Articles | Volume 8, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-8-553-2017
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-8-553-2017
Research article
 | 
25 Apr 2017
Research article |  | 25 Apr 2017

Micromorphological characteristics of sandy forest soils recently impacted by wildfires in Russia

Ekaterina Maksimova and Evgeny Abakumov

Abstract. Two fire-affected soils were studied using micromorphological methods. The objective of the paper is to assess and compare fire effects on the micropedological organisation of soils in a forest-steppe zone of central Russia (Volga Basin, Togliatti city). Samples were collected in the green zone of Togliatti city. The results showed that both soils were rich in quartz and feldspar. Mica was highly present in soils affected by surface fires, while calcium carbonates were identified in the soils affected by crown fires. The type of plasma is humus–clay, but the soil assemblage is plasma–silt with a prevalence of silt. Angular and subangular grains are the most dominant soil particulates. No evidence of intensive weathering was detected. There was a decrease in the porosity of soils affected by fires as a consequence of soil pores filled with ash and charcoal.

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Short summary
Two fire-affected soils have been studied using micromorphological methods. The objective of the paper is to assess and compare fire effects on the micropedological organisation of soils in a forest-steppe zone of central Russia. The burnt soils differ from the control on a macromorphological level only in the upper part of the profile where the litter is transformed to ash identified as a dim grey organomineral mixture. Processes of soil erosion are clearly manifested 1 year after the fire.