Soil-genetic zoning: Principles, goals, structure, and applications

The soil-genetic zoning proposed, unlike the known scheme of soil-genetic zoning, is based on the analysis of soil properties and soil-forming processes. Its objective is to interpret the soil cover in the format of the substantive-genetic soil classification of Russia (2004). The units of the soil-genetic zoning are distinguished according to the manifestations of horizon-forming processes: the main processes determining the principal trend of pedogenesis and the soil profile composition at the first level and the additional processes (forming the associated soils) serving as criteria for distinguishing the units at the second level. The results obtained allow considering this investigation as an experience of a new interpretation of a small-scale soil map and its analysis from two positions: the geography of the soil-forming processes and the complexity of the soil cover. The soil-genetic zoning has been carried out on the basis of the State Soil Map sheets; it can be an instrument for the conversion of the map??s contents into the substantive-genetic soil classification of Russia (2004).