Changes in the properties and productivity of leached chernozem and gray forest soil under the impact of ameliorants

The results of field experiments on the influence of application of phosphorite, glauconite, and zeolite to a leached chernozem demonstrated a decrease in exchangeable acidity of the soil, an increase in the contents of available phosphates of the first and second groups (Ca–P 1 and Ca–P 2 ) and water-soluble and exchangeable potassium, as well as the enhanced microflora activity in the rhizosphere, and acceleration of the growth of microorganisms’ biomass. The yield of spring wheat grown on the leached chernozem significantly increased upon the application of increasing rates of these ameliorants. In a pot experiment, application of the water suspension of nanostructured zeolite at the rate of 1 t/ha had a more pronounced effect on the agrochemical and biological properties of a silt loamy gray forest soil and the yield capacity of buckwheat in comparison with that of zeolite of standard grind applied at the rate of 15 t/ha. The changes in the properties of this soil and the additional yield of grain under the influence of the water suspension of nanostructured zeolite at the rate 0.1 t/ha were comparable with those under the influence of zeolite of standard grind applied at the 150 times higher rate.