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BIOMASS OF LIVING MICROORGANISMS IN THE EXPOSED SURFACE SOILS AND THE SUBKURGAN PALAEOSOLS IN THE DRY STEPPES OF RUSSIA

T. E. Khomutova

Abstract

The biomass of living microorganisms determined from the phospholipid content was studied in the exposed surface soils and soils of archaeological site in the dry-steppe zone of the Northern part of the Ergeninsky Upland (Russian Federation). The studied soils were represented by Kastanozems and Solonetzes. In the exposed surface soils living microbial biomass was in average 383±47 ?g C/g in the upper horizon and consistently decreased to 32% of this level down the profile. The proportion of living microbial biomass in soil organic carbon varied from 10 to 24%. In the buried palaeosols living microbial biomass was significantly less and averaged 20-76% of that in the exposed surface soils. Down the profile it increased, and was comparable to that of the exposed surface soils in B2 horizon. At a lower content of organic carbon in the palaeosols, the proportion of living microbial biomass was comparable to that of the exposed surface soils and was 8-40%. The long-term soil burial affected the amount of living microbial biomass, especially in the upper soil horizons, due to their overlapping by the kurgan embankment, changes in the conditions of nutrient input and air regime, and diagenesis as well.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2019/3.2/s13.008

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