Humus status of light chestnut soil in Southeastern Kazakhstan under long-term fertilizer application

Serik Kenenbayev; Vitaly Gusev; Samat Tanirbergenov

doi:10.18393/ejss.1880335

Humus status of light chestnut soil in Southeastern Kazakhstan under long-term fertilizer application

Abstract

Humus is a central and relatively stable component of soil organic matter that regulates key fertility functions; therefore, robust evaluation of humus dynamics requires long-term stationary experiments. This study synthesizes results from long-term irrigated experiments on light chestnut soil in southeastern Kazakhstan (single-factor experiment, 1961–2005; multifactor experiment, 1991–2016) together with renewed environmental monitoring (2020–2023) to quantify the effects of mineral fertilization and cattle manure on humus status, plant-available nutrients, crop productivity, and environmental safety. Under continuous cropping without fertilizer input, humus in the 0–20 cm layer declined by 0.37 percentage points relative to the initial level. Mineral fertilization alone moderated humus loss but did not ensure a non-deficit humus balance, whereas combined organic–mineral fertilization (NPK + manure 60 t ha⁻¹ once per rotation) increased humus by 0.20 percentage points, reaching 2.80% by the end of the fifth rotation. Fertilization substantially improved nutrient status: under mineral fertilization, available P₂O₅ and exchangeable K₂O reached 39.5 mg kg⁻¹ and 601 mg kg⁻¹, respectively, while under the combined system they reached 52.3 mg kg⁻¹ and 765 mg kg⁻¹. Regression models from the multifactor experiment quantified dose–response relationships between fertilizer/manure inputs and soil indicators. In the fifth rotation, yields of winter wheat, maize, and alfalfa increased by 1.4–2.0 times relative to the unfertilized control, while sugar beet yield increased more than threefold. Soil heavy metal concentrations remained below sanitary–hygienic thresholds across treatments; however, lead (Pb) in maize grain exceeded the maximum permissible concentration across all fertilization systems, indicating the need for continued product monitoring and source/pathway evaluation.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Project Number

IRN BR22885097

Thanks

This study was carried out under program-targeted funding of scientific research by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2024–2026, within the program IRN BR22885097 “Ensuring the rational use of agricultural land in intensive farming based on new approaches to the conservation and reproduction of soil fertility. Also, the authors thank the anonymous reviewers for their careful evaluation and valuable recommendations, which helped strengthen the manuscript.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Soil Sciences and Plant Nutrition (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Serik Kenenbayev This is me
0000-0003-1745-8475
Kazakhstan

Vitaly Gusev ^* This is me
0000-0001-7309-5917
Kazakhstan

Samat Tanirbergenov This is me
0000-0002-6403-0984
Kazakhstan

Publication Date

April 1, 2026

Submission Date

September 19, 2025

Acceptance Date

January 19, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 15 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1880335

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA79DS93XE

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Kenenbayev, S., Gusev, V., & Tanirbergenov, S. (2026). Humus status of light chestnut soil in Southeastern Kazakhstan under long-term fertilizer application. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, 15(2), 182-194. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1880335

AMA

1.Kenenbayev S, Gusev V, Tanirbergenov S. Humus status of light chestnut soil in Southeastern Kazakhstan under long-term fertilizer application. EJSS. 2026;15(2):182-194. doi:10.18393/ejss.1880335

Chicago

Kenenbayev, Serik, Vitaly Gusev, and Samat Tanirbergenov. 2026. “Humus Status of Light Chestnut Soil in Southeastern Kazakhstan under Long-Term Fertilizer Application”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15 (2): 182-94. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1880335.

EndNote

Kenenbayev S, Gusev V, Tanirbergenov S (April 1, 2026) Humus status of light chestnut soil in Southeastern Kazakhstan under long-term fertilizer application. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15 2 182–194.

IEEE

[1]S. Kenenbayev, V. Gusev, and S. Tanirbergenov, “Humus status of light chestnut soil in Southeastern Kazakhstan under long-term fertilizer application”, EJSS, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 182–194, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.18393/ejss.1880335.

ISNAD

Kenenbayev, Serik - Gusev, Vitaly - Tanirbergenov, Samat. “Humus Status of Light Chestnut Soil in Southeastern Kazakhstan under Long-Term Fertilizer Application”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15/2 (April 1, 2026): 182-194. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1880335.

JAMA

1.Kenenbayev S, Gusev V, Tanirbergenov S. Humus status of light chestnut soil in Southeastern Kazakhstan under long-term fertilizer application. EJSS. 2026;15:182–194.

MLA

Kenenbayev, Serik, et al. “Humus Status of Light Chestnut Soil in Southeastern Kazakhstan under Long-Term Fertilizer Application”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, vol. 15, no. 2, Apr. 2026, pp. 182-94, doi:10.18393/ejss.1880335.

Vancouver

1.Serik Kenenbayev, Vitaly Gusev, Samat Tanirbergenov. Humus status of light chestnut soil in Southeastern Kazakhstan under long-term fertilizer application. EJSS. 2026 Apr. 1;15(2):182-94. doi:10.18393/ejss.1880335