Soil erosion is a catastrophic problem for the world's environment, including agro-ecosystems in erosion-dangerous regions of Russia. Studies were performed in the most eroded district (Krasnogvardeiskiy) of the most eroded area (Belgorod) in the Central Chernozem zone of Russia. The aim was to study the effect of soil-protecting technologies on the dynamics of organic matter in soil monitoring survey system in real conditions of agricultural production during 27-29 years. As a result, positive dynamics of organic matter content in soils of two model facilities and the district as a whole was found. During the studied period, the content of organic matter in the soils of the "Repny Log" facility increased by 0.30% in the 0-20 cm layer, and by 0.75% in the 20-40 cm layer, in the soils of the "Krasnogvardeiskiy Range" facility -by 0.79% (20 -40 cm) and by 0.50% (20-40 cm), in whole for the Krasnogvardeiskiy district -by 0.4%. However, the rate and direction of the soil-forming process in various periods of time have been non-uniform and depended on the degree of landscape agricultural systems development, as well as on the relief conditions and the state of soil cover. While in the 0-20 cm soil layer of the "Repny Log" facility there was first a 10-fold reduction in organic matter loss followed by its accumulation at the rate of 0.05% per year, the 20-40 cm layer is initially characterized by a statistically significant increase in this indicator. Study of humus soil status of the "Krasnogvardeiskiy Range" facility established a statistically significant increase in organic matter content in topsoil and subsoil by 29% and 20%, respectively, for the whole water catchment. Thus, landscape agricultural systems are able not only to reduce the rate of soil erosion, but also to prevent it and to enhance soil fertility. This provides a basis for decision-making about their large-scale development in erosion-dangerous regions with intensive agricultural production.

The article presents agrochemical techniques that reduce the accumulation of heavy metals in vegetable crops, such as potatoes and table beets, when they are cultivated on typical chernozem soils with a heavy loam granulometric composition. The data obtained allowed to conclude that the use of lime, as well as the simultaneous use of lime and manure, reduce the penetration of cadmium in potato tubers by 22 and 18%, respectively. In addition, the use of organic in its pure form reduces the penetration of this element by 8%. The studied cultures absorbed copper, lead and zinc in amounts not exceeding the threshold limit value (TLV), also in plots artificially contaminated with these metals. Heavy metals are more intensely absorbed by the aerial part of potato. During the experiments, it was found that the use of lime, organics, as well as their simultaneous application contributed to a decrease in the studied elements penetration into table beet plants. The increase in the dose of mineral fertilizers doubled positive effect of lower penetration of copper and lead into plants, although the difference was within the experimental error. A double dose of mineral fertilizer did not have any positive effect on the penetration of cadmium and zinc.

The article presents the result of a field study to study the power of humus profiles of gray forest soils and black soils of landowned different terms of agricultural use of soil catens of broad-leaved forest (background) and meadow-steppe sections of the Belgorod region. The work was carried out in the spring-summer period 2018-2019. The object of the study was different-age arable areas with an age of agricultural development of 100 and 160 years, respectively. The surface slope in the sections did not exceed 5-60. It was established that the power of the humus profile under the influence of agricultural processing over a 60-year period decreased by 49 cm, moreover, on the slopes of the northern exposition, this indicator is more pronounced (33 cm) than on the slopes of the southern exposition (16 cm). It can be noted that with an increase in the age of agricultural use on the slopes of the northern and southern expositions, the largest thickness of the humus horizon is observed on abnormal soils (72 and 65 cm, respectively). Within the background catens, the soil cover is homogeneous; a second humus horizon was observed in each of the studied sections.

The study of acid-alkaline conditions of arable soils in different terms of agricultural use was carried out in the Belgorod region on a key site corresponding to the meadow-steppe zone landscape of the forest-steppe. As a result of field studies, 32 incisions were studied in the meadow-steppe section (6 incisions on background catens and 12 incisions on open catens). Each incision was provided with layered values of morphometric indicators of soil horizons. For background steppe soils, shade slopes are characterized by more alkaline conditions, in comparison with southern slopes. For 140-year-old arable land, the situation is opposite: shadow slopes have a more acidic reaction of the medium, in comparison with insoluble ones; for 240-year-old arable land, alkaline-acid conditions on the slopes of opposite exposures do not significantly differ. In the first 140 years of plowing, acidification of the soil profile occurs; the difference in the pH value between the background and arable land values of 140 years of age on the slope of the northern exposition reaches 1.6 on the surface, gradually decreasing to 0.2 at depth. Further plowing leads to alkalization of the soil profile by 0.6-0.9 pH units, however, the initial, background level is not achieved.

The studies of the age influence of agricultural development on topogenic soil interfaces were carried out in Belgorod region on two main plots contacting to broad-forest and meadow-stepp zone landscapes of forest steppe. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of agricultural development in different years on the arable soils properties. As a result of field studies, 41 sections were studied in a broad-leaved forest main area (13 sections in the background area, 14 sections each on plowed catenas of different development ages) and 32 sections in a meadow-steppe area (6 sections on background catenas and 12 sections each on plowed catenas). A common pattern characterizing the agrogenic evolution of topogenic soil conjugations in the southern and northern exposures is their progradation into black soils as the use age increases. We have identified the following groups of external anthropogenic factors that directly affect the soil fertility after a long agricultural development: mechanical (pressure on the soil and its treatment with agricultural technology, the creation of micro - and nano - reliefs); organizational and territorial (linear boundaries and forest belts); chemical (applied fertilizers, although in small quantities, but affecting the micro ecosystem of studied areas).