Diagnostics of Irrigated Soils in the Dry Steppe and
Semi‒Desert Zones of Azerbaijan
Firoza Ramazanova1* 
, Sultan Huseynova1 , Vusala Isagova1 ,
Gunel Jafarova2
Abstract. Research has established that soil formation in irrigated soils in the dry steppe and semi‒desert zones of Azerbaijan occurs under conditions of a prolonged warm period (mild winters and hot, dry summers). The most characteristic diagnostic indicators of irrigated, rainfed, and virgin soils in this zone have been determined. It has been established that, depending on the duration of irrigation, the particle size distribution of gray-brown soils varies from heavy to light loams. The size of water-stable aggregates > 0.25 mm is 46‒56%, and humus is 2‒3%. Humus has a humate-fulvate composition, basic water absorption capacity, and pH values in aqueous suspension of 7.4‒8.6. Gray soils have a light clay texture, contain 1.4‒2.3% humus, have a humate-fulvate composition, and an alkaline pH of 21‒36 mg-eq per 100 g of soil. Meadow gray soils have a heavy clay texture, contain 1.4‒2.9% humus, and have a humate-fulvate humus composition. They have high absorption capacity and an alkaline pH.
Keywords: soil formation, gray-brown soils, sierozem soils, meadow-gray soils, humus