SOIL

Soil refers to the uppermost layer of the earth, which displays a specific morphological structure, chemical composition, physical and biological characteristics originating from the transformation of rocks under the influence of live and dead organisms, climate, age, forms of relief, and the activities of human beings. Russian naturalist V.V. Dokuchaev, who first recognized specific features of soil morphogenesis and regularities of geographical distribution, founded a basis for modern soil science that identified soil as an original natural body. Soil has fertility that is a combination of substances and water-air and temperature regimes that support biomass production under natural or managed conditions. Therefore, soil is an essential component of terrain ecosystems. Soil performs an important regulatory function maintaining the exchange of energy and matter between the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere, which is essential for the development of life. This CD-ROM offers a complete database describing the soils of Russia, derived from the latest country-wide soil map at a scale of 1:2.5 million. Soils have been correlated with International (FAO and WRB) and USDA soil taxonomy and described with analytyical data from soil reference profiles. More Details...

Back

General Information
  National (Natural Divisions)
  Naturalness

Characteristics
  Organic Carbon 30cm
  Organic Carbon 100cm
  Nitrogen Content
  CO2 Respiration
  Methane Production
  Cation Exchange Capacity
  Bulk Density
  Topsoil Acidity

  Correlation
    International (FAO, 1990)
    International (WRB, 1998)
    Soil Taxonomy (USDA, 1999)

Pedotransferring Functions
  Drainage
  Plant Available Water