Elemental chemical composition and ecological-geochemical assessment of soil condition in lacustrine depressions of pulsating chloride lakes of Uldza-Torey Inner Basin

In a scientific first, we have studied the content and distribution of biogenic elements in three landscape-dominating and facies-related soils in lacustrine depressions of pulsating highly mineralized chloride lakes of Uldza-Torey basin (Lake Babye, Southeastern Transbaikalia): gleyic solonchak (loamic, chloridic)), calcaric mollic gleysol (arenic, endosalic, sodic)) and fluvic kastanozem (epiarenic, amphiloamic, sodic). The article presents an assessment of their ecological and geochemical status. It has been found that the studied soils are characterized by unfavorable physical, physicochemical and agrochemical properties and varying degree of salinity, and the quantitative level of nutrients varies significantly.Gross content of all macro- and microelements in ash is insignificant and lower than clarke values. Very high N concentration and increased content of Ca, Mg, S, Na and K have been determined directly in the saline layer of gleyic solonchak. The accumulation of most macro- and microelements in soils studied is significantly lower than in Kursk chernozem and zonal chestnut soil. Soils of the lake depression are characterized by an environmentally safe accumulation of the labile forms of Zn, Cu, Co and Ni compared to their maximum permissible concentrations, and Mn content is higher, especially in the saline layer. The content of available nitrogen, phosphorus and most microelements for plant needs are low in these soils. In general, they are of unfavorable composition of nutrients for production potential and less than optimal ecological and geochemical situation. However, the soils have significant landscape-ecological and biological significance for preserving the diversity of unique natural ecosystems, and in the future they will also have a certain medical priority (therapeutic mud and mineralized lake waters).