Meadow soils: features and brief characteristics, vegetation
Meadow soils are found in the forest-steppe, steppe and foothill zones and in the deltas of large rivers. Let us consider the features of meadow soils, the morphological structure of the profile, the processes that lead to the formation of this type of soil, which subtypes of soils belong to meadow soils. What types of vegetation are typical for meadow soils, what are important for their formation.
Features of meadow soils
They are formed under the vegetation of meadows, with increased moisture from above or soil water. The soil profile is characterized by the presence of a gley layer in its lower part, in the upper part - a humus layer, they are often saline and carbonate.
Soils of this type are found in the gray earth zone, they are characterized by a high content of humus in the fertile layer (4-5%), due to the deposition of the remains of perennial herbaceous vegetation.
Meadow soils are alkaline, mainly due to s alt saturation. In the lower part of the profile, accumulation of carbonates is noted. Gypsum may sometimes be present in different horizons.
Morphological structure of the profile
Meadow soil profile has the following structure: a sod layer with humus content, which has a thickness of 10-20 cm. Then comes a dark gray layer with a bluish tinge, 20-40 cm thick, with a lumpy structure. It is followed by a horizon, whitish from the carbonates contained in it, with the inclusion of rusty-ocher spots. Below is a gley layer, viscous, gray or whitish-gray in color, also with inclusions of carbonates.
Main soil-forming processes
Meadow soils are formed due to gley and simultaneously soddy processes. The conditions that form such soils are a large amount of rainwater and ground moisture that rises from the lower horizons.
Usually soils of meadows are located on flat areas, insufficiently drained, subject to constant surface or underground moisture. Groundwater is 1-2.5 m deep. The peculiarity of meadow soils is herbage and sod, the top layer is penetrated by roots, which gives it density.
Subtype overview
Meadow soils are divided into 4 subtypes: typical, marsh-meadow, chernozem and mountain-meadow. Typical have characteristic properties and are distributed throughout the territory and the entire gray earth zone.Meadow-marsh are distributed mainly in the southern part of the forest-steppe zone, on flat plains, in areas with groundwater (1.5-3 m). They are formed under reeds, sedges, and other swamp vegetation, which is replaced by meadow vegetation during dry periods. May be saline due to groundwater action.
Meadow-marsh are divided into humus and silt. Humus contain a lot of humus in the top layer. The silt contains silt, the damp upper horizon becomes blocky after drying.
Chernozem soils of meadows are not waterlogged, since the depth of groundwater is at least 5 m. They are formed under the steppe perennial grasses. Mountain meadows are formed in the foothill areas. They contain a lot of humus in the upper layer, but as it deepens, its percentage decreases sharply.They have an acidic reaction, contain a lot of rubble.
Vegetation
Timothy, bluegrass, fescue, meadow geranium, cornflowers, clover, colza, brome, alfalfa, dandelion, meadow foxtail, mouse pea, flax, plantain, St. John's wort, chin, coltsfoot, hedgehog team, that is, plants typical of the steppe zone.
Meadow lands are used as excellent grazing and haylands. They are also used for growing forage grasses, usually perennials or legumes. Legumes saturate the soil with nitrogen, perennial grasses strengthen and improve the structure.
Oats, rapeseed, flax, root crops and vegetables are grown from agricultural crops on meadow lands after fertilization.
Meadow soils are formed under conditions that have their own characteristics, this is a combination of gley and sod processes, external and internal moisture.They form on plains or small slopes with a high occurrence of groundwater. Steppe perennial herbaceous vegetation is involved in their formation, which forms turf and a rather high level of humus. Meadow soils are mainly used as pastures and hayfields; when cultivated, they can also be used for growing crops.
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