Seasonally frozen Podzolic soils of the middle taiga subzone in their natural state presents scarcely favorable conditions for cultivated plants. They have high acidity, low humus content, fulvic acids dominating in the humus composition. Besides, their nutrient content is low.

Optimization of these soils properties includes the following main tasks: rising the humus content, adjustment of soil acidity, and providing plants with necessary nutrients.

The effect of lime, manure, and fertilizers on soil acidity, soil absorbing complex, humus content and composition, and plant productivity were studied and will be discussed in the proposed paper.

On the Podzolic soils, plants are especially limited in nutrients during spring and early summer when the soil is not heated enough. As the experiments showed, the most efficient use of fertilizers can be secured when their proper balance is kept, and micronutrients are taken into account.

Dr. Galena Ya. Yelkina
Senior Researcher
Department of Soil Science
Institute of Biology
Komi Scientific Center
Ural Branch
Russian Academy of Sciences
RUSSIA 167610 Syktyvkar
ul.Communisticheskaya, 28
Phone: (8212) 425115
Fax: (8212) 420163
E-mail: biol@omkomi.intec.ru