Possibility of Using Zoning of Fallow Vegetation by Vegetation Indices to Assess Organic Matter Accumulation in Postagrogenic Soils

Abstract Light gray forest soils (Eutric Retisols (Loamic, Cutanic, Ochric)) were studied under a 20–25-yr-old fallow at the stage of overgrowing by meadow vegetation, pine, and birch. The area plot was confined to one element topography, without morphological evidences erosion processes, with relatively homogenous soil texture. To assess influence vegetation on formation organic matter (SOM), plant cover zoned according indices calculated basis remote sensing data. k -means algorithms Random Forest method used for this purpose. It shown that there statistically significant differences between types land in terms SOM stocks upper layer old-arable horizon specification three four clusters. classes fallow—coniferous woody deciduous herbaceous vegetation—proved be most expedient; correctness their allocation confirmed geobotanical survey territory. results pairwise comparison sites occupied different indicated they significantly differ only uppermost 5-cm-thick pair coniferous vegetation. Differences accumulated humus 0–10 cm There no difference indicator