Forest Pyrogenic Peat Soils and Gleyzems in Swampy Mountain Valleys in the South of Yenisei Siberia

The differences between eutrophic peat soils (Hypereutric Sapric Histosols) and peaty gleyzems (Eutric Histic Gleysols) 20 years after a forest-peat fire have been studied by the example of a spruce forest in a swampy river valley of the Kuznetsk Alatau (622 m a.s.l.). Soils with peat and peaty horizons are characterized by high variability of properties (Cv 25–33%). The ash content varies from 23 to 81%; pH, from 5.8 to 8.2; bulk density, from 0.094 to 0.494 g/cm3; Corg content, from 7 to 37%; and the volumetric water content of peat soil, from 31 to 85%. Four groups of pyrogenic peat soils have been objectively identified based on statistical parameters. The organic carbon content has the maximum ability to differentiate clusters (93%). A much smaller proportion of the difference is provided by the moisture of peat soil (6%). Soil clusters identified at the taxonomic level of the species as peat, peaty gleyzems, shallow peaty gleyzems, and destructive soils identify the soil cover pattern of the fire area. New information complements and clarifies the data on carbon losses, which are estimating mainly by the depth of burning of the peat layer. The value of additional losses within the 0–20 cm layer is 0.4–6.3 kg C/m2 depending on the intensity of pyrogenic effects, being equivalent to carbon dioxide emissions from 1.4 to 23 kg/m2.