This paper examines the feasibility of using a narrowband phase-shift keying (PSK) communication technology to implement a subsurface soil monitoring system. Field trials were carried out in 2024 at the VNIIMZ agro-experimental site (Tver Oblast, Russia) on loamy sod-podzolic soils. Three NB-Fi BT100 radio modems were deployed sequentially at nine locations at distances of about 300–1300 m from the base station and buried at depths of 20 and 40 cm to emulate underground network nodes. Telemetry data were transmitted once per day, and the radio link quality was evaluated using the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the received signal strength indicator (RSSI). It was found that when the radio modems were installed at depths of 20–40 cm, stable reception of data packets was maintained over the entire range of distances, while SNR values (~5–25 dB, with maxima up to 30–33 dB) and RSSI values (from –90 to –140 dBm) remained above the receiver sensitivity thresholds. Thus, the experiment demonstrates that the considered technology can be used as a subsurface communication channel for distributed soil monitoring systems without bringing antennas to the surface.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the applicability of rapeseed as a crop for promoting regenerative agriculture and to determine the crop's potential for stimulating the development of a low-carbon economy in the Russian Federation (RF). A state-of-the-art domestic model for managing the humus budget (HB) for soils in agroecosystems was used. HB calculations for spring and winter rapeseed were based on rapeseed yield data publicly available from state statistics. Two options for generating humus-forming biomass were considered: 1) reduced – the sum of root and stubble plant residues; 2) expanded – the sum of root, stubble plant residues and by-products. The НB in the reduced version of the humus-forming biomass of winter rapeseed was positive, and the soil accumulated approximately 2.2 c/ha. In this version of growing spring rapeseed, the НB was negative, and the soils annually lose approximately 1.4 c/ha of humus. With the expanded in of humus-forming biomass into the soil, the НB for winter and spring rapeseed was positive. The soils demonstrated extended fertility restoration, which corresponds to the goals of regenerative agriculture. Winter rapeseed can be used for regenerative farming without restrictions. Spring rapeseed can only be used in the case of increased biomass input for humus formation. Cultivation of winter rapeseed results in humus fixation in the soil, which, when converted into carbon units, amounts to +0.48 t CO₂-eq/ha. Cultivation of spring rapeseed results in humus loss of –0.30 t CO₂-eq/ha. Because the area under spring rapeseed is fourfold greater than that under winter rapeseed, the total amount of carbon units in the RF is –0.433 million t-CO₂-eq. With increased input of humus-forming biomass, winter and spring rapeseed production can result in soil absorption of approximately 5.714 million tons of CO₂-eq, which represents approximately 5% of the annual carbon emissions of the Russian agricultural sector in year 2022. The use of winter rapeseed for the development of a low-carbon economy in the RF is permitted without restrictions. The use of spring rapeseed for these purposes is only possible with increased input of humus-forming biomass.

This article focuses on the methodological aspects of the initial stages of soil tomographic analysis, ranging from sample preparation to the acquisition of tomographic projections. Drawing on knowledge of soil X-ray attenuation, the principles of tomography, and the author's own experience, the study defines – and presents in tabular form – optimal soil sample dimensions tailored to specific research objectives for two tomographic systems: the SkyScan 1172 and the Neoscan N80. Additionally, optimal scanning parameters (including functions, values, and their impact on results) are presented and justified for these systems. Based on the author's experience, the article examines methodological errors related to sample collection and the use of unsuitable materials for packaging and scanning, illustrating the consequences of such errors and outlining ways to avoid them.

Grapes hold a prominent position in global agriculture, and their successful cultivation is closely related to the microbiological composition of the soil, which influences both fertility and plant health. This study aimed to investigate the structural organization of the soil microbiome in different grape-growing soils. Soil samples were collected from both the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere zones of wild grape plants growing on brown forest and alluvial meadow soils. Additionally, soil from the ampelographic collection of the Kuban State Agrarian University characterized as leached chernozem, sampled in the central zone of the Krasnodar Krai, was examined. Microorganisms were identified using serial dilution techniques followed by culturing on selective media. The analysis focused on quantifying key microbial groups, including phytopathogenic fungi, ammonifying bacteria, nitrogen fixers, cellulolytic bacteria, nitrifiers, and denitrifiers. An agrochemical assessment of the soils was also conducted, measuring parameters such as humus content, nitrate nitrogen, available phosphorus, and potassium levels. The highest numbers of micromycetes and ammonifying bacteria were isolated from soil samples of native alluvial meadow cenoses. In contrast, native brown forest soils harbored the greatest abundance of nitrogen-fixing, cellulolytic, nitrifying, and denitrifying microorganisms. Agrochemical analysis revealed significant differences among the samples in electrical conductivity, humus content, nitrate nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium concentrations. Correlation analysis identified several relationships between agrochemical properties and microbial abundance. A strong positive correlation was found between bacterial colony-forming units (CFUs) and agrochemical parameters (R = 0.92), while a weak negative correlation was observed between fungal and bacterial populations (R = –0.056). Overall, a reduction in both the abundance and diversity of soil microorganisms was noted in cultivated ampelocenoses compared to native grape cenoses.

The content of yttrium in natural and technogenic soils in the areas of gold and polymetallic deposits in Eastern Transbaikalia was studied. The purpose of the research was to determine the content of yttrium in soils and to establish its relationship with its concentration in plants. The average gross content of the element in natural and technogenic soils did not differ significantly and ranged from 11.2 to 18.0 mg/kg and from 10.1 to 19.4 mg/kg, respectively. The share of mobile yttrium forms ranged from 34 to 63% in natural soils and from 43 to 53% in technogenic soils. A gold deposit area has been identified, where the content of yttrium in the soil is significantly higher than in other deposits. The concentration of yttrium in 33 species of wild plants growing in natural and anthropogenic habitats has been studied. It has been shown that plant species differ significantly in their absorption of the element. The difference in element concentration between plant species can be as high as 400 times. A greater accumulation of yttrium in the underground parts of plants has been observed. A statistically significant positive correlation, at the 5% significance level, between the gross content of yttrium in the soil and the concentration of the element in the above-ground part of plants was obtained at the Darasun deposits (r = 0.72). The coefficient of biogeochemical mobility (Bm) of yttrium was characterized by low availability and a relatively low degree of use of its mobile forms by the plants studied. Yttrium was absorbed by the underground part of plants, such as Chamaenerion angustifolium, Scutellaria baicalensis, and Trifolium repens (Bx = 0.29–0.45).

A study of the morphological, chemical, and microbiological properties of soils at the Ust-Darovatka Early Neolithic site (deut. VI millennium BC) (Verkhovazhsky district of the Vologda region Mokievskaya street). The object is located in the Konoshsko-Nyandomsky district of podzolic and peat (east)o-podzolic-gley soils of loamy and often changing granulometric composition with a predominance of loamy on moraine deposits, sometimes overlain by sands and sandy loams. It has been shown that under the conditions of the middle taiga, the soils retain features that diagnose the characteristics of anthropogenic transformations that occurred several millennia ago. The data on magnetic susceptibility can be used as diagnostic features of places where fires were lit or where pyrogenic material was introduced from outside, in cases where an evidence-based interpretation of archaeological observations is required. It has been shown that in archaeological sites, the high activity of the enzyme phosphatase can be preserved in the cultural layers. Also, in the soils of the site, elevated phosphorus content values were found in areas of anthropogenic load. These indicators may serve as a marker of burials and food preparation sites. The activity of the enzyme urease proved to be less informative for the study of archaeological objects. A statistical analysis was conducted to compare the granulometric composition, physical and chemical indicators. The comparisons were made with conditionally background soil profiles in which no archaeological artifacts were found. Ultimately, the work presents results on the significance of soil indicators for expanding the knowledge base about archaeological sites.

This study considers the changes in soil properties under various forms and degree of desertification using dispersion analysis, LSD test and multifactorial linear regression in the north of the Caspian lowland. The study focused on desertified soils across five districts of the Astrakhan region—exhibiting degradation in the form of pasture regression, salinization, and biodiversity loss—as well as semi-stabilized and open sands. The results revealed varying degrees of difference in soil properties depending on the form and severity of desertification. Soil moisture, pH levels, organic matter content, and particle-size distribution were the properties most susceptible to alteration under the different forms of desertification. As the degree of desertification increases, the proportion of fine-grained fractions decreases (to 4%), organic matter content declines, and pH values rise. The soils show low water permeability and a deficit of soil moisture. An increase in the degree of salinization is accompanied by a rise in the proportion of clay particles (< 0.002 mm). High soil bulk density (exceeding 1.5 g·cm⁻³) is observed in deserted areas. Multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that soil moisture and pH are the soil factors most sensitive to the degree of desertification. These characteristics, in conjunction with the species diversity of plant communities, can serve as indicators of the degree of soil desertification in arid zones.

Soil erosion remains one of the most pressing environmental challenges, threatening agricultural productivity. The development of erosion models opens up great possibilities for assessing soil erosion. Currently, insufficient attention is paid to the cartographic basis for determining the area and configuration of the boundaries of arable land. This paper compares soil erosion in the Tula Region (Russian Federation), modeled using various cropland maps: the Unified Federal Information System of Agricultural Lands (EFISAL), ESA World Cover 2020 (ESA WC), and Global Land Cover and Land Use (GLCLU). It was found that the area of cropland according to the EFISAL data is 2–2.5 times lager than that estimated by the ESA WC and GLCLU land use models. The EFISAL map corresponds to arable land cultivated in the late 1980s, a significant share of which in the Tula Region has remained uncultivated since the post-Soviet period. Therefore, the use of ESA WC and GLULC is recommended for modern soil erosion assessments. The discrepancy between cropland areas across different maps is uneven across the Tula Region. A trend of change in this indicator is noted from the Northwest to the Southeast, corresponding to the spatial trend of changes in the soil cover. Three groups of districts of the Tula Region can be distinguished based on variations in arable land areas, erosion rates, and the mass of soil annually washed away: Group I – northwestern districts with Albic Retisols and Eutric Retisols; Group II – central districts with Luvic and Greyzemic Phaeozems; Group III – southeastern districts with Luvic Greyzemic Phaeozems and Luvic Chernozems. The maximum deviations from the average arable land areas for the regions obtained from different maps vary in the range of 0.64–1.51 in Group I 0.17–0.61 in Group II, and 0.09–0.20 in Group III. Variations in arable land boundaries on different maps affect soil erosion estimates, especially the calculations of the volume of soil erosion loss. Deviations in the modeled volume of soil erosion loss in Group I were in the range of 0.65–1.75, in Group II 0.28–0.58, and in Group III 0.13–0.26. These quantitative indicators should be taken into account when developing soil conservation measures based on erosion modelling in the Tula Region.

In recent decades, a scientific field focused on the study of ecosystem services has emerged and is actively developing. Soil is one of the main components of an ecosystem, so its functioning affects many of its services. However, identifying the role of soil in the expression of a particular ecosystem service is still an unresolved problem, because its components interact with each other in complex ways, and these interrelations are often poorly understood. The article presents a description of a new methodological approach to estimating soil services based on comparing soil properties with those of the parent material. A demonstration of this approach is provided using the example of assessing of only one of the soil services: when soil is considered as a water depository. It has been established that soil formation can lead not only to an increase in the expression of soil services but also to its decrease, which can be interpreted as soil anti-services. For example, the analysis of such a soil service as water storage across the territory of Russia showed, that in Russia, almost half of its territory exhibits an absence of the soil service under consideration, on one third of the territory this service is well expressed, and on almost 20% of the territory an anti-service is expressed. According to the data obtained, in 12 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, the estimated value of the considered soil service exceeds 100 billion rubles, and the provision of this service by all soils in the country is estimated at 5.7 trillion rubles. The use of the proposed approach may serve as an additional argument in justifying the need to develop legislative acts for the protection of soils specifically, as unique natural objects.

Based on the practice of conducting soil and environmental expert studies, the article substantiates the need to introduce definitions included in the following blocks into the conceptual framework presented in the regulatory framework in the field of soil protection: 1) establishing the fact of a negative impact on soils; 2) establishing the types of background content of substances in soils; 3) establishing the fact of responsibility for damage caused to soils. Definitions are proposed that establish the existence of biologically significant substances and ranges of their concentrations, within which they cannot be recognized as pollutants, soil variability as a result of both anthropogenic and natural factors. To optimize the system of rationing and assessment of the degree of soil pollution, definitions of various types of background values are proposed: natural, general natural-anthropogenic and local natural-anthropogenic background content, as well as the range of permissible deviations from their values. To ensure a system of compensation for damage for violations of the law on soil protection, it is necessary to introduce the concept of “Responsibility for pollution and depletion of land (soils)”, as well as the establishment of ranges of concentrations of pollutants in soils, at which there is an economic responsibility for the negative impact.