Russian Soil Research Articles

Suprapermafrost Horizons of the Accumulation of Raw Organic Matter in Tundra Cryozems of Northern Yakutia

In the profiles of cryozems (Oxyaquic Turbic Cryosols) developing in tundra of northern Yakutia under conditions of shallow active layer, suprapermafrost horizons of the accumulation of raw organic matter are formed. Taking into account their genesis, stable and regular position in the soil profile, paragenetic links with the overlying horizons and neighboring soil profiles, and a set of diagnostic features and properties, these horizons can be separated as a new type of genetic soil horizons—the organomineral accumulative suprapermafrost horizon (CRO). Its qualitative composition (the ratio of organic and mineral matter in the material) can be reflected at a lower level. In relation to the separation of the new genetic horizon within the framework of the new Russian soil classification system, a new genetic types of soils—cryozem with suprapermafrost accumulation of raw organic matter (suprapermafrost organo-accumulative cryozem)—can be established. Its diagnostic profile has the following horizonation: (O, AO, T)–CR–CRO–┬C.

О принципах классификации пахотных почв России

It is shown that the profile principle of arable soils classification, implemented in the new classification of Russian soils is not correct. The separation of 2-3 new soil types in a single tilled soils was conducted only according to the presence of the arable layer. The profile of the arable soil was not analyzed. This led to serious errors, overloading of the classification by excessive, non-existent types of soils that do not carry useful information and, therefore, distorting the reality. The analysis of properties and processes in arable soils considered in the article has shown that just plowing, crops cultivation and economic activities do not change significantly the processes that formed the soil before plowing. They lead to changes of some properties in the arable soil and, however, do not reach the new natural-agrogenic horizon. Therefore, it will be correct to separate the arable soil on the level of the subtype of the soil, which was tilled. Some changes, which occurred in the properties of tilled soils are in fact new specificities superimposed on natural horizons which were created in virgin soils. Precisely this was done in the Classification and Diagnostics of Soils of the USSR (1977) during the analysis of profiles for cultivated, reclaimed and cultivated soddy-podzolic soils. However, these soils were related to the new type - the type of cultivated soddy-podzolic soils. As it is seen in the name of the soil, the genetical connection with the virgin soils was preserved. If this soil is also eroded, it will be proposed to determine the soil water erosion degree and to separate it already at the level of a type within a subtype of arable land. This could be done by the analysis of profile remains, and by using the comparative-geographic method. A new process in arable soil, which is able to form a different soil horizon, and which is not manifested only in the form of various specificities, might occur only with great efforts in soil cultivation or radical reclamation: irrigation, drainage. Only when a new horizon appears in the arable soil, according to the principles indicated in the soil classification, a new type of arable soil is separated. A significant change in the humus horizon in arable soddy-podzolic soil: its thickness, color, humus content, structure, and other properties may serve as the basis for separation of a new type - the cultivated soil type. The proposed approach will make it possible to compose a highly informative substantive-genetic classification of soils not only for natural, but also for various arable soils.

The soils of mountainous territories (in the Russian)

Specific soils of mountainous regions having no analogues on plains occupy less than 3% of Russia. On the soil maps of Russian Federation (1 : 2.5 M scale, 1988), they are represented by 10 mapping units, the names of which, along with the term “mountainous” reflecting characteristic properties of these soils (general youth, thin profiles, high content of gravels, underlying by hard bedrock) contain information about the particular landscape conditions of soil formation. For updating of the map, the soils shown on it are renamed in agreement with the new Russian substantive-genetic soil classification system. The profile-genetic approach lying in the basis of this system excludes the use of landscape terms in soil names. The reclassification of mapping units is performed with due account for individual features of each particular polygon shown on the map. In essence, it consists of the search of information about the soil properties for identification of the diagnostic horizons and genetic properties of the soils to give formulae of their horizonation (in symbols of diagnostic horizons and properties). This search is based on the program and explanatory text to the map and various regional publications presenting information about the soils and the agents of soil formation. The formulae of the profiles are used to determine classification position of the soils in the substantive-genetic classification system. Most of the soils from this section of the legend belong to the order of organo-accumulative soils. The differences between them are related to differences in the types of humus and surface organic horizons. In the case of the low thickness of the profiles, the soils belong to the orders of lithozems and/or poorly developed stony soils (petrozems). As a rule, the same unit in the legend to the map corresponds to two or more soils in the new classification system. The mapping unit “mountainous forest-meadow soils” has been subdivided into five different soils with due account for the regional specificity of soil properties and landscape features. In the course of this study, several suggestions to improve the classification system of Russian soils have been made.

Ideational Preconditions to the Success of the October Revolution

This article aims to analyse some ideational preconditions, traced back to the preceding periods of Russian history, which enabled the success of the October Revolution in 1917. Firstly, the article deals with the views of Georges Florovsky (1893–1979), Russian theologian, philosopher and historian. Florovsky argues that Russian thought had been ‘in captivity’ ever since the 16th century, a captivity imposed by Western influences. Among the foreign influences, it is the German idealist philosophy that is perceived by Florovsky as the most detrimental, for it paved the way for various utopian projects, including the Bolshevik revolution. Secondly, the article examines the notions of the Russian philosopher Nikolai Berdyaev (1874–1948). From Berdyaev’s point of view, the victory of Bolshevism resulted from Russia’s lack of a free secular intellectual- philosophical tradition, which was thwarted by the authoritarian state. As a consequence, Bolshevik ideology interpreted the original Marxism in conceptually closed terms. The present paper argues that the views of Florovsky and Berdyaev are acceptable yet partial. This is because they are concerned with generally interpreting the formation of the intellectual environment which favoured the victory of Bolshevism on Russian soil, without considering the complexity of Russian politics and society at the turn of the 19th century.

FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOIL DYNAMICS SCIENTIFIC SCHOOL AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING AND ECOLOGICAL GEOLOGY OF MSU

The main stages of the formation and development of soil dynamics scientific school at the Department of Engineering and Ecological Geology in Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) are considered. These stages are discussed on the general background of the development of soil dynamics all over the world as a separate scientific direction. During early 60-s the research of thixotropic and floating properties of soils had started at the Department of Engineering Geology. The next (1980-1992) years are characterized by the appearance of new methods of dynamic testing and determination of the potential for liquefaction of soils. In MSU S.K. Nikolaeva, V.T. Trofimov, V. Ya. Kalachev, E.A. Voznesensky and V.G. Kovalenko at that time studied thixotropic properties of model and natural clay soils. In 1993–2005 development of soil dynamics at the Department are mainly connected with the researches of E.A. Voznesensky and his colleagues. In 2006–2018 these researches had significant influence by the general scientific “background” in this area during the period under review, as well as the involvement of our scientists in major and responsible projects. It is concluded that soil dynamic research at the Department of Engineering and Ecological Geology was initially related with the studies of thixotropy and floating properties of soils, and its development was generally following the world science and practice, but always determined by the theoretical and methodological principles of Russian soil engineering science. The Department has become a well-equipped scientific center for dynamic soil research, possessing not only modern equipment, but also qualified personnel. The Deportment has it’s our own scientific school of soil dynamics with its own methods of research and training.

Soils and Vegetation of the Khaipudyr Bay Coast of the Barents Sea

Soils and vegetation of the coastal zone of the Khaipudyr Bay of the Barents Sea have been examined and compared with analogous objects in the Karelian coastal zone of the White Sea. The environmental conditions of these two areas are somewhat different: the climate of the Khaipudyr Bay coast is more severe, and the seawater salinity is higher (32–33‰ in the Khaipudyr Bay and 25–26‰ in the White Sea). The soil cover patterns of both regions are highly variable. Salt-affected marsh soils (Tidalic Fluvisols) are widespread. The complicated mesotopography includes high geomorphic positions that are not affected by tidal water. Under these conditions, zonal factors of pedogenesis predominate and lead to the development of Cryic Folic Histosols and Histic Reductaquic Cryosols. On low marshes, the concentrations of soluble Ca2+, K+ + Na+, Cl–, and SO2-4 ions in the soils of the Khaipudyr Bay coast are two to four times higher than those in the analogous soils of Karelian coast. Cluster analysis of a number of soil characteristics allows separation of three soils groups: soils of low marshes, soils of middle-high marshes, and soils of higher positions developing under the impact of zonal factors together with the aerial transfer and deposition of seawater drops. The corresponding plant communities are represented by coastal sedge cenoses, forb–grassy halophytic cenoses, and zonal cenoses of hypoarctic tundra. It is argued that the grouping of marsh soils in the new substantivegenetic classification system of Russian soils requires further elaboration.

Smuta: cyclical visions of history in contemporary Russian thought and the question of hegemony

In the post-Soviet context, various cyclical models of recurrent Russian “Times of Troubles” (smuty) have become increasingly popular. This perspective emerged first in Soviet dissident circles (Alexander Yanov, Aleksandr Akhiezer), who used it as a means to expose as mistaken the Soviet belief in continual historical progress on Russian soil. In post-Soviet Russia this critical approach has been continued by members of the “Akhezier circle,” the economist Egor Gaidar, and others. Meanwhile it was given an affirmative, conservative reinterpretation by Aleksandr Panarin, according to whom Russia has always managed to overcome its phases of devastating Westernization and state collapse. This idea of Russian history has become influential; even Vladimir Putin has talked about Russia as a strong state able to survive various “Times of Troubles” from the early seventeenth century to the early post-Soviet period. It also figures prominently among members of the neoconservative Izborsk Club. This article analyzes different conceptions of Russian history as cyclical and their prominent place in the prevailing civilizational discourse of post-Soviet Russia. By means of postcolonial perspectives, this discourse is seen on the one hand as an attempt to question and reject Western hegemony, attempts that on the other hand nevertheless seem unable to liberate themselves from a normative dependence on the West.

Cartographic Assessment of Soil Diversity in Russia

The paper describes approaches assessing the diversity of soils in Russia, as well as algorithms for quantitatively assessing the differentiation of soil bodies and covers. To assess soil diversity (or the degree of differentiation of parent rock materials into soil bodies and soil covers), two indices have been introduced: the vertical differentiation index (Ird) and the spatial lateral differentiation index (Ild (red)). These indices were computed based on the soil cover structure shown on the Soil Map of the Russian Federation on a scale of 1: 2.5 M within the spatial framework of the Map of Soil-Ecological Zoning of the Russian Federation on a scale of 1: 2.5 M. Based on the data obtained, the most complex soil covers and soil profiles on plains were identified at the boundary of the Boreal and Subboreal geographical belts in the zones of soddy-podzolic soils (umbric albeluvisols/umbric podzols) of the southern taiga and gray forest soils (albic luvisols/luvic greyic phaeozems) of deciduous forests characterized by widespread occurrence of dynamically mature soils, as well as in mountainous soil provinces of the Altai and Caucasus.

Единый государственный реестр лесных почв России

The Unified State Register of soil resources of Russia (with Russian abbreviation of EGRPR) is the official innovative information resource of soil of the country. The EGRPR contains complete, unified, digital information of all the soils of the country, their properties and spatial distribution. On the basis of the GIS approach it is shown that the diversity of forest soil is presented by 12 of the 15 soil departments (the highest taxonomic level in the Russian soil classification hierarchy). Two of the missing soil departments (Cyozems and Low-humus-accumulative-carbonate soils) are outside of the forest zone. The third of the missing soil departments (Organogenic) characterizes the peat soils with intensive hydromorphic and anaerobic features unfavorable for the forest growth. The Al-Fe-humus podzols and podburs (216.7 mln ha) are the most extended forest soils in Russia. The texture-differentiated podzolic (173.1 mln ha) soil occupies the second place. The Metamorphic burozems and Brown-taiga soils (164.8 mln ha) take the third place. Different tree species show diverse demand for water and air regime and nutrients availability of the soil. The highest selectivity demonstrates fir and, to a lesser extent, spruce forests. Hardwood forests are more demanding to soil conditions, than deciduous. Shrubs are characterized by wide edaphic and hydrothermal plasticity.

Antibiotic resistance of microorganisms in agricultural soils in Russia

Antibiotics are medicines that are widely used in livestock production not only for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, but also for accelerating the growth of animals. The application of manure for fertilizing agricultural soils leads to the entry into the soil ecosystem not only of the antibiotics themselves, but also the resistance genes to them. In this study, 30 samples of arable soils were tested for the presence of the tet(X) gene, which encodes bacterial resistance to antibiotics of the tetracycline group. Using real-time PCR, it was found that 27 out of 30 soil samples contained tet(X). 52% of these samples were heavily contaminated, 34% had a medium level of contamination and 14% were slightly contaminated by the resistance gene tet(X).

Международный трансфер идей российского генетического почвоведения в 1870–1914 годы

This article considers the international dissemination of the Russian innovation of genetic soil science, devised by a team of scientists led by V. V. Dokuchaev in the 1870s and 1880s, over the decades down to 1914. Russian soil science was disseminated by articles in foreign languages, exhibits at world fairs, papers read by Russian scientists at international conferences, visits by Russian soil scientists abroad and correspondence with foreign scientists. Acceptance came sooner in Europe, but took longer in the United States where, in spite of attempts to disseminate the innovation, it encountered institutional resistance.

IT-technologies in soil Informatics and Russian agribusiness

One of the promising areas associated with a large amount of information on the properties, characteristics and classification of soils is soil Informatics. Its appearance has allowed soil scientists, farmers and environmentalists to process data; to model soil processes, to make operational decisions on land use; implement systems to assess fertility, control of technological processes in agriculture. Currently multinational and global information systems are used, which contain data on soil profiles of many countries: European Soil Database, Europe; SOTER, global soil information system and others. Information systems at the national level study the soil characteristics of one country: Australian Soil Resource Information System; National Soil Information System (USA) and others. In order to generalize process and preserve information about soils of Russia accumulated by long-term research, a nationwide Soil-geographical database is being developed in our country. To optimize the agricultural activity of certain regions of the country, regional information systems are developed - Accounting and monitoring of agricultural lands of the Novosibirsk region, geoinformation system of the Tyumen region and others. Modern soil information systems, for the most part, are implemented through the use of the GeoRSS standard, which is based on a hypertext providing information on the Internet.

Diversity and main properties of soils of the Gronfjord area (Svalbard archipelago)

Svalbard archipelago is characterized by specific climate conditions, high air temperature and relative air humidity, which are not typical for high latitudes. Such conditions affect soil-forming processes. Classification and morphological structure of the soil cover on the Spitsbergen archipelago are still poorly understood. The aim of current research was to reveal diverse soil taxons in the Gronfjord area and characterize framework of its formation. As the results of this work, the authors provide the description of the investigated soils and their taxonomy in accordance with World Reference Base for Soil Resources (IUSS Working Group 2015) and the new Russian soil classification system. Chemical parameters of the soil, as well and the data on soil horizons properties were measured using vertical electric resistivity sounding method. In total, 15 soil profiles were made and the studied soils were referred to six Soil Reference Groups with domination of Leptosols and Regosols. The profiles were made in different landscapes that allowed to determine the similarities and differences in soil cover of the area. The main factors affected soil formation are cryogenic processes combined with gleyfication and cambic alteration of soil material.

The Historicism of Lev Shestov and Gustav Shpet

The authors discuss two interpretations of Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology: by Lev Shestov and by Gustav Shpet. While each of these thinkers followed his own path, they shared an idea of historicism typical of Russian philosophy, a historicism related to the existential dimension of the human being. This article suggests that the interpretation of historicism in the tradition of “positive philosophy on Russian soil” was fruitful for the development of phenomenological topics in Shpet’s and Shestov’s hermeneutics.

Техногенные поверхностные образования на отвалах и хвостохранилищах в Кемеровской области: опыт классификации

Classification of surface bodies on technogenic parent materials is rather disputable. On one hand, the technogenic surface bodies (TSB) are predecessors of soils, on the other hand - they are made by humans, hence, differ of the natural soils by their origin. In the Russian soil classification system (versions of 2004 and 2008), the TSBs are subdivided by the kinds of human activities responsible for their formation. Moreover, the taxonomy of TSBs is a separate system beyond the soil classification, and the names of its objects are artificial and deliberately cumbersome in order to emphasize their “non-soil” essence. This system was invented by Valentin Tonkonogov, and it comprises two hierarchical levels, namely, groups and subgroups. In accordance with this system, an attempt was made to classify TSBs on coal dumps and iron ore mine tailings located in two landscape zones: forest-steppe and aspen-fir taiga in Kemerovo oblast. A third taxonomic level - “triba” - is proposed, with chemical and morphological properties of technogenic materials as differentiating criteria.

The Russian Revolution and the American Left: A Long View from the Twenty-First Century

The Russian Revolution and the American Left: A Long View from the Twenty-First Century

Digital soil map of the Ussuri River basin

On the basis of digital soil, topographic, and geological maps; raster topography model; forestry materials; and literature data, the digital soil map of the Ussuri River basin (24400 km2) was created on a scale of 1: 100000. To digitize the initial paper-based maps and analyze the results, an ESRI ArcGIS Desktop (ArcEditor) v.10.1 (http://www.esri.com) and an open-code SAGA GIS v.2.3 (System for Automated Geoscientific Analyses, http://www.saga-gis.org) were used. The spatial distribution of soil areas on the obtained digital soil map is in agreement with modern cartographic data and the SRTM digital elevation model (SRTM DEM). The regional soil classification developed by G.I. Ivanov was used in the legend to the soil map. The names of soil units were also correlated with the names suggested in the modern Russian soil classification system. The major soil units on the map are at the soil subtypes that reflect the entire vertical spectrum of soils in the south of the Far East of Russia (Primorye region). These are mountainous tundra soils, podzolic soils, brown taiga soils, mountainous brown forest soils, bleached brown soils, meadow-brown soils, meadow gley soils, and floodplain soils). With the help of the spatial analysis function of GIS, the comparison of the particular characteristics of the soil cover with numerical characteristics of the topography, geological composition of catchments, and vegetation cover was performed.

Magnetite contamination of urban soils in European Russia

Abstract Urban soils are enriched in magnetite (Fe3O4), thanks to aerial emissions of industry, energy and cars emission. Magnetite contamination of urban soils in Russia has both common features of the world and its specificity. The magnetite content through the magnetic susceptibility is used as an indirect indicator of the contamination degree of urban soils with some heavy metals. In the cities of Russia: Moscow, Cherepovets, Perm and Chusovoy, magnetite soil pollution is in agreement with some of the heavy metals pollution. The correlation coefficients between magnetic susceptibility and mobile forms contents are higher than coefficients with a total contents of heavy metals. The volume magnetic susceptibility, measured in the field conditions, is less correlated with the pollution of urban soils with heavy metals than an express specific magnetic susceptibility, which is determined in the laboratory. In Moscow and Chusovoy, magnetic susceptibility of soils is high in the territory of the old town and it is the lowest in the field of new buildings. Soil magnetic susceptibility is indicator of Cu, Zn and Pb in Moscow. Soil magnetic susceptibility is indicator of Pb, Zn and Cr in Cherepovets. In Chusovoy, the oxidation degree of the magnetite is low, and a stoichiometric index of magnetite is high; soil magnetic susceptibility is indicator of Mn, Zn and Cr. In Perm, the magnetic susceptibility of magnetite in the soils is low, but it is highly variable; soil magnetic susceptibility is indicator of Ni, Zn and Cr.

Cladistic analysis of Chinese Soil Taxonomy

This study attempts to revise the search for natural groups and soil properties in Chinese soils based on the ideas of biological classification and soil genesis. Previous attempts at natural soil classification include the former Russian genetic soil classification, which classifies soils mainly based on soil forming factors. These attempts had resulted in classifications not ideally suited to soil identification. The US Soil Taxonomy (ST), however, has moved away from natural classifications and towards a robust key-based classification to identify soil Orders and groups. The current Chinese Soil Taxonomy (CST) system follows the ST. However, it remains unknown if the CST contains part of a natural classification (i.e. homologous properties or monophyletic groups). In this study, cladistics analysis was used to assess the 14 soil Orders and 39 Suborders of the CST using 44 morphological and numeric soil properties. Results show that it consists of a number of non-monophyletic groups. In order to test for monophyletic (i.e., natural) soil properties, all the non-homologous properties (e.g., moisture regimes, Mollic epipedon, Hydragric horizon) and numerical properties (e.g., n value and base saturation), were removed. The results indicated, Spodosols, Andosols, Gleyosols and Isohumosols Orders and Udic Vertosols and Anthric Primosols Suborders were more closely related to each other and may suggest a potential Superorder of mountainous and humid soils. Similarly, closely related Aridisols and Cambosols may indicate a potential Superorder of arid soils. However, some non-monophyletic Orders (e.g., Vertosols, Primosols) need revising based on their parent materials. Several aphyletic Orders (e.g., Anthrosols, Ferrosols, and Halosols) were identified due to insufficient information, which suggests additional morphological properties (e.g. pH) or other soil forming factors should be considered. We conclude that cladistic analysis can be also applied to extract information from the Russian soil classification, the ST and the World Reference Base to provide guidance for establishing a world-wide natural soil classification scheme.

The Method of Microbiological Soil Investigations within the Framework of the Project “Microbiome of Russia”

The methods of Russian soil biology for the purposes of the investigations of soils microbiome were studied. The most important methods are cross-disciplinary investigations of plant and microbial interactions, the role of microbiome in the forming of soil fertility and carbon cycle. For the purposes of the most complete description of soil microbiome functions we suggest to combine the methods of metagenomics (for the purposes of the assessment of the phylogenic diversity of the microorganisms), biomarkers analysis (for the purposes of determination of the functional diversity) and the changes in the enzyme activity (for the purposes of the assessment of the actual functioning of soils). The investigation of correlation of the structural soil hierarchy (from aggregates and microloci to the soil areas) and levels of microbial community organization (from microbial populations to bio-geographic regularities) will allow us to understand better the distribution and common specificities of soil and microorganisms interactions. Along with the investigation of spatial organization we suggest to study the dynamics of the soil microbiomes on different time lines: short-term changes (on the field monitoring areas), transformation during the soil forming process (on the “chronosequences” of the soil of a different age) and at the geologic time scale (on the example of buried soils). In this paper we consider the importance of the investigation of the diversity of the soil microorganisms as a source of the suppressing activity of soils as the largest depository of genetic information, important agent of the emission and fixation of atmospheric carbon. The comparative analysis of microbial diversity of disturbed and undisturbed soils and the assessment of outer impact on the soil microbiome is necessary for the preservation of soil biodiversity as one of the most valuable ecologic and biotechnologic resource.