Scientific publications

Analytic data on the status of Karelian soils at different stages of artificial reforestation (newly logged lands and 7-, 20-, and 40-year-old pine plantations) are discussed. Chemical (pH, saturation with bases, C_total, and N_total), biochemical (composition of carbohydrates), and microbiological (number of microorganisms of the most important ecological–trophic groups) soil properties have been investigated. It has been revealed that the forest litter is modified to the greatest rate after complete forest cutting. In soils formed under young 7-year-old pine plantations, organic-matter destruction becomes more intensive, and mortmass is transformed to a greater rate. The type and intensity of the input of plant debris to the soil vary with tree growth and affect the rate and tendency of organic-matter transformation. It is concluded that the studied soils are regenerated within a 40-year-long period after complete forest cutting