Аннотация:published in Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Pochvovedenie
Abstract—During the dry growing seasons of 2011 and 2012, mulching of a sod–podzolic soil with coniferous lit
ter maintained the moisture of the upper soil layer at high and fairly stable levels. By varying the spruce litter thick
ness, it is possible to maintain optimum conditions for acidophilic plants characterized by varying responses to the
soil moisture content. In dry years (PER 0.5–0.8), the degree of influence of the mulch layer on the soil moisture
content is closely related to the magnitude of the moisture deficit calculated for a warm season.