Agrochemical assessment of productive potential of soils of coastal depressions of pulsating highly mineralized chloride lakes of the Uldza–Torey drainless closed basin

The soil diversity of coastal depressions of pulsating highly mineralized chloride lakes of the Uldza–Torey closed basin (on the example of the Lake Babie) within the Southeastern Transbaikalia area was studied. It has been established that 3 main soil types dominate: quasigley solonchaks, saline humus-quasigley soils and light-humus saline soils. The soils under study, especially the quasigley solonchaks, are characterized by unfavorable physicochemical and agrochemical properties and a high degree of salinity in most horizons with the excessive content of Na+ and Cl– toxic ions. Very high concentrations of N, Ca, Mg, S, and Na+ and Cl– ions were revealed in the upper saline layer (0–5 cm) of the quasigley solonchaks. A low content of the most important nutritional elements, including nitrogen and phosphorus available for plants was defined mainly in soils studied, so as biogenic microelements in humus-quasigley saline and light humus saline soils. Therefore, these soils have an extremely low level of both potential and effective fertility based on the agrochemical assessment of their production ability. When considering the ecological uniqueness and medicinal value of the lake and its lakeside ecosystems, it is recommended to exclude these soils and land resources from agricultural practice. They must be used in the form of specially protected natural landscape components as a part of reproduction areas, nature reserves, territories of medical and balneological resorts and other health care facilities.