NITROGEN AND CARBON RESERVES IN THE SOILS  OF SPRUCE FORESTS OF THE MURMANSK REGION

Dmitriy Zhivov; Tat&#039;yana Suhareva

doi:10.36906/2311-4444/25-4/07

UDC

630 114 263 582.475

NITROGEN AND CARBON RESERVES IN THE SOILS OF SPRUCE FORESTS OF THE MURMANSK REGION

Published in Bulletin of Nizhnevartovsk State University · Pages 84–100 · Rubric: Ecology and Nature Management

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36906/2311-4444/25-4/07

Received: 20.10.2025 Accepted: 08.12.2025 Published: 25.12.2025

Authors

Dmitriy Zhivov

ORCID

Tat'yana Suhareva

ORCID

Dmitriy Zhivov

Institute of Industrial Ecology Problems of the North of the Kola Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences Russian Federation · Apatity

ORCID

Tat'yana Suhareva

Institute of Industrial Ecology of the North, Kola Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences Russian Federation · Apatity

ORCID

ABSTRACT

Forest ecosystems play an important role in regulating the carbon and nitrogen cycles, serving as natural reservoirs of chemical elements. This study aims to obtain new data and refine existing information on carbon and nitrogen stocks in the soils of northern taiga forests. This information is particularly relevant for certain regions due to climate change and anthropogenic impacts. The focus on the Murmansk Region is due to the insufficient knowledge of carbon pools in the soils of northern forests, where specific temperature and hydrological regimes can significantly affect organic matter stocks. The article presents the results of a study on organic carbon (Corg.) and nitrogen (N) stocks in the soil of spruce forests in the Murmansk Region. The study object was Al-Fe-humus podzols in dwarf shrub‑green moss spruce forests in automorphic landscape positions. In July–August 2023, five sample plots were surveyed. Within these plots, soil samples were collected in the dominant elementary biogeoregions: in inter‑crown areas (dwarf shrub‑green moss) and under‑crown spaces (under Picea obovata Ledeb. and Betula pubescens Ehrh.). The study reveals the characteristics of the profile distribution of carbon and nitrogen stocks in the organogenic horizon (forest floor) and mineral horizons. It also demonstrates the accumulation of Corg. and N in the mineral layers at depths of 0–10 cm, 0–30 cm, and 0–100 cm. The highest reserves of Corg. and N in the forest litter were found under the spruce canopy. The total reserves (organogenic horizon + mineral layer 0100 cm) of Corg. in all studied biogeoregions are comparable and amount to 116,7–119,3 t/ha. The reserve of Corg. in the litter is 13,3–21,8% of its total reserves in the soil. The reserves of N in the organogenic horizon are comparable for the under- and inter-canopy spaces and amount to 0,63–0,70 t/ha. The total N reserves (16,4 t/ha) and N reserves (15,9 t/ha) in the 1-meter soil layer are maximum under the Betula pubescens crowns. In the intercrown spaces and under the Picea obovata crowns, the total nitrogen reserves are 14,5–14,8 t/ha. The N reserves in the litter are 2,9–4,9% of the total soil N reserves. Thus, the main reserves of soil nitrogen (up to 95%) and carbon (up to 82%) are located below the organogenic horizon and are found in the mineral layer of 0–100 cm.

KEYWORDS

soil; North taiga spruce forests; carbon; nitrogen; automorphic landscapes; Murmansk region

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GOST

Zhivov D. A., Suhareva T. A. NITROGEN AND CARBON RESERVES IN THE SOILS OF SPRUCE FORESTS OF THE MURMANSK REGION // . 2025. pp. 84-100. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36906/2311-4444/25-4/07. (Date of access 19.08.2026).

MLA

Dmitriy Zhivov, Suhareva T. A.. "NITROGEN AND CARBON RESERVES IN THE SOILS OF SPRUCE FORESTS OF THE MURMANSK REGION." (2025): 84-100. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36906/2311-4444/25-4/07.

APA

Zhivov D. A., Suhareva T. A. (2025). NITROGEN AND CARBON RESERVES IN THE SOILS OF SPRUCE FORESTS OF THE MURMANSK REGION. , 84-100. https://doi.org/10.36906/2311-4444/25-4/07

Chicago

Dmitriy Zhivov, Suhareva T. A.. "NITROGEN AND CARBON RESERVES IN THE SOILS OF SPRUCE FORESTS OF THE MURMANSK REGION." , no. (2025): 84-100. https://doi.org/10.36906/2311-4444/25-4/07.

WIKI

{{cite journal | author = Zhivov D. A., Suhareva T. A. | title = NITROGEN AND CARBON RESERVES IN THE SOILS OF SPRUCE FORESTS OF THE MURMANSK REGION | journal = | year = 2025 | pages = 84-100 | doi = 10.36906/2311-4444/25-4/07 }}

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