The Analysis of the Forest Suitability of the Light-Chestnut Soils for Forest Reclamation
Goal. The goal of the article is to research the modem state of soil conditions for determining their suitability for the establishment of protective afforestation. Materials and Methods. The research was conducted on the model sections of the agricultural organizations located in the Volga-Don interfluve area in the dry steppe province with the area - based light - chestnut soils. The study of the contemporary state was conducted with the use of commonly used methods of description of soil profiles and agrochemical analysis of the samples. Results. The research showed that the soil cover on the model section is quite complex which is due to the diverse landscape and soil - forming material. The field work results revealed 29 varieties of light - chestnut soils of different granulometric composition and salinization degree. Conclusion. The detailed analysis on the model section allowed us to identify the most fertile soil variations and divide the forest reclamation funds into categories of different soil conditions. For the establishment of the stable and durable plantations it is recommended to divert light - chestnut middle loamy soils. The different qualities of the forest - site conditions generate the need for the detailed analysis of the soil conditions in the afforestation planning.