Degradation of soil physical properties in chernozem zone under urban conditions

The analysis of changes in soil properties under urban conditions is represented by the example of Rostov agglomeration soils. Physical (structural state, soil bulk density) and morphological (thickness of abiotic sediment, thickness of organogenic horizon) soil properties are considered. A comparison of the city areas with different degrees of anthropogenic transformation and the intensity of impact, assesses the degradation properties of studied soils have been performed. It has been found that the thickness of abiotic sediment in urbostratozems is high and according to the degradation scale is estimated as level 4. In the studied soils the reduction of organic horizons thickness rarely reaches the level of degradation. Soil bulk density varies locally, mainly due to techogenic human activities. The structural state of the soil is rather conservative, but urbopedogenezis contributes to the gradual decrease in the share of agriculturally valuable fractions.