A Comparison of U.S. and Modern Russian Taxonomic Systems of Six Russian Soils

Abstract

Understanding different soil classification systems can provide insight into the strengths and weaknesses of soil classification as a whole. Six soil profiles in the Kursk Oblast, Russia were investigated for a classification comparison using the modern Russian and U.S. soil classification systems. The objective of this study was to fully classify the six Chernozem soils (Mollisols) using both systems and to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each. The information will be used to propose guides for future amendments to each classification regime. Using the U.S. system, Sites 1, 2, 4 and 6 were classified as Pachic Paleudolls, while Site 3 was a Cumulic Hapludoll and Site 5 a Pachic Hapludoll. Using the Russian system, all sites were classified as leached segregationary Chernozems. Major differences were reflected at the more detailed levels of classification. The key diagnostic feature for both systems was organic matter. Russian classification described the accumulation of nonvisible carbonates, while the U.S. system reflected clay accumulation more accurately. The Russian taxonomic system did not appear to indicate temperature, moisture, or mineralogy of the soils studied.