The genesis, classification, and melioration of gleyed podzolic chernozem-like soils in the north of the forest-steppe zone of European Russia

Abstract

Chernozem-like soils with light-colored acid eluvial horizons are widespread in the forest-steppe zone of European Russia. Their formation is related to gleying under the conditions of a stagnant-percolative water regime on leached rocks. It is closely associated with the evolution of salinized soils (Gedroits’s scheme). However, these soils have not been included in the soil classifications of the Soviet Union and Russia. Based on the principles of substantial-genetic classification, one of the authors of this article [3–5, 10] referred them to gleyed podzolic chernozem-like soils, which are considered as an individual genetic soil type. With respect to agroecological aspects, they are different from the leached chernozems in their low productivity and difficulty of tillage. This article covers the problems of genesis, classification, and melioration of gleyed podzolic chernozem-like soils in the north of the forest-steppe zone of European Russia and their possible association with dark-colored podbels.