Principles of selecting reference soils for the Red Data Book of Russian Soils

347

ISSN 1064-2293, Eurasian Soil Science, 2006, Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 347–353. © Pleiades Publishing, Inc., 2006.Original Russian Text © G.V. Dobrovol’skii, O.V. Chernova, O.V. Semenyuk, L. G. Bogatyrev, 2006, published in Pochvovedenie, 2006, No. 4, pp. 387–395.

INTRODUCTION

The word “étalon” has a French origin and means astandard for reproducing, comparing, and transferringunits of measurement with the maximum accuracyavailable at the current state of science and technology[27]. Explanatory dictionaries of the Russian languagesuggest an explanation of this term close to its literaltranslation [2]. However, having a clear definition andbeing easily applied to technical objects, this wordbecomes rather vague when natural objects are con-cerned. The choice of etalon (reference) natural territo-ries and their preservation in the system of speciallyprotected natural territories have been actively dis-cussed by specialists in environmental conservationduring the last decades. According to the definitiongiven by the

Explanatory Dictionary on Nature Con-servation

[30],

A reference territory is a natural complex of anyrank (biogeocenosis, facies, and landscape) pos-sessing typical properties that correspond to thenormal (natural) state (process) taken as a stan-dard for all the representatives of the same typeof natural complexes or for the region; it is usedas a measure or a prototype for assessing thestate of topologically similar territories and fortheir environmental monitoring.

Currently, there is no clear understanding of theprinciples and criteria for selecting such reference (eta-lon) natural objects. As a rule, specialists dealing withthis problem rely on their intuition.

ETALON (REFERENCE) SOILS IN SOIL SCIENCE

The notion of reference (or etalon) soils is beingactively used in soil science, though the authors implydifferent meanings of this term and do not alwaysclearly formulate the meaning for which they are usingit in particular cases.

This notion can be applied to soil profiles, genetichorizons, or to parts of the areas occupied by particularsoils. The most general definition is suggested by the

Explanatory Dictionary on Soil Science

[18]:An etalon soil is a soil individuum, the centralobject of soil classification systems. It can be areal individuum (real soil) selected within thestudied group of soils, a modal individuum (theresult of several approximations) without a realequivalent in the studied soils, and an individ-uum belonging to the previously developed tax-onomy (soil idea).Genetic horizons are the main components of a soil

profile. From the very beginning of soil science,researchers tried to specify these horizons, which arevery diverse in composition, into a small number of cat-egories according to some general characteristics [4, 8,22]. Presently, the schematic notions of soil horizonsreflecting their morphological characteristics con-nected with pedogenesis form the basis of morphoge-netic soil classifications. Such horizons are called refer-ence (etalon) horizons in the

Soil Handbook

[23]. Theinterpretation of a particular soil profile implies the cre-ation of a concept of its formation, after which it can berepresented schematically as a particular sequence of

GENESIS AND GEOGRAPHYOF SOILS

Principles of Selecting Reference Soils for the

Red Data Book of Russian Soils

G. V. Dobrovol’skii

a

,

c

, O. V. Chernova

b

, O. V. Semenyuk

c

, and L. G. Bogatyrev

c

a

Soil Science Institute, Moscow State University and Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskie gory, Moscow, 119899 Russia

b

Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences,Leninskii pr. 33, Moscow, 117071 Russia

c

Faculty of Soil Science, Moscow State University,Leninskie gory, Moscow, 119899 Russia

Received June 9, 2005

Abstract

—The meaning of the term “etalon” (reference, standard) in natural sciences and, particularly, in soilscience is discussed. The need to preserve natural landscapes and soils as reference objects for comparison withtheir anthropogenically transformed analogues and as a basis for sustaining the natural diversity of plants andanimals is demonstrated. The principles and criteria for the choice of reference soils for the

Red Data Book ofRussian Soils

are suggested. The choice of reference soils should be made with due account for the provincesof the soil–geographical (or soil–ecological) zonation as territories characterized by similar environmental con-ditions and typical soil cover patterns.

DOI:

10.1134/S1064229306040016

348

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DOBROVOL’SKII et al.

reference horizons that is used to identify the referencesoil [18, 23].

Recently, work on compiling the

Red Data Book ofSoils

has begun in Russia. In the works devoted to thisproblem, the term etalon (reference soil) is used withtwo different meanings, which often leads to termino-logical confusion.

First, soil etalons in the

Red Data Book of Soils

aredistinguished as virgin soils typical of particularregions (modal soils). In this case, such soils shouldhave a sequence of genetic horizons corresponding tothe central concept of the given soil in the morphoge-netic soil classification system [14, 25, 33, 35].

Second, a provision is made in the

Red Data SoilBook of Soils

to distinguish between several largeblocks (categories) of soil etalons. The etalon soil inthis case is understood as a particular place within thegiven soil area to be included in the

Red Data Book ofSoils

[14, 15, 25]. In this meaning, the term coincidesexactly with the notion of a reference soil as formulatedby Krupenikov [16] and by the

Explanatory Dictionaryon Soil Science

[18]. To reduce the terminological con-fusion, it would be reasonable to refrain from using theterm etalon soil in the second meaning.

The term etalon is also used in soil science for well-cultivated soils with a high level of fertility. It isassumed that such soils should serve as standards of

optimal soil management in agriculture [15, 16]. Theterm fertility etalon suggested by researches from theDokuchaev Soil Science Institute signifies a set ofphysical and chemical characteristics of a soil with ahigh level of fertility. The model of high fertility is anetalon (standard with respect to a set of parameters)model for particular agronomic groups of soils within agiven agricultural zone [9].

The term etalon soil is also used sometimes in soilsurveys and soil modeling works to specify some pro-visional reference point used to analyze and comparevarious characteristics of studied soils [3].

The diversity of the meanings of this term is dictatedby the diversity of the tasks challenging separate scien-tific and applied branches of soil science. It is possibleto use this term in all the meanings considered above,but its exact meaning in every particular case should beclearly explained to avoid terminological confusion.

In this paper, we consider principles and criteria forselecting etalon (reference) soils for the

Red Data Bookof Russian Soils.

SELECTION OF REFERENCEBIOGEOCENOSES AND SOILS

Preservation of virgin soil is only possible in undis-turbed biogeocenosis. Therefore, the creation of a sys-

Location of natural reserves (according to [19]) within the provinces of the soil–ecological zonation [11]: (

1

) provinces of the soil–ecological zonation, (

2

) districts of the soil–ecological zonation, and (

3

) natural reserves. D

3

—central Russian province of medium-humus soddy-podzolic soils: (1) Mologa–Sheksna district of bog, soddy-, and peat-podzolic and iron-illuvial soddy-podzolic sandysoils on glaciolacustrine and glaciofluvial deposits; (2) Belozersk–Kubensk district of residual-calcareous soddy-podzolic, soddy-calcareous, peat podzolic-gley, and soddy gley loamy soils on moraine deposits with shallow embedding by calcareous bedrock;(3) Sukhona district of soddy-podzolic gleyed and gleyic and soddy-podzolic loamy soils on glaciolacustrine deposits and sandyand sandy loamy soils on two-layered deposits; (4) Bezhetsk district of soddy-podzolic loamy soils on moraine deposits covered bymantle loams in some places; (5) Kimry district of soddy-podzolic, soddy- and peat-podzolic gleyed and gleyic sandy and sandyloamy soils on two-layered deposits; (6) Danilov–Chukhloma district of soddy-podzolic clayey and loamy soils on mantle loams;(7) Kostroma district of soddy-podzolic loamy soils on lacustrine, ancient alluvial, and glaciofluvial deposits; (8) Kirov–Kologrivdistrict of soddy-podzolic loamy soils on mantle loams and moraine deposits and soddy-podzolic sandy and sandy loamy soils ontwo-layered deposits; (9) Ivanovo district of soddy-podzolic sandy and sandy loamy soils on two-layered deposits; (10) Vetluga dis-trict of soddy-podzolic and peat-podzolic gley sandy soils on shallow sands and sandy loams underlain by Triassic clay with par-ticipation of iron-illuvial soddy-podzolic soils on sands; (11) Yaransk district of soddy-podzolic loamy soils on the weathered bed-rock; (12) Gorkii district of iron-illuvial soddy-podzolic and soddy- and peat-podzolic gley sandy soils on ancient alluvial and gla-ciofluvial deposits; (13) Smolensk–Moskva district of soddy-podzolic clayey and loamy soils on mantle loams; (14) Yur’ev–Pol’skiidistrict of gray forest clayey and heavy loamy soils on slightly calcareous mantle loams; (15) Moskvoretsko–Oka district of soddy-podzolic and light gray forest soils on slightly calcareous mantle deposits; (16) Meshchera district of soddy-podzolic gleyed andgleyic and soddy-podzolic sandy and sandy loamy soils on ancient alluvial and glaciofluvial deposits underlain by moraine loamsand of bog soils; (17) Murom district of soddy-podzolic sandy and sandy loamy soils on glaciofluvial deposits with shallow embed-ding by calcareous bedrock; and (18) Desna–Zhizdra district of sandy and sandy loamy soils on glaciofluvial deposits with shallowembedding by hard bedrock.

G

3

—central Russian province of medium- and high-humus, medium-deep and deep podzolized,leached, and typical chernozems and gray forest soils: (24) Staryi Oskol district of medium-humus and medium-deep typical andleached chernozems and dark gray forest loamy and clayey soils on loesslike loams and clays; (25) Eletsk district of medium-deepand medium-humus leached chernozems, podzolized chernozems and dark gray forest clayey and heavy loamy soils on loesslikeloams and clays; (26) Michurinsk district of medium-humus and medium-deep leached and podzolized chernozems and meadowchernozemic clayey and heavy loamy soils on mantle loams; (27) Voronezh–Borisoglebsk district of medium-deep and deep high-humus typical chernozems and meadow chernozemic clayey and heavy loamy soils on mantle loams with inclusions of solodic,solonetzic, and saline soils in the depressions; (28) Penza district of medium-deep and medium-humus leached chernozems andgray and dark gray forest clayey and heavy loamy soils on loess-like loams and clays; (29) Ul’yanovsk district of medium-deep andmedium- and low-humus leached and typical (including residual-calcareous) clayey and loamy chernozems, dark gray and gray for-est loamy, sandy loamy, and sandy soils; in some places, with inclusions of stone eluvium of the bedrock.

Natural reserves

:(

13

) Bol’shaya Kokshaga, (

15

) Prioksko-Terrasnyi, (

24

) Voronezhskii, (

25

) Voroninskii, (

26

) Galich’ya Gora, (

30

) Darvinskii,(

35

) Zhigulevskii, (

44

) Kerzhenskii, (

61

) Nurgush, (

62

) Okskii, (

71

) Privolzhskaya Lesostep’, (

92

) Khoperskii, and (

95

) AlekhinCentral Chernozemic Reserve.


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PRINCIPLES OF SELECTING REFERENCE SOILS 349

tem of preserved reference soils is closely related to theprotection of natural reference biogeocenoses inreserves.

The organization of protected natural territories isaimed at creating a network of representative zonalreserves and national parks that can be used as refer-ence biocenoses. However, it is not always properlyrecognized that geomorphic and geological compo-nents (such as the relief, the groundwater, and thechemical and physical properties of the parent rocks)significantly affect the diversity of biocenoses togetherwith general biospheric (zonal and provincial) regular-ities of the flora and fauna distribution.

Geomorphic and geological factors affect the com-position and functioning of a biocenosis through thesoil, because the latter is the link between the geo-spheric and the biospheric components of the generalcycle of matter and energy [5]. Hence, preservation ofthe natural diversity of ecosystems is impossible with-out preservation of the diversity of natural soils [20,21]. Taking into account the regulatory role of soil inmass exchange of chemical elements, the main princi-

ples for selecting reference soils can also be applied toreference natural biogeocenoses [24].

The compilation of the


canbe considered an applied problem of soil science. How-ever, this problem can only be solved on the basis oftheoretical investigations and factual materialsobtained in the course of the development of soil sci-ence and adjacent sciences.

We focus our attention in this work on the principlesof selecting the soils to be included in the

Red DataBook of Russian Soils.

It is supposed that this bookshould include different categories of natural soils: (1)reference (etalon) soils (major soils, additional soils,and soil complexes), (2) rare soils, and (3) endangeredsoils.

This division of soils requiring special protectionhas been discussed in a number of works [33–35]. Ourexperience suggests that the choice of objects to beincluded in the category of reference soils is the mostdifficult problem.

Selection of reference soils for the

Red Data Bookof Russian Soils

.

The following criteria are to be taken

2

30

6

Vologda

Yaroslavl

4

TverKostroma

Moscow

10

61

514

17

16

11

13

12

44

3

9

1315

72

3 8

Kirov

Nizhnii NovgorodKazan

Smolensk

20

Tula

62

21

25

26

18

19

Bryansk

Orel

Voronezh

Penza

Ul’yanovsk

23

35

28

29

71

26

327

2495

Kursk

TambovSamara

25

9295

24

1

2

3

D

3

350


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into account in the choice of soil objects to be includedin the category of reference soils.

(1) The morphological features, genetic profile, andanalytic characteristics of reference soils should corre-spond to central concepts of particular soils included inthe soil classification system. According to [13], suchsoils should belong to typical (ordinary) genera. Kru-penikov and Podymov [17] suggested that they shouldbe referred to as modal soils. Thus, the main criterion isthe correspondence to the central image of the givensoil group in the soil classification system.

(2) Reference soils should be virgin soils subjectedto minimal anthropogenic impacts, because only undis-turbed soils successfully perform their biospheric func-tions, including the transformation of mineral andorganic components in the course of the biologicalturnover of elements. When natural ecosystems arereplaced by anthropogenic ecosystems, the regime oflandscape functioning changes. Additionally, the pres-ervation of the natural soil diversity is directly relatedto the preservation of the conditions and factors of soilformation that control the characteristic soil processesand morphological features. Thus, the second criterionis the need to specify reference soils as virgin soilswithin specially protected natural territories.

(3) Reference soils should be the soils typical of theselected regions; in other words, reference soils shouldoccupy significant areas. They should not includeunique soil profiles, as the latter are to be included inthe categories of rare or endangered soils.

(4) The set of reference soils should be representa-tive of the real soil diversity. For the


, we suggest that reference soils should bespecified at high taxonomic levels (soil types or sub-types) of the recent Russian soil classification systems[12, 13].

These criteria should be followed during the selec-tion of soils for the


, aswell as for the red data books of soils in particularregions.

The selection of reference soils should include sev-eral stages. First, the central concept (image) of the soilis to be clearly defined; then, the reference soil fittingthis image should be found in the field. This soil shouldbe thoroughly documented, i.e., its location should beregistered, it should be properly mapped, and its mor-phological and analytical characteristics should bedescribed.

Selection of a reference soil as the real soil area.

An algorithm for selecting reference soils implies theprinciple of the soil cover differentiation at several hier-archical levels, which imposes certain limits on theboundaries and size of the territory for which the givensoils (major, additional, and soil complexes) are speci-fied as reference soil objects.

Major reference soils

are the soils typical of rela-tively homogeneous (with respect to their natural char-acteristics) regions. First of all, it is necessary to delin-

eate such regions with similar soil cover patterns. Wesuppose that this delineation for the


and the red data books of large regionsshould be based on the scheme of soil–geographic (orsoil–ecological) zonation [6].

The development of particular ecosystems is largelycontrolled by climatic factors. Among the latter, theradiation balance that specifies the energy of the mainbiogenic and abiogenic processes and the degree ofhumidity are most important. The zonal character ofclimatic factors governs the general natural zonalitymanifested in the distribution of vegetation zones [1],soil zones [7], and the types of lithogenesis [28]. Thus,the zones with relatively homogenous climatic condi-tions can be isolated. In the scheme of soil–geographiczonation, the highest levels (soil zones and soil prov-inces) are distinguished with due account for the energyof the pedogenesis dictated by the hydrothermic condi-tions [6].

The province level of the soil–geographic (or soil–ecological) zonation [10, 11] is to be taken as the basefor selecting major reference soils at the type and sub-type levels.

Additional reference soils

are the soils that charac-terize the soil diversity within the selected regions. Thisdiversity is specified by the diversity of the parent rocksand vegetation and by the specificity of the matter bal-ances in particular sites. In this case, the level of soildistricts within a given soil province is considered.

Major reference soils of a given province are repre-sented by zonal types or subtypes of soils of autono-mous landscapes. In the choice of additional referencesoils, attention should be placed on the soils that pre-dominate in the soil cover patterns of the province. Theset of these soils should be representative but not limit-less. Their taxonomic level should depend on the size ofthe territory for which the


iscompiled. For the whole of Russia, preference shouldbe given to the levels of soil types and subtypes.

Thus, the set of additional reference soils shouldinclude the soils of high taxonomic levels occupyingextreme positions in soil sequences governed by certainchanges in the environmental conditions and pedogenicprocesses. Such sequences can include the soils linkedwith one another by matter fluxes in the system ofgeochemical landscapes, as well as the soils that are notlinked with one another, as in the case of changes in thecharacter of the parent materials [32].

Reference soil complexes.

The foregoing princi-ples for selecting reference soils are applicable at thelevels of both meso- and microrelief. However, it isimportant to preserve not only reference soils per se butalso the lateral links between them. In other words, thesoil cover patterns should be preserved and protected,especially at the level of soil microcombinations, inwhich the particular soils occupy very small areas. Soilmicrocombinations are typical of the regions withextreme characteristics of particular environmental fac-


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tors (temperature, moisture, thickness of parent rock,etc.). In this case, even minor changes in a given factorcan lead to considerable changes in the soil properties.In some landscapes, the natural complexity (patchi-ness) of the soil cover is so pronounced that it is diffi-cult to distinguish between the particular soil profiles.Soil microcombinations consist of particular soils ofvery small size regularly alternating in space. The smallareas occupied by the particular soils and the very closelinks between neighboring members of such micro-combinations necessitate the separation of referencesoil complexes.

Among the diversity of soil complexes, only themost typical and well-expressed soil microcombina-tions whose origin is conditioned by the natural speci-ficity of the given region should be attributed to refer-ence soil complexes [32]. It should be taken intoaccount that reference soil complexes are characteristicof particular regions. In other regions with similar con-ditions, some elements of such complexes may bereplaced by other soils or disappear. To be included inthe


, reference soil complexesshould be widespread in the given region.

Selection of major and additional reference soilsfor particular provinces.

Let us consider the choice ofmajor and additional reference soils by the example oftwo provinces distinguished in the scheme of soil–eco-logical zonation [11] (figure).

As is evident from the name of the central Russianprovince of medium-humus soddy-podzolic soils, theloamy soddy-podzolic soils corresponding to the defi-nition suggested in the

Classification of Diagnostics ofSoils of the USSR

[13] should be referred to as a majorreference soil (this particular classification system ischosen because the scheme of soil–ecological zonationof the East European Plain [11] was based on it). How-ever, loamy soddy-podzolic soils predominate only in 4

out of the 18 soil districts of this province. Light sandyand sandy loamy varieties including the soils developedfrom two-layered deposits predominate in 9 districts; in4 districts, the soil specificity is governed by the pres-ence of calcareous parent materials. Besides, variouspeat soils, alluvial soils, and other soil types can befound in this province. Thus, additional reference soilsshould represent sandy or loamy sandy varieties ofsoddy-podzolic soils, including soils on two-layereddeposits, soddy calcareous soils, and various peat andalluvial soils.

There are six natural reserves in this province (fig-ure). The soil cover of some reserves is studied fairlywell (the Prioksko-Terrasnyi Natural BiosphericReserve) [26, 31], whereas the soils in some otherreserves (the Nurgush, Bol’shaya Kokshaga, andKerzhenskii natural reserves) remain unstudied. Loamysoddy-podzolic soils, which may serve as major refer-ence soils of the province, have not been described inthe surveyed territory of the reserves. Judging from theenvironmental conditions typical of the Nurgush andKerzhenskii reserves, we can suppose that such soilscan be found there (Table 1). As for additional referencesoils, coarse-textured (sandy and loamy sandy) soilswith different degrees of hydromorphism are wide-spread in the reserves. In particular, such soils havebeen described in the Prioksko-Terrasnyi Natural Bio-spheric Reserve (Table 1).

Thus, the natural diversity of soils of the centralRussian province of loamy soddy-podzolic soils isinsufficiently represented in the existing naturalreserves. In particular, there are no descriptions of largeareas of automorphic loamy soddy-podzolic loamysoils, which are typical of this province and should beconsidered among its major reference soils.

The central Russian province of podzolized,leached, and typical medium- and high-humus cher-

Table 1.

Soils to be included in the


as major and additional reference soils for the centralRussian province of medium-humus soddy-podzolic soils

Referencesoils Soil name (according to [13]) Reserves, within which reference soils have been

described or can be found

Major Loamy soddy-podzolic soils Currently, not described in the reserves; may be expected in the Nurgush (?)* and Kerzhenskii (?) reserves

Additional(regional)

Sandy and sandy loamy contact-gleyed soddydeeply podzolic soils on moraine loam

Prioksko-Terrasnyi, Darvinskii, Okskii (?)

Sandy and sandy loamy deep contact-gleyed soddydeeply podzolic soils on calcareous deposits

Prioksko-Terrasnyi

Sandy and sandy loamy soddy surfacepodzolic slightly differentiated soils

Prioksko-Terrasnyi, Okskii (?)

Soddy calcareous soils Prioksko-Terrasnyi

Saturated soddy alluvial soils

"

Saturated meadow alluvial soils

"

* Question marks denote the reserves in which the corresponding soil can be found judging from the environmental conditions, though itspresence has not been confirmed as yet.

352


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nozems and gray forest soils is found in the forest-steppe zone. It is characterized by a high diversity ofbiogeocenoses and soils, which is typical of all the eco-tone territories. Major reference soils of this provinceshould include heavy loamy and clayey podzolized,leached, and typical chernozems and gray forest soils.In some soil districts, meadow-chernozemic soils,residual-calcareous soils developed from calcareousbedrock, and coarse-textured chernozemic and grayforest soils are found. In the southern districts, solodic,solonetzic, and salinized soils are common in cher-nozemic areas. These soils can be considered additionalreference soils of this province.

Although natural reserves occupy only about 0.5%of the province territory, the diversity of landscapes,biocenoses, and soils of this province is represented inthe reserves relatively completely due to their greatnumber and cluster character (these reserves ofteninclude several isolated parts) (figure). For example, theprofiles of typical chernozems, which can be used asmajor reference soils of the province, have beendescribed in the Central Chernozemic and Privolzhs-kaya Lesostep natural reserves; the profiles of leachedchernozems have been described in the Central Cher-nozemic, Privolzhskaya Lesostep, Belogor’e, andVoroninskii reserves; the profiles of podzolized cher-nozems have been described in the Central Cher-nozemic and Belogor’e reserves; and the profiles ofgray forest soils have been described in the Belogor’eand Khoperskii reserves (Table 2). However, truly vir-gin undisturbed chernozems under herbaceous vegeta-tion are only known in two reserves: the Central Cher-nozemic Natural Reserve and the Privolzhskaya Lesos-tep Natural Reserve. Various intrazonal soils developedfrom specific local parent materials are relatively wide-

spread in the reserves. Thus, soddy calcareous andresidual calcareous soils are known in the Belogor’e,Galich’ya Gora, and Central Chernozemic reserves;coarse-textured soils under pine and mixed forests areknown in the Voronezhskii, Privolzhskaya Lesostep,and Khoperskii reserves; and alluvial soils and varioushydromorphic soils, including peat bog soils, areknown in the Voroninskii, Khoperskii, and some otherreserves (Table 2).

However, there are no large areas of meadow cher-nozemic soils typical of the flat poorly drained low-lands within the reserved territories. Analysis of pub-lished materials, including maps, suggests that there areno longer such soils in the virgin state within the prov-ince. Also, there are no complexes of meadow cher-nozemic, solodic, solonetzic, and salt-affected soilswithin the reserved territories. Some solonetzic andsolodic soil varieties can only be found on the flood-plain in the Khoperskii Reserve.

CONCLUSIONS

A scheme for selecting reference soils to beincluded in the


is sug-gested. This scheme includes an algorithm for revealingthe natural diversity of soils at different levels of thesoil cover arrangement. At the first stage, the factors ofsoil formation are considered. Then, within the delin-eated regions, major and additional reference soils andreference soil complexes are selected in agreement withthe declared principles.

For other soil categories to be included in the

RedData Book of Russian Soils

, e.g., for rare soils and

Table 2.

Soils to be included in the


as major and additional reference soils for the central Russianprovince of medium- and high-humus, medium-deep and deep podzolized, leached, and typical chernozems and gray forest soils

Referencesoils Soil name (according to [13]) Reserves within which etalon soils

have been described

Major Podzolized chernozems Central Chernozemic, Belogor’e

Leached chernozems Central Chernozemic, Privolzhskaya Lesostep,Belogor’e, Voroninskii

Typical chernozems Central Chernozemic, Privolzhskaya Lesostep

Gray forest soils Belogor’e, Khoperskii, Zhigulevskii

Additional(regional)

Dark gray forest soils Central Chernozemic, Zhigulevskii

Soddy calcareous soils and calcimorphic chernozems Belogor’e, Galich’ya Gora, Central Chernozemic, Zhigulevskii

Sandy and sandy loamy gray forest soils Voronezhskii; Privolzhskaya Lesostep; Khoperskii

Solodic, solonetzic, and salinized chernozems Khoperskii

Different hydromorphic soils (meadow, peaty, and bog) Voroninskii, Khoperskii, Privolzhskaya Lesostep, Zhigulevskii

Meadow chernozemic soils Not preserved in the virgin state

Combinations of solodic, solonetzic, and salt-affected meadow chernozemic soils

Not described in the reserves


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endangered soils, some other approaches and principlescan be suggested.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThis study was supported by the Russian Founda-

tion for Basic Research project no. 04-04-48715.

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Documents

Principles of selecting reference soils for the Red Data Book of Russian Soils