On the basis of field route studies, the morphological and basic chemical properties of the soils of the foothill plain of the southern slope of the Karatau range within the territory including the vicinity of the city of Kentau and the settlements of Shashtobe, Karnak, Bayaldir, Khantagi, Burgem, Kushata were studied in order to assess the current state of the soil cover. A soil map of scale 1:100 000 has been compiled. Geoinformation technologies and remote sensing materials were used in the preparation of the map.

Study carried out on gray-brown soils and saline soils of the semi-arid showed, that the soil cover of the studied two types of soils is sandy in terms of granulometric composition, sandy loamy and llight loamy varieties. The thickness of the humus horizon (A + B1) of gray-brown sandy soils is developed up to 38 cm. In the upper 0-18 cm layer, the humus content is 1.54 % - in the transitional horizon B1 - 0.52 %, down the profile, its content gradually decreases and in the parent rock decreases to 0.16 %. An analogous regularity can be traced in the distribution of humus along the profile in gray-borax on sandy loamy soil and solonchak. In the profile of the studied soils, the predominant fraction is sand, the average content of which in gray-brown sandy soils ranges from 83.06 to 91.96 %, in sandy soil and solonchak, respectively, 78.57-82.20 % and 37.55-74.55 %. In the humus horizon A, the content of physical clay in gray-brown sandy soils was 9.02 %; starting from a depth of 61 cm, the content of physical clay decreases to bound sand (5.41-5.57 %). The supply of the humus horizon of zonal soils with mobile phosphorus is very low with exchangeable potassium - high, in the solonchak, phosphorus and potassium are low. The cation exchange capacity in horizon A, depending on the granulometric composition and humus, ranges from 7.06-13.33 and 12.86 mg/eq per 100 g of soil, in all the studied soils, a decrease in the absorption capacity in horizons BC and C is observed, which is associated with the peculiarities of the genesis of these soils. The composition of absorbed bases is dominated by calcium cations, its fluctuation in the soil absorbing complex (SAC) of sandy soil was 66.28- 74.46 %, sandy loam 53.10-56.09 % . In the horizons BC and C of the solonchak at a depth of 58 cm, an increase in the proportion of magnesium is observed, which is associated with an increase in exchangeable sodium in the SAC. The lower content of carbanates was found in the sandy soil, and the maximum content was found in the solonchak profile. Signs of hydromorphism in sandy soils are seen from a depth of 61 cm, sandy soils - 25 cm, saline - 33 cm.

The article presents the results of a comparative study of the effect of drip irrigation of rice and irrigation by the traditional method of constant flooding on various forms of nitrogen in ricemarsh soils. It was found that with drip irrigation, the content of total nitrogen changed in small ranges in the tillering phase, then a gradual decrease is observed towards the end of the growing season, and with constant flooding, it remained stable until the end of the growing season in low limits. The content of nitrate nitrogen under drip irrigation exceeds its content under constant flooding. This is primarily due to the water layer on the control variant with constant flooding, which during the growing season leaches nitrate nitrogen from the arable soil layer into the underlying horizons. The content of ammonia nitrogen changes synchronously according to the patterns of nitrogen consumption in the phases of rice vegetation, regardless of the method of irrigating rice. It has been established that the content of alkaline hydrolysable nitrogen with drip irrigation is two times higher than with constant flooding. This is explained by the same conclusions made earlier, where the main factor influencing the nitrogen content is water, which under drip irrigation increases the activity of anaerobic living organisms, which in turn serves as the foundation of alkaline hydrolysable nitrogen. The content of easily hydrolysable nitrogen has little difference between the permanent flooding and drip irrigation.

In recent years, anthropogenic impact on the soil has increased in Kazakhstan, which has led to the loss of soil fertility and its degradation: the humus content in the soils has decreased, the area of eroded and contaminated lands has increased, the water-physical, chemical and biological properties have deteriorated, degradation phenomena have arisen. Also, the widespread use of chemicals has had a negative impact not only on the above properties of soils, but also contributed to environment pollution. The solution to these issues to restore and increase soil fertility can be the use of humic fertilizers, the active ingredient of which are sodium, ammonium and potassium humates. The novelty of the research lies in the use of an integrated approach in studying the effect of liquid humic fertilizers on increasing soil fertility, crop yields, as well as obtaining environmentally friendly products. The purpose of the study is the introduction of technology to increase the productivity of crops using humic fertilizers. One of the objectives of this study was to study the change in the number of microorganisms in the light chestnut soil under the influence of liquid humic fertilizers "BioEcoGum" and "Tumat". The results obtained showed that in the spring observation period, the total microbial number in the soybean and safflower variants using the studied fertilizers is higher 1,5-3,68±0,2*10^-6 КОЕ/ml than in the control variants on KAA and by 0,2-1,38±0,3*10^-6 КОЕ/ml on MPA. In the summer study period, the greatest effectiveness of fertilizers is noted in the cultivation of soybeans, where the amount of microflora (MPA) is 1,23-1,32±0,1*10^-6 КОЕ/ml above control. The lowest GMN on MPA was detected in the safflower variant when using Tumat and amounted to 1,08±0,1*10^-6 КОЕ/ml., which is 2,11±0,1*10^-6 КОЕ/мл./ml. lower than the option without treatment. On KAA and Chapek medium, the use of liquid fertilizers had a lowering effect on the activity of soil microflora. In the variants of GMN soybeans by 0,13-0,17±0,17*10^-3 КОЕ/ml below control, in safflower variants - by 0,53-1,12±0,17*10^-3 КОЕ/ml. This fact may indicate a good phytosanitary condition of crops, since fungi are pathogens of various plant diseases. The positive effect of liquid fertilizers "BioEcoGum" and "Tumat" on the content of ammonifiers and actinomycetes, which are activators of soil processes, was established. The number of microscopic fungi in the experiments was low, which is characteristic of the predominance of the processes of accumulation of organic substances over decomposition, and as a result of the use of fertilizers, the amount of this group decreased even more. Also, the predominance of actinomycetes of the genus Streptomyces was revealed (from 20 to 30 %) the presence of which can serve as an indicator of the entry into the soil of hard-to-degrade organic matter.

The article gives an ecological assessment of the influence of heavy metals on the biological properties of light-chestnut soils in the southeast of Kazakhstan. Heavy metals significantly affect the abundance, species composition, and vital activity of soil biota. They inhibit not only the processes of mineralization and synthesis of various substances in soils, but also the biological activity of soils. The results of the study expand the information base on the specifics of soil biological activity indicators; provide an opportunity to optimize research when planning environmental monitoring of contaminated soils, as well as expand the possibilities for interpretation obtained during monitoring. The paper presents data on the study of the effect of heavy metals on the biological activity of soils. A review of literature data on the content of heavy metals in the environment is given, and the negative impact of some of them on the biological properties of light-chestnut soil is described. The species of soil invertebrates were identified, as well as soil enzymes that should be used as bioindicators for monitoring the contamination of light-chestnut soils with heavy metals. Heavy metals such as Pb, Cd, Cu, Zu, to their special chemical and biological properties, tend to bio-accumulation. It has been established that some soil invertebrates show potential resistance to soil contamination with heavy metals. Soil fauna is a good indicator group for assessing the degree of disturbance of light-chestnut soils. The results obtained will expand knowledge about changes in the biological activity of light-chestnut soils under the influence of HM pollution in the ecosystems of southeastern Kazakhstan.

According to its physical and geographical conditions Lankaran province is divided into two parts Lankaran mountain system, which is a denudation zone, and Lankaran lowland, which is an accumulation zone. Typical yellow-soil soils of the region are characterized by quite clear differentiation of genetic profile. Yellow-soil soils of Lankaran oblast are developed in extremely diverse bioclimatic and geomorphological conditions, since some parts of the territory due to the mountainous terrain differ in vegetatioіn cover, water regime features, the type of circulation and migration of substances. As a result, the following soil types are distinguished in the group of yellow-soil soils: Mountain-forest yellow-soil, yellow-soil-pseudosodzolic soils, yellow-soil-gley soils.

The article presents a brief analysis of the scientific literature on the impact of the consequences of climate change on the soil cover. The results of studies of the Kazakh Research Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry named after U.U. Uspanov on the issues of studying the processes of soil transformation as a result of the impact of climate change, manifested in the processes of desertification, degradation and increased anthropogenic impact.