International soil classification and its potential application in geographic research
Abstract
The International system of soil classification known as WRB (World reference base for soil resources) was initiated at the turn of centuries, and acquires high importance in many countries among soil scientists, ecologists, geographers. It originated of the FAO legend to the Soil map of the world, and strongly differs of the traditional systems accepted in our country by its principles (priority of soil properties), although it has common features with the new Russian system of 2004/2008. The upper level in the WRB system includes 32 reference soil groups, which are entities with unique sets of features implemented in diagnostic horizons, properties, and materials. The global pattern of reference soil groups hardly coincides with the zonal sequences of soils. The second WRB level contains voluminous information on various soil characteristics, including the human-induced and rock-dependent ones, as well as those indicating soilforming processes, hydrothermal regimes, texture and consistence, and some particular features. This information may be interpreted for many purposes: forecasts in cases of global climate change or human impacts, and assessments of soil/landscape vulnerability, or behavior of chemical elements and their cycles, in particular.
Keywords
Supporting agencies: The work was financially supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project № 17-17-01293). Sincere gratitude to A.N. Gennadiev for his advices in the course of preparing the paper
About the Author
M. I. Gerasimova
Lomonosov Moscow State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Faculty of Geography, Department of Landscape Geochemistry and Soil Geography, Professor, D.Sc. in Biology
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Review
For citations:
Gerasimova M.I. International soil classification and its potential application in geographic research. Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Seriya 5, Geografiya. 2019;(3):49-56. (In Russ.)
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