Change in the mechanical composition of the soils of the Nature Reserve «Khomutovskaya steppe» under different protection regimes

A comparison was made of the soils of an area with absolute reserved regime and an area for grazing livestock in the Khomutovskaya Steppe Nature Reserve. According to the results of the analysis, livestock grazing significantly changes the granulometric composition of soils. The aggregate state of the soils in the humus-accumulative and illuvial horizons of the study areas is characterized by excellent condition according to the selected rating scale, but livestock grazing significantly aggravates this indicator.