DYNAMICS OF CHERNOZEMS: RECONSTRUCTION AND PREDICTION OF AGRODEGRADATION
Through physically-based distributed model of the of soil organic matter (humus) dynamics, which combines the processes of its input from the land and root overground and underground residues, transport and biodegradation, the rate of formation of chernozems in natural conditions and their degradation with the involvement in agricultural production with a carbon deficit budget were investigated. The formation of chernozems under steppe vegetation made for a period of at least 2–3 thousand years. Their agro-degradation accompanied by 30–50% loss of organic matter in the surface layer over the first 100–200 years, but in the future, this process is not terminated and distributed to the deeper soil horizons, leading to progressive mineralization of over 70% of the initial stock of humus in the whole soil profile