Adaptive landscape diagnostics and assessment of the state of the soil cover structure of reclaimed territories by transectcatenation method

The basis of adaptive landscape diagnostics and assessment of the structure of the soil cover of the reclaimed territories is based on the basin principle, since the drainage basin is the prevailing geosystem that forms the landscape everywhere, the fundamental concept of which is based on the idea of the interrelation and interdependence of all natural phenomena of the earth’s surface. The key geosystem unit for mapping the soil cover structure and its diagnostics in the catchment area is the transect-catena. In the transect-catena, as a natural body, not torn out of the space and time of regional development of the territory and being its full-scale model, and an information key, the areal «geometric shape» (cartography) of the soil cover is combined with catenary (geochemical conjugation) and with structural functionally organization of geosystems.

Diagnosis of human-induced degradation of soils of the Azov-Cuban lowland

The work presents the observational data of soil cover structure dynamics, changes in soil composition and properties under the influence of anthropogenic impact. A decrease of 6.0-7.4% in the share of black soils (Chernozem) over 50 years of observations and a corresponding increase in the area of waterlogged soils associated with closed depressions have been revealed. Due to the high dynamism of soil density with changes in its moisture content, a criterion has been sought to characterize this dependence and a method has been proposed to describe it using dynamic curves. The amplitude of density fluctuations and its dependence on the severity of anthropogenic degradation – 59 -78% – has been established. Correlation analysis confirmed a medium strength relationship (determination coefficient 0.39-0.42) between shrinkage and specific surface area of initial degradation soils and a strong relationship (determination coefficient 0.79-0.86) in meadow-chernozem compacted soils. A strong correlation has been found between the volumetric shrinkage and fines content in the size distribution (determination coefficient 0.84-0.96). A new diagnostic criterion (“T” criterion) for the intensity of hydrometamorphism and, in general, for the physical aspect of anthropogenic soil degradation has been proposed.

The Study of Soil Cover Structure Southwestern Part of Absheron

The problem of the connection of the structures of objects of nature (forms and their relationships) with their properties has always been relevant. There is a need to show on the map the natural structure of the soil cover, taking into account the topography. Such maps are used in theoretical studies and are practically applicable. Therefore, for many years, soil scientists have been searching for methods that would allow them to highlight soil structures on thematic maps. Based on the studies, the soil cover structures of Absheron and the adjacent territories of Gobustan were determined. Structures are formed by a combination of soil bodies. The internal qualities of these structures, their soil content, and the physicochemical and biological properties characteristic of them were determined. The paper provides a description.

The Role of Environmental Factors in the Formation of Soil Cover Structure of the Zeyamchay Basin

The Zayamchay basin is selected by its complex structure, various climatic conditions, rich vegetation and soil–rich rocks. This variation of soil–forming factors has led to the formation of various forms of soil cover structure within the basin. Therefore, the study of land and its space manifestation — the soil cover structure, detail mapping, evaluation and optimization — both scientifically–theoretical and practical. The Zeyamchay basin, which is located on the north–western slope of the Lesser Caucasus, is the object of the research. The Zeyamchay basin is selected by its complex relief structure, various climatic conditions, rich vegetation and soil–rich rocks. The area of the basin is 94200 hectares. The basin covers part of Tovuz, Shamkir and Gadabay districts from the administrative point of view. These kind of soil–forming factors have led to the formation of different forms of soil cover structure within the basin. During the research, empirical information is collected from cartographic, soil research, aerospace, landscape and geomorphological methods and so on was used.

Use of spectral surface characteristics for mapping soil cover structure under Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe conditions

The relations between the spectral surface characteristics of the elements of the soil cover structure and soil properties in the Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe of Central Siberia were investigated. It was revealed that the most informative parameters for field spectrometry are the content of humus, carbonate carbon dioxide and the prevailing particle-size fractions. A statistically significant relationship between the elements of the soil cover structure and the reflectivity of soils has been confirmed by means of multidimensional statistics. The wave lengths with the greatest coupling force are highlighted. Regression equations for remote study of soil cover structure have been obtained, which can be used if additional point studies are carried out in a wider range of test parameters.

Soil and ecological division into districts of the Baikal region

On the basis of long-term researches of soils in the territory of Russia and Mongolia soil and ecological division into districts of the Baikal region is carried out. At division into districts the whole set of an environment of soil formation was considered. On the map of soil and ecological division into districts 13 mountain, mid-mountain, low-mountain taiga, foothill, hollow-valley, forest-steppe and steppe provinces reflecting surface device originality as the ratio of balance of heat and moisture forming a basis to zoning is shown against the background of difficult orography are allocated. In total 42 districts on lithologic-geomorphological features are allocated. In formation of distinctions of a soil cover of these provinces the leading role is played by bioclimatic factors and inside them the lithologic-geomorphological ones. In the view of structural approach of the district they are considered as territories with a certain natural change of several types of the soil cover structure caused by features of a relief and the parent rock. The map is made in the MapInfo program. It is revealed that on ill-defined width zoning of soils the vertical one which has a greater influence on soils of this region is imposed. Soils of the Baikal region are not similar to the soils located at the same latitude of the flat European territory of Russia. Zone soils of this territory are specific and original.

Soil-geographical zonation of Lviv oblast: structure and principles

The scheme of soil-geographical zonation of Lviv oblast is developed on the principles of structural approach to the spatial organization of soil cover. Criteria for allocation of the ranked taxonomic units, their spatial and genetic properties are qualitative and genetic indicators of soil cover with the analysis of the spatial arrangement of soil combinations and structures. The following taxonomic units are identified in the proposed scheme of soil-geographical zonation: soil-geographic kraina (soil-geographic country), soil-bioclimatic zona/poias (soil-geographic zone/mountain belt), krai (region), okrug (county or mountainous soil region), rayon (district), masyv (massif). A mandatory criterion for all taxonomic units of soil-geographical zonation is the type of soil cover mesostructures (spatial-geometric characteristics of elemental soil areals and their spatial structures, as well as the dominated class of soil combinations). Two soil-geographic kraina (countries) are identified within Lviv oblast: the East European Plain and the Carpathians; three soil-bioclimatic zones: moraine-sander (popilnyakova) zone of mixed forests, broadleaf forest, forest-steppe (loess) and mountain-brownsoil zone; six soil krai: Malopoliskyi, Volynskyi, Roztots’ko-Opilskyi, Zahidnopodilskyi, Peredkarpatskyi highland, the Carpathian mountain; 13 soil counties and 4 regions. Key words: zonation, soil cover structure, zone, krai, okrug, Lviv oblast.