The New Methods for Assessing Soil Fertility Changes in the Apple Orchards in the North-Eastern Part of the Central Black Earth Region

This study is aimed at implementing the new methods for assessing changes in soil properties in the Tambov and Lipetsk Regions occurring in time and space under the influence of the low-growing apple orchard and fallow. The paper presents data on the physicochemical and physical parameters of various types of soils in the apple orchards in the north-eastern part of the Central Black Earth area. The apple orchard impact on soils as compared to the natural lands is estimated. The approaches to assessing soil transformations in the apple orchards are suggested. Each method application is exemplified in the form of tabulated data. Contours of the decreased content of moisture, nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium as well as the area of increased hydrolytic acidity in the apple tree rhizosphere were determined. When implementing all the recommended approaches, the most objective and complete assessment of the soil properties transformation in orchards is provided. The soil type profile demonstrates the comparative value of the removal of soil nutrients and elements of the soil compaction, acidulation, drying, and degradation, decrease in its biological activity, and, consequently, decrease in fertility. The changes in soil properties in the apple orchards occurring in space are documented through the graphical assessment, changes in time – through the individual assessment, properties deviation from the reference values – through the absolute and comparative assessment, and changes in fertility – through the bioindication. The value of the agricultural engineering impact on soil in horticulture is significantly higher than in field crop cultivation.