Abstract
<jats:p>The aim of the study is to determine the influence of soil agrochemical properties on post-fire pine reforestation processes in the Tsasucheysky pine forest Federal Nature Reserve in the Trans-Baikal Region. This unique ribbon pine forest, home to Pinus sylvestris L. and P. sylvestris subsp. krylovii Serg. et Kondr., is a flat area with uniformly growing, robust, low-growing conifers. Here, pine trees can form medium-density and medium-quality stands of middle age. Six combined soil samples from the 2012 burn sites, the living part of the pine forest, and the zonal steppe at the southern boundary of its distribution were analyzed. Non-zonal soils, classified as pine forest sands, were also present. Laboratory analysis of the elemental composition revealed soils deficient in humus (up to 1.9 %) and mobile nutrient forms (NH4+, P205, Mg2+, etc.). The pH is lower than in adjacent zonal chestnut soils, indicating a weak podzolization process under coniferous forests. This phenomenon, although detrimental to soil fertility, provides the root systems of woody plants with nutrients in the steppe zone with a limited water regime. An assessment of post-fire reforestation processes in the Tsasucheysky pine forest Sanctuary revealed that the unburned portion of the pine forest has the most favorable soil agrochemical profile. The prolonged absence of fires in this area allows the soils to accumulate greater amounts of organic matter for optimal growth and development. To successfully restore pine in the Tsasucheysky pine forest Sanctuary, it is necessary to implement special agronomic measures and increase the area planted with P. sylvestris subsp. krylovii, as this subspecies is best adapted to the dry steppe conditions of the Trans-Baikal Region.</jats:p>