Year: 2018, Number: 3, Pages: 5-20
The research focuses on specific morphologic structure of burozems in Petrov Island at the example of the three main elements of a geomorphologic profile, i.e. foot, slope, and divide. At the foot, the burozems under yew forest are characterized by light alkaline soil reaction and active humus illuviation that are the result of fine earth deluvium input and seawater impulverization. The color of the dark humus illuvial burozems is mostly black and dark grey all along the soil profile. On the slope, the profile of the podzolized burozems under lime forest is sharply differentiated into individual genetic horizons, with a well-defined podzolized horizon AEL and nonexistent humus accumulative horizon. At the divide, the podzolized burozems under cedar forest are characterized by active denudation and compared to those on the slope they have a shallow humus-organic layer and a fragmentary podzolized horizon, with charcoal particles as a proof of soil pyrogenesis. Spore-pollen spectra of the burozem genetic horizons let us point out a period of climatic cooling with coniferous species domination and a period of warming with a wide spread of broadleaved and coniferous-broadleaved species. The podzolized burozems formed in the cool period, and the warm period intensified humus accumulation and illuviation, thus camouflaging morphologic markings of profile podsolization in the burozems under yew forest.