Scientific and Methodological Approaches for Assessing the Degree of Degradation of Leached Chernozem in Apple Orchards in Central Russia

Background: In the monoculture of a low-growing apple tree, soil fatigue of leached chernozem manifests itself at the age of 20-24 years of trees. Methods: A methodology for assessing the degree of soil degradation in apple orchards has been developed. Result: Its approbation on the example of leached chernozem showed that the content of mobile phosphorus and exchangeable potassium in the upper 30-60 cm layer, cellulolytic activity in the 10-100 cm layer, the number of bacteria in the 0-40 cm layer and the provision of total nitrogen in the leaves of the bioindicator (barley) in the tillering phase degraded to the greatest extent. The weakest degree of degradation of leached chernozem is noted by the thickness of the humus horizon, total porosity in a layer of 10-70 cm, structural coefficient in a layer of 0-40 cm, hygroscopicity in a layer of 0-70 cm, maximum hygroscopic humidity in a layer of 0-30 cm, the lowest moisture capacity of a layer of 0-30 cm, capillary moisture capacity in a layer of 0-60 cm, hydrolytic acidity in a layer of 10-60 cm, the sum of the exchangeable bases in a layer of 0-60 cm, the content of nitrate nitrogen in a layer of 0-60 cm, calcium exchange in a layer of 20-60 cm, magnesium exchange in a layer of 10-70 cm, meaning of this sentence is not clear. The soil parameters that have changed to the least extent can be considered as composing components of the buffering of leached chernozem. The degree of degradation of leached chernozem in 24-year-old low-growing apple orchards on rootstock 62-396 with row spacing under black steam in the conditions of CJSC 15 years of October in the Lipetsk region in 2014-2023 was low. Based on the degradation structure in this farm, it is recommended to increase the amount of phosphorus-potassium, organic or green fertilizers applied under the apple tree.