The informativeness of coefficients <Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis> of the soil line for the analysis of remote sensing materials

The coefficients of the soil line are often taken into account in calculations of vegetation indices. These coefficients are usually calculated for the entire satellite image, or are taken as constants without any calculations. In both cases, the informativeness of these coefficients is low and insufficient for the needs of soil mapping. In our study, we calculated soil line coefficients at 8000 lattice points for the territory of Plavsk, Arsen’evsk, and Chern districts of Tula oblast on the basis of 34 Landsat 5, 7, and 8 images obtained in 1985–2014. In order to distinguish between the soil line calculated for a given image and the soil line calculated for lattice points on the basis of dozens of multitemporal images, we suggest that the latter can be referred to as the temporal soil line. The temporal soil line is described by a classical equation: NIR = RED a + b, where a is its slope relative to the horizontal axis (RED), and b is the Y-axis (NIR) intercept. Both coefficients were used to create soil maps. The verification of the maps was performed with the use of data on 1985 soil pits. The informativeness of these coefficients appeared to be sufficient for delineation of eight groups of soils of different taxonomic levels: soddy moderately podzolic soils, soddy slightly podzolic soils, soddy-podzolic soils, light gray forest soils, gray forest soils, dark gray forest soils, podzolized chernozems, and leached chernozems. The b coefficient proved to be more informative, as it allowed us to create the soil map precisely on its basis. In order to create the soil map on the basis of the a coefficient, we had to apply some threshold values of the b coefficient. The bare soil on each of Landsat scenes was separated with the help of the mask of agricultural fields and the notion of the spectral neighborhood of soil line (SNSL).     

Cartographic analysis of the distribution of saline soils in Russia depending on some climatic parameters

The subdistrict zoning map distinguishes 27 subjects of the Russian Federation, 109 municipal districts, and 142 districts and subdistricts along the latitude line at 53°44′ N in Russia. Among them, soil salinization is observed in 13 subjects of the Russian Federation, 39 municipal districts, and 41 districts and subdistricts. The total length of the transect is 6354 m. The relationship between the distribution of saline soils and climatic parameters has been analyzed in the districts and subdistricts of the subdistrict zoning map. Information about soil salinity has been borrowed from the Soil Salinization Map of Russia (2003) and some regional salinization maps (Khakassia, Barguzin Depression). Climate is the main factor affecting the distribution of soil salinity. Among the analyzed climatic parameters, the Ivanov wetting coefficient (WC) best describes the relationship between climate and soil salinity. The share of saline soils in a district is inversely proportional to the WC value. The degrees of drainage and dissection of the area limit the effect of climate on soil salinity. It is proposed to subdivide the relief into three groups depending on the degree of dissection in order to correct the calculations of relationship between WC and soil salinity. With consideration for relief features, the relationship between soil salinity and WC is represented by a segment of the coordinate plane with WC as the ordinate and the share of saline soils as the abscissa. The segment is limited by two lines corresponding to the maximum and minimum soil salinities at given WC values. The use of the limiting equations allows predicting, with a high probability, the presence and distribution area of saline soils at a given latitude at 0.85 ≥ WC ≥ 0.5.     

Analysis of the Informativity of Big Satellite Precision-Farming Data Processing for Correcting Large-Scale Soil Maps

Eurasian Soil Science - Large-scale soil maps produced by research institutes for land management (GIPROZEM) are the main source of soil information on arable land in Russia. These maps date back...     

Digital map of salt-affected soils of Khakassia

A new methodological approach aimed at the creation and correction of digital soil maps on the basis of systematized and georeferenced available cartographic and attribute information arranged into a GIS project has been tested. The particular stages and methods of the creation of a digital map of salt-affected soils of Khakassia with the use of GIS technologies in the ArcInfo format are described. All the available cartographic materials, including the Soils of Russia GIS project, digital elevation models, remote sensing data, and analytical data on 82 soil pits (including the authors?? materials and previously published data), have been used for the creation of this new map.     

Impact of shelterbelts on the fragmentation of erosional networks and local soil waterlogging

The retrospective monitoring of the formation of locally waterlogged areas (mochars) along thalweg zones of an erosional network in the Azov district of Rostov oblast was performed for the period from 1968 to 2013 within the framework of the problem-oriented system of retrospective monitoring of the soil cover. It was found that the decisive role in the development of mochars belongs to shelterbelts crossing the thalwegs. The beginning of the local soil waterlogging dates back to the late 1960s-early 1970s. It is argued that the development of mochars in the thalweg zones was induced by the active planting of shelterbelts in the 1940s and 1950s.     

The Application of Soil-Agroclimatic Index for Assessing the Agronomic Potential of Arable Lands in the Forest-Steppe Zone of Russia

An assessment of the agronomic potential of arable lands in the forest-steppe zone of Russia (by the example of separate soil-agronomic districts) on the basis of the soil-agroclimatic index developed under the supervision of I.I. Karmanov is considered. The agricultural areas (64) separated on the territory of Russia and characterizing soil-agroclimatic conditions for cultivation of major and accompanying crops are differentiated into soil-agronomic districts (SADs) with due account for the administrative division of the country. A large diversity of agroclimatic and agronomical conditions creates the prerequisites for the inclusion of administrative regions into different SADs. The SADs concept implies a detailed analysis of information on the soil properties, geomorphic conditions, and farming conditions. The agronomic potential for major crops in the key SADs in the forest-steppe zone of the East European Plain (Voronezh and Penza oblasts) is high, though it is 25–30% lower than that in the North Caucasus (for winter wheat, sugar beet, sunflower, and spring barley) and in Kaliningrad oblast (for oats). In Western Siberia (Tyumen, Omsk, and Novosibirsk oblasts) and Eastern Siberia (Krasnoyarsk region and Irkutsk oblast), the agronomic potential of spring crops (wheat, barley, and oats) is only utilized by 35–45% in comparison with their European analogues. In the Far East with its monsoon climate and soil conditions (meadow podbels, brown forest soils), the crops characteristic of the European forest-steppe (soybean, rice, sugar beet) and the Trans-Ural forest-steppe (spring wheat) are cultivated. Their biological potential is utilized by only 50–60% in comparison with the European analogues. The materials of this study give us information on the degree of correspondence between the soilagroclimatic potential of the territory and the biological potential of cultivated crops. This is important in the context of improving the natural-agricultural zoning of Russia and its information support.     

The influence of soil salinization on land use changes in azov district of Rostov oblast

A retrospective monitoring of changes in land use on cultivated salt-affected soils of Azov district in Rostov oblast for a period from 1968 to 2013 was performed within the framework of the creation of a problem- oriented system of retrospective monitoring of the soil cover and land uses. A higher dynamism of land uses on salt-affected soils in comparison with that on nonsaline soils was shown. A decisive role of the anthropogenic factor in the increasing soil salinization in the region was established. The areas of meadow ecosystems with participation of salt-affected soils considerably increased at the end of the 1960s–the beginning of the 1970s. It is argued that their development with a corresponding worsening of the salt status of regional soils was initiated by the wide-scale planting of shelterbelts in the 1940s and 1950s.     

Soil Delineations on Public Cadaster Maps as Elements of the Soil–Land Cover Mapping

Eurasian Soil Science - The depiction of soil delineations on a public cadastral map clearly demonstrates the potentialities of large-scale soil mapping. The development of land legislation...     

Separation of agroclimatic areas for optimal crop growing within the framework of the natural–agricultural zoning of Russia

The separation of agroclimatic areas for optimal crop growing within is suggested within the framework of the natural–agricultural zoning of Russia developed under the supervision of I. Karmanov. Overall, 64 agroclimatic areas have been separated in Russia. They are specified by the particular soil and agroclimatic conditions and by the particular crops recommended for cultivation. The biological potential of these crops should correspond to the soil potential of the given area. A combined scheme of the natural–agricultural zoning of Russia and the separated agroclimatic areas is presented. It is argued that the information contained in this scheme can be used for developing landscape-adaptive farming systems, land cadaster, and land valuation; it is also helpful for terrain and remote sensing monitoring of soil fertility on arable lands and for soilecological monitoring.     

Differences in Inventories of Waterlogged Territories in Soil Surveys of Different Years and in Land Management Documents

Eurasian Soil Science - On soil maps and in land management documents, the excessively moistened areas of the earth surface are shown differently, and their areas on three different source maps...