Digital large-scale soil parent material map of Chashnikovo Training and Experimental Soil Ecology Center, Moscow State University

Abstract

A large-scale digital map of the soil parent materials has been produced for the territory of the Chashnikovo Training and Experimental Soil Ecology Center (TESEC), which has an area of 338.9 ha. The digital processing methods for extensive field data (748 sampling points) included incorporation of the data into databases, automated algorithms for soil taxa identification, and various digital soil mapping techniques. The five methods used to produce the map give similar values within an overall accuracy range of 0.69–0.74. The objective sample color criteria in the CIE L*a*b* system were used to identify soil parent materials. Eleven main parent material types have been distinguished; the distinct pattern of their distribution over the terrain relief, which determines the soil diversity in the study area, has been identified.