Soils of the Floodplain–Estuary Part of the Transboundary Uldza River of the Endorheic Arid Uldza–Torei Basin (Southeastern Transbaikal, Dauria)

Research reveals that soils in the floodplain-estuary of the Uldza River, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Landscapes of Dauria,' exhibit unique characteristics shaped by cyclic arid and humid phases. Predominant soil types include alluvial dark-humus (meadow and sod-meadow) and alluvial light-humus (sod) carbonate soils, marked by heavy granulometric composition in upper layers and sandy-sandy loam beneath, with highly alkaline pH and carbonate saturation. These soils are slightly saline, dominated by magnesium-sodium cations and chloride-soda anions, yet low in fertility due to minimal nitrate nitrogen and mobile phosphorus. The study, conducted during a transition from arid to humid climatic phases, underscores the need for conservation efforts in this transboundary region, given its ecological significance and vulnerability to climate change.

Ubugunov, L. L., Ubugunova, V. I., Ayushina, T. A., Zhambalova, A. D., Ubugunov, V. L., & Nasatueva, Ts. N. (2026). Soils of the Floodplain–Estuary Part of the Transboundary Uldza River of the Endorheic Arid Uldza–Torei Basin (Southeastern Transbaikal, Dauria). Arid Ecosystems, 16(1), 67–77. https://doi.org/10.1134/s2079096126700083