity (LpRoot) and their relative importance for maintaining leaf hydration, the ABA-deficient barley mutant Az34 and its parental wild-type (WT) genotype (cv. Steptoe) were grown in hydroponics and exposed to changes in atmospheric vapour pressure deficit (VPD) imposed by air warming. WT plants were capable of maintaining leaf water potential (ψL) that was likely due to increased LpRoot enabling higher water flow from the roots, which increased in response to air warming. The increased LpRoot and immunostaining for HvPIP2;2 aquaporins (AQPs) correlated with increased root ABA content of WT plants when exposed to increased air temperature. The failure of Az34 to maintain ψL during air warming may be due to lower LpRoot than WT plants, and an inability to respond to changes in air temperature. The correlation between root ABA content and LpRoot was further supported by increased root hydraulic conductivity in both genotypes when treated with exogenous ABA (10-5 M). Thus the ability of the root system to rapidly regulate ABA levels (and thence aquaporin abundance and hydraulic conductivity) seems important to maintain leaf hydration.

Carbon and nitrogen contents and greenhouse gas fluxes of the Eurasian steppe soils with different land-use histories located in the Arkaim museum reserve of South Ural, Russia

The effects of different land-use histories on contents of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) and fluxes of greenhouse gases [carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O)] measured using the closed chamber method were investigated in the Arkaim museum reserve located in the South Ural of Russia. A natural forest site (NF) and two grassland sites that had different land-use histories (CL: cropland until 1991; PST: pasture until 1991; both sites have been fallow for 18 years) were selected for soil sampling and gas flux measurements. The vegetation in NF was mainly Betula pendula Roth. with steppe cherry and grassy cover. Perennial grasses (Stipa spp., Festuca spp. and others) have been planted in CL and PST since 1991 to establish reserve mode, and the projective cover of these plants were > 90% in both sites in 2009. Soil samples were taken from the A horizon in the three sites, and additionally samples of the O horizon were taken from NF. The contents of soil C and N [total C, total N, soluble organic C, soluble N and microbial biomass C (MBC)] in the O horizon of NF were the largest among all investigated soils (p < 0.05). Additionally, the total C, total N and MBC in PST were significantly larger than in CL (p < 0.05). Positive CO2 fluxes (i.e., CO2 efflux) in all three investigated sites were observed. The CO2 efflux in NF was significantly larger than in CL and PST (129, 30 and 25 mg C m−2 hour−1, respectively, p < 0.05), although there was no significant difference in values of CO2 efflux between CL and PST. There were no significant differences in the fluxes of CH4 and N2O among NF, CL and PST (p > 0.05). Our current research indicated that, in soils of the Eurasian steppe zone of Russia, total C, total N and MBC were affected not only by current land-use (i.e., fallow grassland vs. natural forest) but also by past (until 18 years ago) land-use.

Chemical contamination and transformation of soils in hydrocarbon production regions

The current concepts of soil pollution and transformation in the regions of hydrocarbon production have been reviewed. The development of an oil field creates extreme conditions for pedogenesis. Tendencies in the radial migration, spatial distribution, metabolism, and accumulation of pollutants (oil, oil products, and attendant heavy metals) in soils of different bioclimatic zones have been analyzed. The radial and lateral mobility of pollution halos is a universal tendency in the technogenic transformation of soils and soil cover in the regions of hydrocarbon production. The biodegradation time of different hydrocarbon compounds strongly varies under different landscape conditions, from several months to several tens of years. The transformation of original (mineral and organic) soils to their technogenic modifications (mechanically disturbed, chemically contaminated, and chemo soils and chemozems) occurs in the impact zone of technogenic hydrocarbon fluxes under any physiographical conditions. The integrated use of the existing methods for the determination of the total content and qualitative composition of bituminous substances and polyaromatic hydrocarbons in combination with the chromatographic determination of normal alkanes and hydrocarbon gases, as well as innovative methods of studies, allows revealing new processes and genetic relationships in soils and studying the functioning of soils and soil cover. The study of the hydrocarbon contamination of soils is important for development of restoration measures and lays the groundwork for the ecological and hygienic regulation based on the zonation of soil and landscape resistance to different pollutants.

Concentrations of rare-earth elements in soils of the Prioksko-Terrasnyi state biospheric reserve

The concentrations of rare-earth elements were studied in the profiles of soddy podburs and mucky-humus gley soils. The soil horizons differed significantly in the contents of Corg (0–26%), the physical clay (<0.01 mm) fraction (3–31%), the acidity (pH 4 to 5.5), and the presence/absence of Al-Fe-humus accumulations. The most significant relationship was observed between the concentrations of rare-earth elements and the physical clay content, particularly for Nd: x(Nd, mg/kg) = 7 + 1.6y (fraction <0.01 mm, %). Weak biogenic accumulations in the upper horizons were observed for Nd, Ce, and Dy; Nd, Pr, and La accumulated in the Al-Fe-humus illuvial horizon. The concentrations of rare-earth elements in the studied soils formed the following sequence (mg/kg): Nd (20–101)-Ce (10–44)-La, Sm, Gd, Dy, Yb (3–20)-Pr (1–4)-Ho (0.1–0.4)-Tm, Lu, and Tl (0.0). A clear trend was observed to higher contents of even-numbered elements as compared with odd-numbered elements, excluding La.