V. V. Dokuchaev and the present-day paradigm of nature management

The acceptance of the biospheric paradigm of nature management anticipated by V.V. Dokuchaev instead of the anthropocentric ideology suggests a solution of problems related to the ecologization of agriculture and its adaptive intensification under the conservation of soil ecological functions. The landscape-ecological principles of human economic activity proposed by Dokuchaev have developed into the modern methodology of agrolandscape design and adaptive-landscape farming.     

Information about the V Congress of the Dokuchaev Soil Science Society

Chronicle

Information about the V Congress of the Dokuchaev Soil Science Society     

The microbial transformation of fungal mycelium as the predecessor of humic acids

This work includes investigation of microbial decomposition of fungal mycelium by pure and mixed bacteria cultures. The decomposition of mycelium is estimated according to CO₂ emission activity by gas chromatography and the change in the quantity of bacterial cells by luminescence microscopy. A comparative stability of fungal melanin to microbial destruction is found. It is shown that fungal mycelium was decomposed first mainly by a native complex of microorganisms and later by gram-positive bacteria. In two months of laboratory work, the fungal biomass decomposed by 25–37%. The results of our research verify the possibility of including melanin in humic acids.     

Dokuchaev’s language as a reflection of his broad vision and literary talent

The analysis of Dokuchaev’s language and the style of Dokuchaev’s works points to his breadth of mind and love for nature. The originality and literary expressiveness of Dokuchaev’s language are illustrated by particular examples.     

Verification of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Classification and Diagnostic system of Russian soils</Emphasis> (2004) on the materials of a collection of soil monoliths from the V.V. Dokuchaev Central Soil Museum

The first in the world collection of soil monoliths from the Dokuchaev Central Soil Museum (St. Petersburg) was examined in order to test and verify the new substantive-genetic classification system of Russian soils. This work made it possible to introduce a number of refinements in the second edition of the Russian soil classification system (2004). These refinements included the addition of new diagnostic horizons and features and the specification of their definitions. The analysis of the museum collection of soils has definite advantages, as it allows one to work with soils from different geographic regions simultaneously, to consider morphological features of soils under standard conditions, to use analytical soil data, and to analyze different names (i.e., interpretations of the genesis) given to the same soils. At the same time, a critical analysis of the collection creates necessary prerequisites for a comparative analysis of soils from different regions of Russia with the national reference soil base, which is important in order to reveal the real pedogenetic diversity and improve the information base on soil resources in Russia.     

The Dokuchaev hypothesis as a basis for predictive digital soil mapping (on the 125th anniversary of its publication)

Predictive digital soil mapping is widely used in soil science. Its objective is the prediction of the spatial distribution of soil taxonomic units and quantitative soil properties via the analysis of spatially distributed quantitative characteristics of soil-forming factors. Western pedometrists stress the scientific priority and principal importance of Hans Jenny’s book (1941) for the emergence and development of predictive soil mapping. In this paper, we demonstrate that Vasily Dokuchaev explicitly defined the central idea and statement of the problem of contemporary predictive soil mapping in the year 1886. Then, we reconstruct the history of the soil formation equation from 1899 to 1941. We argue that Jenny adopted the soil formation equation from Sergey Zakharov, who published it in a well-known fundamental textbook in 1927. It is encouraging that this issue was clarified in 2011, the anniversary year for publications of Dokuchaev and Jenny.     

Long-chain gamma-pyrones in epicuticular wax of two vanilla bean species: V. fragrans and V. tahitensis.

Analyses of the neutral lipids from Vanilla species before saponification resulted in the identification of a new product family in this genus: long-chain gamma-pyrone compounds with an aliphatic chain containing a cis double bond at the n-9 position. These compounds represent 7-8% of the neutral lipids in mature beans. Using NMR and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, three gamma-pyrones have been identified, including 2-(10-nonadecenyl)-2, 3-dihydro-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one, 2-(12-heneicosenyl)-2, 3-dihydro-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one, and 2-(14-tricosenyl)-2, 3-dihydro-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one. The major constituent was 2-(14-tricosenyl)-2,3-dihydro-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one, which represented 70.3% of the gamma-pyrone fraction. The variability of this compound family has been studied in relation to bean maturity in V. fragrans and V. tahitensis beans. This compound family has not been found either in leaves or in stems or in V. madagascariensis beans.     

The reaction between phosphate and dry soil. I. The effect of time, temperature and dryness

Phosphate (P) was added to soil in solution. The soil was air-dried or freeze-dried and then incubated at a range of temperatures for periods of up to 110 d. The rate of the continuing reaction between the P and soil was measured using the null-point method, and by measuring the amount of desorption induced by filter paper impregnated with iron oxide (Pi test). The reaction between soil and P continued in both air-dried and freeze-dried soil, albeit more slowly than in moist soil. Freezing the soil, whether moist or dry, virtually stopped the reaction. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the continuing reaction between P and soil involves a solid-state diffusive penetration of the soil particles by the sorbed P ions. They also indicate that the common practice of storing soil air-dry, even for short periods at low temperature, will not preserve the P status of the soil as at sampling. It was estimated that for a sample of soil which remained moist at 25°C for 100d after the addition of 335 μg P g⁻¹ soil, before being sampled and stored air-dry at 4°C for 16 years, the measured P_i test value would be about 15 μg P g⁻¹. This compares with 46 μg P g⁻¹ which is the estimated Pⁱ test value measured on the same day as sampling. When samples cannot be analysed for P status immediately following sampling, they should be stored at the lowest convenient temperature, preferably below 0°C.     

A model of ammonia volatilization from applied urea. V. The effects of steady-state drainage and evaporation

Rachhpal-Singh & Nye's model of ammonia volatilization is expanded to account for the effects of steady-state water movement by drainage or evaporation when the soil does not dry out to any great extent. The model shows how upward movement of water during evaporation increases volatilization by carrying urea-derived NH₄⁺ and HCO₃^? ions upward, thereby increasing the concentration of ammonia gas at the surface. Conversely, water drainage reduces volatilization by carrying the dissolved solutes into the soil. The model is used to assess the effects on volatilization of evaporating conditions and of irrigation or rainfall.     

Hydrophilic carboxylic acids and iridoid glycosides in the juice of American and European cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon and V. oxycoccos), lingonberries (V. vitis-idaea), and blueberries (V. myrtillus)

Analysis of the hydrophilic fraction of cranberry juice by reversed-phase HPLC using an Aqua LUNA column with diode array or MS detection revealed the presence of quinic acid, malic acid, shikimic acid, and citric acid. For the first time, two iridoid glucosides were found in the juice. The two iridoid glucosides were shown to be monotropein and 6,7-dihydromonotropein by MS and NMR spectroscopy. A fast reversed-phase HPLC method for quantification of the hydrophilic carboxylic acids was developed and used for analyses of cranberry, lingonberry, and blueberry juices. The level of hydrophilic carboxylic acids in cranberries was 2.67-3.57% (w/v), in lingonberries 2.27-3.05%, and in blueberries 0.35-0.75%. In lingonberries both iridoid glucosides were present, whereas only monotropein was present in blueberries.