Changes in the Properties of Calcareous Soils after Clearcutting in the Coniferous-Deciduous Forests of the Northwestern Caucasus
The article examines the results of changes in the properties of mountain-calcareous soils after complete felling in the coniferous-deciduous forests of the North-West Caucasus over a 9-year period. In the first 2–3 years after the clearcutting, in areas with low and medium levels of disturbance of the soil cover, which constitute the most part of the felling area, tall grass vegetation forms with an increased species diversity compared with the control forest areas. The properties of calcareous soils of the study area change significantly, especially the physical ones (temperature, humidity, bulk density, penetration resistance) and biological (flora diversity, number of microorganisms, humus content, enzyme activity). The biological properties' indicators' values of soils on areas with maximum disturbance of the soil and vegetation cover are reduced by more than 10 times in comparison with the control plots immediately after the felling. The low level disturbances due to the manifestation of the ecotonic effect can actually cause an increase in the biological activity of soils by 20–50% or more. The biological properties of soils, especially the enzymatic activity, have been found to be a very sensitive indicator of changes that occur as a result of felling. During the recovery succession over a ten-year period, in areas with moderate and severe soil disturbance, the content of organic carbon and the enzymatic activity of the soils still haven't reached the control values.