INFOSOIL is a new information-reference system aimed at elaborating purposeful classifications of soils by using a definite set of soil features. The stages and procedures of this system permit to determine the maximum number of objects taking into complete account their most informative features, the method and quality of objects grouping into classes as well as to recognize newly presented soils to be classified. This system should be named as a generator or engine of soil classifications developed for different purposes; it is based on the concept of enumeration classification, thus connecting a totality of soil features to meet requirements of the soil classification. The amount of features (classifier positions) determines the maximum number of objects and brings them in correspondence. It is shown how is realized the suggested approach in practice; the position of soils in the classification system is indicated. In this paper the first INFOSOIL version (www.infosoil) is presented to show the development of its real possibilities and accessibility for users and classification authors. In the system the interfaces are envisaged with the soil-geographical database, the State register of soil resources and the Soil map, 1: 2.5 M scale. In essence the system contains the soil classification system widely adopted now (2004), the automated guide to determine the soils (2008) and creates all the conditions for its further development. INFOSOIL has being elaborated as an intellectual information system that includes the MERON system, algorithm means to create new enumeration classifications as well as to use and study the available classifications.

Two classification systems under comparison differ in objects, terminology, hierarchical levels, and approaches to identify soils. However, they have some common features: both systems are oriented to soil properties and apply the pedogenetic concepts, on one hand; on the other hand, the results, namely, some of the soil taxonomic units are similar. The second-level units of WRB, representing the classification rather than the reference base, display a certain correlation with the subtype level in the Russian soil classification system. This level in two systems may be qualified as a really active, and it contains the most complete genetic characteristic of a soil; moreover, there is a similarity in criteria for qualifiers in WRB and genetic features (producing subtypes) in the Russian system. The difference between two classification systems is manifested in the number and essence of diagnostic horizons because they perform different functions. In the International system, they mainly serve for recognition of soils (in the key), while they directly identify genetic soil types in the Russian system.

The methods of multidimensional statistics and claster analysis were used to create an automated classification and diagnostics of the pore space in 200 micromorphological vertically oriented thin sections prepared from podzolic soils (the Republic of Komi, Russia), soddy-podzolic soils in the Moscow region, gray forest soils (Tula region) and chernozems (Kursk and Voronezh regions in Russia, Odessa region in Ukraine). The computer imagination analysis permitted to study fine macro-voids ( d = 0.2-2 mm) in the field of vision 2x2 cm. Every void in the field of vision was measured to determine its section area ( S ), perimeter ( P ), diametrical ( D ) and longitudinal ( L ) sections, orientation of the long section axe in the plane thin section and the form factor F = (4 pS / P² + D / L )/2. 100-150 voids were taken for measurements in every thin section. To characterize the pore space in thin sections, under use were also the empiric distribution of voids according to the form factor and orientation as well as the average length of voids in the field of vision. The discrimination analysis made it possible to elaborate an automated system and to give the morphometric characteristics of the pore space in the studied soils with varying structures so specific for loamy soils at the territory of European Russia including crumbly, granular, nutty, platy, massive-platy, fissure-like and massive structures. The results of the automated diagnostics have a rather high similarity with the expert visual assessment of the pore space in thin sections (75-90%).

Based on the example of St-Petersburg a genetic diversity of natural, human-transformed and anthropogenic soils has been thoroughly studied at the urbanized territory of this city. Under consideration are changes in components of the soil cover caused by the human activities along with regularities in the soil cover formation that has being developed for several centuries from the beginning of the 18^th century. It is also shown how changed the initial profile of natural soils accompanying the urbanization process with special emphasis on peculiar features of the soil formation at the urbanized territory. Among a great variety of surface bodies at this territory the soils were found out, the definition of which is given in Russian soil classification system and WRB. The principles for classifying the urban soils are considered. The distinct morphological features of an introduced horizon are determined to give the comprehensive characteristics of human-transformed soils. Under discussion is the concept of “introduced horizon” composing of the human-modified material from the humus or organogenic horizons of natural soils and having the lower sharply expressed boundary with the bedrock. In Russian soil classification system it would be advisable to use a new order of “introduced soils” within the trunk of synlithogenic soils along with stratozems, volcanic, weakly developed and alluvial soils. In WRB it would be also possible to identify a new reference group of soils including the soils with the introduced horizon and underlying by any mineral substratum of natural or anthropogenic origin.

The authors generalized and summarized original and literature data with the view of studying the gray and dark-gray soils in the Volga-Kama forest steppe. The methods of multidimensional statistics permitted to determine the position of these soils in the available soil classification system. A great number of soils described by different researchers within the framework of Russian soil classification system (1977) were formalized in conformity with that published in 2004. In the latest classification system of soils in Russia the reliable differences in the humus horizon of gray and dark-gray soils are shown in the content of humus, exchangeable bases, clay fraction, acidity and thickness as well as in the thickness of the leached layer (up to the C horizon) and the humus storage within the one meter of soil (t/ha). The methods of numerical classification allowed determining discriminated functions and classify more exactly the studied soils in the Volga-Kama forest steppe. Based upon statistic processing of the obtained data the limits for properties of the humus horizon are suggested to distinguish the gray and dark-gray soils. The visual imagination widely adopted now to recognize the types of gray and dark-gray soils should be added by limits of their varying properties. The obtained results presented in this paper may be useful to improve the idea on properties of gray forest soils. The suggested criteria to recognize the studied soils may be applicable for studying and systematizing these soils as well as for purposes of land use, elaboration of regional database and in projects of ecological territory optimization.

Under consideration is the classification of soils and soil-like formations in special landscapes and the football ground in particular. The latter is usually represented by soils subjected to human impacts of varying intensity: from weakly transformed by technogenic processes to artificial soils or technogenic superficial formations. The objects of research are more than 40 football grounds in Russia and the Republic of Byelarus. They differ in the age (exploitation time), regular and intensive technogenic loads, natural conditions and soil properties. The football grounds under study were divided into 3 groups: sports-ground at the age of its exploitation (less than 5 years), sports-mass grounds (30-50 years) and professional football grounds (50-75 years). Every group of football grounds is characteristic of soils and technogenic superficial formations represented by (1) technogenic-natural soils, (2) technogenically transformed soils and (3) technogenic superficial formations. The first two groups include the surface-transformed and disturbed soils, the natural profile of which is weakly changed. The technogenic superficial formations artificially constructed on the buried horizons of natural soils are highly subjected to technogenesis. In dependence on natural and technogenic conditions, age or exploitation time, peculiar features of soil stratum on football grounds it is possible to recognize a postlithogenic type of soddy-podzolic soils as well as 3 synlithogenic types represented by techno-soddy podzolic soil and 2 types of technogenic superficial formations including primitive and soddy quasizems. The evolution trends are striving to develop three subtypes of soddy quasizems under all the bioclimatic conditions including lessive, gleyic and solonetzic ones, whereas under humid conditions of the Moscow region there exist 5 subtypes of techno-soddy podzolic soils represented by lessive, gleyic, technogenically overcompacted, residual-carbonate and chemically polluted ones.