Procedure for calculation of chemical indicators of ecological danger of tundra soil degradation and their validation

Based on the brief review and detailed analysis of the results obtained in the course of investigation of chemical and other characteristics of tundra soils in Russia, we developed a procedure for calculation of essential agrochemical properties of natural and disturbed soil cover in tundra to make quantitative evaluations of the ecological danger of its degradation. The initial data for calculation were the values of humus content in the soil layer 0–20 cm. They were either obtained experimentally or calculated based on correlations with soil annealing losses, hygroscopic humidity of the upper soil layer and its organic constituent, and the qualitative characterization of wetting and thermal conditions during the vegetation period. In order to illustrate the sequence and relevance of calculative determinations, we give a sample calculation and application of its results.