Factors of soil and ground vegetation formation in pine forests

The analysis of a complex combination of natural and anthropogenic factors affecting the formation and functioning of ground vegetation and soils in the Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) forest of the experimental site “Otradinsky forestry” in the Moscow Region is presented. The mosaic of soils is represented by podzols illuvial-ferruginous (Albic Podzols (Arenic) and peat-podzols illuvial-humus (Albic Folic Gleyic Podzols (Arenic)). The ground vegetation cover is represented by associations of cowberry-green mosses, cowberry-blueberry-green-mosses and blueberry-sphagnum. The aim of the work was to determine the leading factors in the formation of this complex soil-vegetation cover. A regular set of 0.25x0.25 m sample plots and soil pits 0.3 m deep were made at the study area. Permanent and random factors are identified. As permanent factors determining the complexity of soils and the understorey vegetation, there are: micro-relief (dune-bumpy) and the structure of surface Quaternary deposits (quartz sands are underlain by water-resistant materials). Random factors include: recreation (a path network), ground fires and damage of the forest floor by wild boars. Analysis of the materials of the geobotany field study showed that random factors do not yet have a significant effect on the soil-vegetation cover structure.