Cryosols in seasonally frozen landscapes of the Selenga Highlands

We have studied for the first time soils in transeluvial landscapes of the Tsagan-Daban Range in the Selenga Highlands formed in a layer of long-term seasonally frozen ground on loesslike carbonate loams. Soddy-cryometamorphic coarse-humus podzolized residual-carbonate soil has been examined in a watershed position under a pine-birch shrub-rich herb forest at an altitude of 904 m above sea level. This soil is characterized by the formation of a coarse-humus horizon of a brownish-dark gray colour with varying degrees of organic matter decomposition. Cryometamorphic horizons have a light brown and yellowish-brown colour, a granular-lumpy structure. The soil texture is medium and light loamy. Eluviation process is shown by the skeletana, which is located on the surface of the aggregates. Soddy-cryometamorphic coarse-humus podzolized pale-metamorphosed soil has been studied in a watershed position under a birch forest with an admixture of larch, pine, aspen, shrub-fofb forest at an altitude of 913 m above sea level. The coarse-humus horizon is dark brown in colour and consists of organic material of medium decomposition. Cryometamorphic horizons are ocher-brown and pale-brown in colour, the structure is granular-lumpy and nutty-lumpy. Skeletans are observed along the edges of structural units. The soil texture is light and medium loamy. The soil-absorbing complex of these soils is saturated with bases.