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INFLUENCE OF SLOPE EXPOSURE ON THE SOILS OF AGRICULTURAL TERRACES IN THE EASTERN CAUCASUS
Abstract
In the mountain zone, the slope exposure plays important role in the process of soil formation. The aim of the work was to assess the impact of slope exposure on the soil properties of agricultural terraces in the Eastern Caucasus. A study of soil properties of agricultural terraces in the mountainous zone of the Eastern Caucasus (Dagestan, Russian Federation) was carried out. The purpose of the study was to compare the soils of agricultural terraces on the slopes of the northern and southern exposure. The content of organic carbon and activity of the urease enzyme in the soils of terraces in watershed areas and in ravine were determined. The soil-forming rocks in all cases were calcareous sandstones. It was established that due to creating terraces with a horizontal surface, the angle of incidence of sunlight has changed. As a result, the solar radiation on the soil of southern slopes has decreased, and soils of terraces of the northern slope, on the contrary, began to receive more solar radiation. Due to the increase in the volume of soil, moisture retention in the soil has also increased. Thus, terracing slopes changed the radiation balance and lead to the terrace soils on the slope of different exposures became generally similar, while on non-terraced slopes of different exposures, the soils differ very significantly. On the slope of the northern and southern exposure in the watershed zone, the activity of the urease enzyme was significantly greater than in the ravine. This is due to the high rates of organic fertilizers that were applied to the soils of watersheds.
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