Soil mapping of the boggy plains of the north of the West Siberian Lowland still remains poorly developed, despite the growing attention to this region from environmentalists due to global warming and its extensive development by the oil and gas producing complex. The territory of the Numto Nature Park was chosen as a testing ground for studying the possibility of soil mapping of boggy plains as it is very typical in terms of the set of presented landscapes inherent in the northern taiga and forest-tundra zones of Western Siberia, including both boreal and frozen bog systems. When compiling the medium-scale soil map, traditional methods of soil survey and geobotanical indication of soils, as well as digital cartography methods based on machine learning were used. Two Landsat-8 multispectral satellite images with a pixel size of 30 meters on the ground from September 8, 2023, were selected as the basis for mapping. The information content of the soil map was increased by including peat mesotrophic soils, as well as soils of wet regressive bogs and khasyrei landscapes (dry lake beds) in the legend. To verify the compiled map the following were performed: 1) its comparison with 30 detailed soil maps of the Kazym basin microkeys; 2) accuracy assessment in the SCP plugin with creation of stratified random points; 3) point repeat ground survey. The accuracy of the map, according to various estimates, ranged from 75.0% to 78.4%. The greatest difficulty is in mapping the soils of small-flat-mound peatlands alternating with thawed complex bogs with dominance of lichens on elevated elements of the bogs. The dominant component of the soil cover in the park is thawed oligotrophic peat soils (share in the soil cover composition is 43.5%). Combinations of oligotrophic peat soils of palsa complexes occupy 11.3%, podzols – 13.3%; complexes of oligotrophic peat (including wet regressive) and mesotrophic peat soils – 8.3%, mesotrophic soils – 7.1%.

The article presents the results of studying the problem of the genesis of gray soils with the second humus horizon (SHH) of broad-leaved and coniferous forests of the east of the Russian Plain on the territory of the lower right bank of the Vyatka River, within the Urzhumsky and Mari-Tureksky plateaus. The AEl[hh] horizon is located at a depth of about 25–50 cm from the surface and differs significantly from the above-lying humus horizons in terms of its external and internal properties, which indicate a complex history of soil development with a binary humus profile. The work is based on a set of methods of morphological, genetic and analytical paleosurface studies. For the first time, data on the morphology, conservative and relevant substantive properties, genesis and main stages of evolution of soils with problematic profile structure have been obtained for the region. The polygenetic nature of the soils and the relict (residual in origin) age of the humus of the SHH with the Early Holocene, Atlantic formation time – about 8.5–6.5 thousand years ago – under vegetation more corresponding to the forest-steppe paleolandscapes are substantiated. Two different stages of soil development are distinguished: developing evolution with elements inheriting in the Boreal-Atlantic optimum; inheriting evolution with elements erasing in the second half of the Postglacial. Conclusions are drawn about the inconsistency of these soils with the modern bioclimatic conditions of the mixed forests of the Vyatka Kama region, the degradation trend of their development in the second half of the Holocene and the prospects for further transformation into sod-podzolic soils from the soils with SHH. These objects are considered as a rare soil heritage corresponding to the status of rare and endangered soils recommended for inclusion in the network of protected natural territories of Vyatka land.

Modern climate change exacerbates the problem of peat fires and requires a unified methodological approach for assessing carbon losses. The study was conducted in 2024–2025 on the territory of a developed high-moor peat deposit that was affected by fires in 2011 and is located within the Kaliningrad region (South-Eastern Baltic region). The methodology combines traditional approaches of soil science (profile method) with geobotanical techniques of revealing the indicator role of woody vegetation in determining the depth of burning and precipitation of the post-pyrogenic surface. As a basis for the applied assessment of pyrogenically altered soils, the classification of the intensity of soil fires by the depth of burning of the peat layer, adopted in the field of forest pyrology, is used. Using the example of two test sites with different residual peat deposits, organic profile thickness, and local drainage features, we studied carbon losses in the cavalier strip and on peat maps. It was shown that weak fires cause pyrogenic degradation of the upper layers of peat soils, resulting in losses ranging from 5.31 to 20.2 kg C/m². In medium-intensity fires, pyrogenic degradation affects both the upper and lower layers of the peat profile, resulting in the formation of underground combustion cavities and thermally altered peat horizons. Carbon losses increase to 24.5–36.7 kg C/m². In the areas of strong fires, the entire peat profile, which was originally a mixed-type deposit, undergoes pyrogenic degradation with an irreversible loss of most of the horizons and a total carbon loss of 50.36–65.40 kg C/m². The areas of strong fires are confined to the soils of the cavalier. In the spatial aspect, carbon losses are composed of the share of fire foci of different strength in the overall mosaic pattern of the post-pyrogenic surface. A dense network of open shallow channels contributes to the rapid spread of fire into the peatland along the cavalier, which ultimately leads to high area-based carbon losses due to deeper pyrogenic degradation of soils on peat maps.

The study was conducted in the biocenoses of Quercus pubescens on the Southern Coast of Crimea. Six sample plots were established in the western, central, and eastern parts of the study area. The soils are predominantly brown, weakly developed on eluvium-deluvium of limestones and clay shales, while at “Cape Martyan” they are brown reddish-brown soils (Terra Rossa) formed on a thick layer of leached weathering products of Upper Jurassic limestones. The study examined the structure and composition of the phytocenosis, taxation characteristics of the stands, and specific soil conditions. It was revealed that the most stringent conditions for the characteristics of the quality of the soil environment are currently developing in the western part of Q. pubescens growth on the Southern Coast of Crimea. The soil under Laspi and Kastropol plantings have the lowest humus concentration and moisture content. In the central part of the Q. pubescens forest, with some improvement in soil conditions, the general specificity of changes in the quality of the soil environment is very close to the plantings of the western territories. It was found that the growth and development of Q. pubescens stands on Cape Ai-Todor are largely determined by the seasonal dynamics of soil moisture. The relatively high moisture content in the soil during the first months of vegetation has a positive effect on the growth of Q. pubescens; and its sharp decrease in the second half of summer to values, close to the indicators of the biocenoses of the western part, shows a stressful effect on the condition of the forest stands on Cape Ai-Todor. In the eastern part of Q. pubescens habitat on the Southern Coast of Crimea, the underlying bedrock has a significant effect on soil conditions. Gabbro-diabase of the Ayu-Dag and Kastel laccoliths affects soil acidity, features of humus formation and accumulation. It is shown that dense gabbro-diabase layers increase moisture supply of Q. pubescens stands in the Ayu-Dag and Kastel ecotopes. It is concluded that the total cutting of primary Q. pubescens stands on the Southern Coast of Crimea in the past determined the deep degradation of the structure and composition of plant communities, the formation of low-productivity coppice plantations in these areas. One of the causes of destructive phenomena in the development of Q. pubescens biocenoses is a change in the water balance of the soil environment. The growth potential of Q. pubescens coppice stands on the Southern Coast of Crimea is currently provided by the powerful root system of the parent tree stand, which continues to function.

Biomass of humus formation is an important part in a national carbon budget management model. The purpose of the study was to determine the acceptability of replacing the method of determining the biomass of humus formation, represented by the mass of matter in the method of CINAO to the approach of substance fractionation (crop, root and crop residues, by-products) used in the method of RosNIIzemproekt. The masses of humus-forming matter obtained by different methods were compared, as well as the humus balances (HB) calculated for them. Standard methods of regression and correlation analysis were used, as well as the method of pair difference between conjugate sequences. The quality of regression models was assessed using the Cheddock scale. The study confirmed the acceptability of substituting the humus formation biomass determination in the CINAO method for the approach adopted in the method of RosNIIzemproekt. Based on calculations of humus formation biomass, it was revealed that all calculated HBs consistently increased with increasing winter wheat yield. It is shown that the maximum HB values (13.6 c/ha) were obtained for high straw cutting according to the CINAO methodology. Reduced yield (25 c/ha or average area-weighted by the region 23.9 c/ha) forms a negative HB in grain production technologies that collect straw as a by-product. In technologies that include straw in the humus-forming biomass, the yield value below which the HB becomes negative decreases to a yield of 20 c/ha or 18.3 c/ha, respectively. The noted values of yields act as criteria for the feasibility of initiation of soil-climatic projects on arable soils. Obviously, the goal of humus (carbon) accumulation in arable soils will not be achieved under crops that demonstrate negative HB. Yields below which it is inappropriate to initiate a soil-climatic project are proposed to be called: “Soil-climatic project initiation threshold (SCPIT)”.

The purpose of the work was to assess the effect of mineral and organo-mineral fertilizer systems on the balance of greenhouse gases (CO₂ and N₂O) in the agroecosystem wile winter wheat producing. The experiment was conducted 2021–2024 in the steppe zone of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (Tersky District, Opytnoye Village) on a site of long-term experiments included in the Geosystem (No. 037). The soil of the site is represented by ordinary micellar-carbonate chernozem. The calculation of the carbon dioxide balance was carried out in accordance with the methodological recommendations of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation (Order No. 371 dated May 22, 2022). The volumes of nitrous oxide emissions were determined in accordance with the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. By comparing the CO₂-eq balance data in the agroecosystem and the CO₂-eq corresponding to the amount of N₂O emitted from the nitrogen contained in plant residues and fertilizers, as well as the mineralizable nitrogen in the soil, the most climate-friendly (carbon sequestration capacity) system was identified. The average amount of CO₂-eq accumulated in the “soil–plant” system over 4 years under the organo-mineral fertilizer system was 98.5 t/ha, compared to 28.7 t/ha under the mineral system. These figures reflect the difference in carbon balance compared to the control option, which did not use any fertilizers. The main absorber of CO₂ was the soil, both in the topsoil and in the subsoil (0–40 cm). In the organic-mineral system, the accumulation of carbon in the soil was 25.2 t/ha (92.2 t/ha CO₂-eq). In the mineral system, it was 7.3 t/ha or 26.7 t/ha CO₂-eq.

Differential soil sampling by depth in thin layers is suggested for monitoring of organic carbon (C_org) content and storage in soils of agroecosystems. Its goal is to obtain acceptable values of minimal detectable difference of C_org content and storage comparing two observation periods and statistically based idea of C_org vertical distribution in surface soil layers in one observation period. Vertical distribution of C_org within layer 0–30 cm can serve as an indirect criterion of C_org sequestration ability in soil in the initial base period of monitoring before direct measuring of C_org in the next observation periods at the same dynamic plot. Graphs of distribution of C_org content, soil density and C_org storage along the soil profile in natural soils are submitted. Three principal variants of C_org content distribution along soil profile and different variants of bulk density vertical distribution in soils of agroecosystems are discussed. Tendencies of increasing variability in C_org content due to increasing depth of soil sampling within layer 0–40 cm in soddy-podzolic (Albic Retisols), light-chestnut (Haplic Kastanozems) soils and chernozems were noted. Spatial variability of C_org storage in thin layers and in generalized layers of different thickness is discussed.

For the first time, the composition of organic matter (OM) in strongly skeletal residual carbonate pelozems (Skeletic Leptosols (Loamic)), carbopetrozems (Calcaric Leptosols (Protic)), petrozems (Skeletic Leptosols (Protic)) and cryozems (Oxyaquic) in the northern part of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago was studied using granulometric fractionation. It has been shown that, regardless of the depth of the horizons in all studied objects, carbon in particulate OM (free – LF_fr and occluded – LF_occ) is 94–96% (on average) represented by organic C (C_org), in the clay fraction and the residue, the share of C_org decreases to 87 and 54% of the C_total in fraction. The level of C_org accumulation in various fractions largely determines the microbiological activity in the studied soils. The correlation coefficient (R², P < 0.05) between C_org of specific fractions (% in soil) and the content of microbial biomass decreases in the following order: LF_occ (0.59) > mA (0.53) > LF_fr (0.50) > clay (0.36) > residue (0.26), reflecting the important role of soil structural units, in particular, microaggregates within aggregates (mA) that are unstable in the ultrasonic field, in providing comfortable environmental conditions for the microbiota.

The transition to sustainable agriculture involves the adoption of soil-saving technologies, such as no-till (NT), as an alternative to conventional tillage (CT). The introduction of NT fundamentally alters the dynamics of plant residue input and decomposition; however, its effects on the molecular composition of soil organic matter (SOM) remain insufficiently studied. This study aimed to conduct a comparative assessment of the influence of NT and CT on the chemical structure of SOM in typical chernozems. Soil samples were collected from 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm depths in the 8-year field experiment with a four-course grain crop rotation under NT and CT management. Standard soil chemical properties (pH, available phosphorus and potassium, total nitrogen, and organic carbon) were analyzed. The chemical structure of SOM was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and analytical pyrolysis. The molecular structure of SOM demonstrated the most pronounced dependence on the tillage practice compared to all other measured properties. The transformation under NT was characterized by the accumulation of carbohydrates and products of their microbial metabolism. In contrast, CT led to the dominance of recalcitrant compounds within the passive pool, which are not involved in active microbial transformation. Correlation analysis revealed that the trends of accumulation of organic carbon under NT is associated with the increased contribution of carbohydrates and phenolic compounds to the SOM composition.

The working purpose is to study the elemental composition of humic acids (HA), hymatomelanic acids (HMA) and fulvic acids (FA) in typical virgin chernozem of the Kursk Region. Humus acid preparations were obtained by extraction with 0.1 N NaOH solution from a decalcified sample of soil according to the traditional method for our country, purification by centrifugation and electrodialysis. HMA were extracted from the crude gel with ethanol until the solution became colorless. In the resulting preparations of humus acids, the following parameters were determined: ash content by gravimetric method; C, H, N content by an automatic CHNS-varioMicrocube analyzer; O content was found as the difference; degree of oxidation and calorific value – by using empirical formulas. Elemental composition data were expressed in mass and atomic percentages. The highest energy potential is typical of HMA, the heat of combustion is 18.71 kJ/g. The lowest for FA is 10.99 kJ/g. According to the obtained data, chernozem HAs are formed mainly by cyclic compounds and are depleted in nitrogen, as evidenced by the H : C ratio (0.87) and C : N ratio (16.5). The O : C ratio is 0.50, and the oxidation degree is +0.13. HMA and FA are aliphatic in origin – the values of the H : C atomic ratios are 1.26 and 1.57, respectively, which corresponds well to the literature data. FAs are enriched with oxygen- and nitrogen-containing groups, the values of the atomic ratios O : C and C : N are 0.90 and 10.8, the degree of oxidation is +0.24. Among humus acids, HMAs are most depleted in nitrogen-containing groups; the C : N ratio is 22.8. Unlike HA and FA, HMA are under-oxidized compounds, which is confirmed by the O : C ratio of 0.44 and the negative degree of oxidation -0.37. Thus, HMAs have not yet completely passed the humification stage. According to the graph-statistical analysis, their transition to HA is associated with demethylation and oxidation reactions, supplemented by dehydrogenation. The transition from HMA to FA is due to a clearly expressed oxidation process, complemented by weakly manifested hydration. The position of humic acids on the diagram in coordinates of the degree of oxidation (ω) – the value of the H : C ratio indicates that they not only differ in the quality of their structural components, but are also at different stages of humification.

Soil erosion is an unavoidable natural phenomenon that significantly endangers soil fertility and global land management. The primary objective of this study was to perform a thorough bibliometric analysis of research pertaining to the extensively utilized RUSLE model for soil erosion modeling, aiming to identify significant research trends, impactful contributions, and existing knowledge gaps. This study selected articles published in English from 1987 to 2024 in the Scopus database. The analysis centered on indicators including the most productive year, journals, authors, keywords, topics, countries, affiliations, and citations. We used R Biblioshiny, VOSviewer, and mapchart.net to help us with the analysis. The results showed that 2023 was the best year for publications on this topic, with Environmental Earth Sciences and Modeling Earth Systems and Environment being the top journals. Renard K.G. and Li Y. were the authors, who wrote the most papers, and “soil erosion” was the word that was used the most. China and India also came out on top, which shows that they are more affected by erosion than other countries. Furthermore, the progression of RUSLE research has been identified as occurring in three distinct phases: an initial limited phase (1987–1996), a phase of steady growth (1997–2014) propelled by the integration of GIS and remote sensing, and a highly productive phase (2015– till present moment) characterized by technological advancements and heightened global awareness, especially in 2023. These results show how modern technologies are becoming more important for making soil erosion models more accurate and scalable. This bibliometric analysis gives a full picture of how soil erosion research is changing around the world. It gives useful information for future research and supports sustainable land management and farming practices that aim to stop land degradation.

The full-text problem-oriented database “Outstanding Soil Scientists of Russia” (DB), created by the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Central Scientific Agricultural Library” (CSAL), for the purpose of providing information for scientific research in the field of soil science and improving information and library services for agricultural scientists and specialists. Full-text DBs significantly expand users’ access to information resources, save time, allowing them to get the necessary information to their desktop without physically visiting the library. The inclusion in scientific circulation of complete electronic texts of the most significant works of outstanding Russian soil scientists, which are part of the scientific heritage, organized into a single structured array that allows for a quick and effective search for individual document attributes and full text, improves the quality of information support for scientific research on agriculture and soil science. The methodology of DB formation is described. The DB is part of the complex of information resources of the CSAL, the linguistic and software tools of which provide the formation of a complete bibliographic record, relevant and fast search. The database content was generated from the CSAL stock. As a result of studying the stock, literature and bibliographic sources, and consultations with specialists from the V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute, a list of 147 people was formed. The list includes the most famous soil scientists who have made a great contribution to the development of soil science and have left a significant mark on science: scientists of tsarist Russia, scientists who worked in the USSR, and scientists working now. The science of soil was born in Russia; it is called Russian science because it was Russian scientists who laid the foundation of classical soil science. The DB includes the works of the founders of soil science. The created problem-oriented database “Outstanding Soil Scientists of Russia” contains more than 450 documents. The creation of problem-oriented DBs improves the quality of information and library services for users, providing quick and comfortable search and the ability to get information to the researcher’s desktop. The inclusion of retrospective or little-known works by soil scientists in general scientific circulation expands the boundaries of user knowledge, which will be useful for scientists and practitioners studying the historical roots of the development of soil science.