Biogeochemical Control of Peat-Based Recultivation Process of Disturbed Tundra Soils Varying in Granulometric Composition and Full Moisture Capacity

Abstract

Biogeochemical control of recultivation (fertility restoration) of disturbed tundra soils with various granulometric composition and full moisture capacity includes an assessment of application efficiency of peat in mixture with the disturbed soil. The rational peat: soil ratio is chosen depending on granulometric composition and full moisture capacity of the disturbed soil, i.e. with increasing the physical clay (particles < 0.01 mm) content in the soil and water saturation level the amount of peat in mixture is decreasing. At the same time, the dependence of a peat: soil ratio based on granulometric composition is recommended for the territories with the undulating or dissected relief and heterogeneous soil cover, and that based on full moisture capacity, for the territories with flat or weakly dissected relief and monotonous soil cover. Efficiency of using these mixtures of peat with the recultivated disturbed soil is estimated in the conditions of in vitro experiment by means of the dehydrogenase enzyme activity analysis. In both cases dehydrogenase activity of this mixture has to be exceeded the enzyme activity of the disturbed soil and accordingly this is resulted in recommending the selected mixture for in situ soil recultivation.