Contents of Organic Carbon and Nitrogen in Particle-Size Fractions of Aggregates of Typical Chernozems (Protocalcic Chernozems)

Specific features in the content and accumulation of organic carbon and nitrogen in the aggregates of typical chernozems (Protocalcic Chernozems) of long-term experimental plots with different land management systems are assessed. The size fractions in the aggregates of >10, 10–3, 2–1, 1–0.25, and 10 and <0.25 mm. All aggregates <2 mm of the chernozem under herbaceous vegetation in the process of restoration contain considerably higher amount of carbon as compared with the coarser fractions. The nitrogen content in the size fractions of the soil of steppe and shelterbelt plots follows the patterns similar to those of the carbon content.