Patterns of the soil cover formation of the Elaginoostrovsky palace and park ensemble, St. Petersburg

Soil survey of the territory of Elaginoostrovsky palace and park ensemble (St. Petersburg) in scale 1 : 500 was carried out. In total, 92 transects were laid, samples of the main types of soils were taken and their chemical properties were determined according to generally accepted methods. The connection of modern soil cover and directions of anthropogenic transformation of soils with the history of formation of different landscape areas of the park was revealed. It has been shown that, based on the park’s planning structure and historical features of its parts, it is possible to predict the spatial distribution of anthropogenic soil varieties with different thicknesses of stratified humus layers and different amounts of anthropogenic inclusions. It has been found that 23% of the studied area is under buildings and road surfaces. On the rest of the territory approximately equal shares are occupied by gray-humus stratozems (Hortic Anthrosols) and urban stratozems (Urbic Technosols), there are also slightly human transformed gray-humus gleyic soils (Gleyic Umbrisols) and humus-gleyic soils (Umbric Gleysols). Stratozems and urban stratozems have neutral or slightly alkaline environment (pH 7.0–7.5, up to 8.0 in TCN horizon), carbon content of organic compounds in surface horizons (RYur, RUur, URay, AU) is 3–4%. The stratified layers are characterized by high concentrations of plant-available phosphorus (in the Olsen extract). In many soils of the park deep intensive burrowing of the humus layer by earthworms were observed, which is typical for the Hortic horizon. The results of the conducted research allow rational organization of works on replacement of fallen old-growth trees and maintenance of existing plantations, taking into account the characteristics of soils.