Changes in the Properties of Crimean Haplic Chernozems under the Impact of Forest Plantations

The impact of 50-year-old forest plantations on the properties of postagrogenic segregational chernozems (postagrogenic Haplic Chernozems) in the steppe Crimea has been studied. The effect depends on the environmental conditions and tree species. Deep soils in the lower part of a wide hollow under the plantations of Pseudotsuga menziesii and Gymnocladus dioicus are characterized by a significant increase in the content and stock of C org and N tot , a decrease in the bulk density, a greater thickness and better structural state of the layer, and a significantly smaller content of carbonates as compared to the soil of an orchard, which was under black fallow during the same period. In medium-deep Haplic Chernozems on the slope of the hollow, the changes in these soil properties are generally less pronounced; the most significant changes have been observed under Juniperus virginiana and Juglans nigra . Adverse effect of the forest plantations is seen in some accumulation of soluble salts in the layer deeper than 60 cm under Maclura pomifera , Pinus pallasiana, and Juniperus virginiana and in some alkalization under Pinus pallasiana . Our data suggest that wide hollows of Crimean plains can be used for afforestation. Gymnocladus dioicus , Pseudotsuga Menziesii , Juglans nigra, and Juniperus virginiana improve soil fertility and are the most adapted tree species to the steppe environment of central Crimea.