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MICROBIAL BIOMASS OF PALEOKASTANOZEMS BURIED UNDER KURGANS OF DIFFERENT AGES AND MODERN KASTANOZEMS

Anush Petrosyan, Natalia Kashirskaya, T. E. Khomutova

Abstract

Microbial biomass was evaluated by determining the content of soil phospholipids in the upper and illuvial horizons of different-age kastanozems and solonetzes of the Bronze Age, Early Iron Age and Medieval time, located on various soil-forming rocks, in the zone of dry steppes, as well as in modern background soils. The microbial biomass in the upper horizon of modern Kastanozem on loess-like loams was 2800 ?g per g of soil that was 3 and 4 times higher than that in the upper horizon of modern kastanozem and modern solonetz located on ferruginous sandstones. Paleosoils located on loess-like loams had higher values of microbial biomass compared to paleosoils on ferruginous sandstones also. The values of microbial biomass in the uppers horizons decreased with the depth of burial and the age of the burial mounds. On loess – like loams in the upper horizons of paleosoils of the Bronze Age, the decrease in microbial biomass was 7 times; in paleosoils of Early Iron Age 3 – 10 times; in paleosoils of the Medieval Time 2 – 4 times compared to modern soil. On ferruginous sandstones, this difference varied from 2 to 4 times in whole chronosequence. In the illuvial horizons, in most cases the values of microbial biomass were 1.5 – 3 time less in comparison to the upper horizons and not show regular decrease according to the depth and age of burial. In the illuvial horizons of soils buried in the II-III ka BC and I century AD a significant increase in microbial biomass was observed, to 1108 – 1550 ?g C per g of soil, which may be associated with a change in the structure of the microbial community as a result of changes in the paleoclimate.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2021/3.1/s13.62

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