Features of Soil Organic Carbon Transformations in the Southern Area of the East European Plain

The active development of the problems related to assessment role pedosphere in global climate change involves possibility application quantitative determination soil organic carbon (SOC) as one indicators a climatic response. Here, authors have summarized results their own research over many years (1985–2023), comprising more than 500 determinations SOC within area Chernozem zone, south East European Plain (Moldova and Bessarabia, southern Ukraine, southwestern Russia), context regional differentiation using evaluations energy consumption for formation. data were structured each regions through creation series agrogenic transformations (virgin land, modern-day ploughed land (<100 years), continually (>100 fallow modern era (n·10 post-antique long-term land). It has been established, by means statistical treatment data, that intraregional bioclimatic conditions is key factor determining content top horizon soils Plain. comparison five variants use demonstrated all under study differed, with significance only found single type ‘continually land’ years). This fact reflects leading duration agrarian loads agropedogenesis. If steppe Chernozems even 145 ago had up 4%, then forest-steppe which used habitats 4–7%, occupied largest areas, now lost 30–40% original values 0–50 cm layer. Besides rates degradation, are known comprehensively evaluated present work, phenomenon progradation was established certain situations, particular arising during rotation regime (from ploughing fields, vice versa), stimulated effective mechanisms reproduction substances. Thus, ancient agricultural regions, where antiquity cultivated such Greek states Tauric Chersonesos Bosporos Crimea, lands possess higher contents virgin analogues. not justified consider absolute references evaluation humus since analysis corroborated an essential organo-mineral matrix formation protection capacity.