IRON, COBALT AND NICKEL IN FOREST SOILS OF THE NORTH-EASTERN ALTAI

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the intra-profile distribution of trace elements included in the iron triad (iron, cobalt and nickel) in brown forest, sod-podzolic and gray forest soils of the North-Eastern Altai. In the course of numerous expeditions, samples were taken from each genetic soil horizon within the boundaries of the catchment basins of the Lebed, Tondoshka, Pyzha, Iogach, Maima and Isha rivers. To describe the main soil properties, the total humus content, granulometric composition, pH and absorption capacity were determined in the Biogeochemistry Laboratory of the Institute of Water and Environmental Problems SB RAS. The analysis of samples for the content of the studied trace elements was carried out at the Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry SB RAS using a quantitative plasma-spectral method. As a result, it turned out that despite the similarity of the chemical properties of the studied trace elements, their intra-profile distribution varies significantly. Iron leaches from the profile of sod-podzolic soils, but accumulates in brown forest. Cobalt depletion of the profile occurs both in brown forest soils and in gray forest soils. In contrast, the nickel content decreases only in gray forest soils. In all other cases, soil processes do not affect the microelements under consideration.