Search

Podzolic-brown forest soils on the Soil Map of Russian Federation, scale 1 : 2.5 M, are widespread on the plains and plateaus of the Far East, referred to the Eastern brown-forest-soil area in the scheme of soil-geographical zoning. There, in Primorye and Priamurye regions, they are confined to various parent rocks and to different climatic and biota conditions. In the Classification of Soils of Russia (2004, 2008), there are no direct analogues of podzolic-brown soils in the map legend. To name these soils in the Russian classification system, regional publications (N.A. Kreida, G.I. Ivanov, V.I. Roslikova et al., N.M. Kostenkov, E.A. Zharikova) were reviewed: morphological and physicochemical properties of podzolic-brown soils were assessed in terms of their compliance with the diagnostic criteria of their possible analogues in the Russian system. The comparison has shown that in Primorye, on stony-loamy-clayey derivates of hard rocks, podzolic-brown soils correspond to soddy-pale-eluvial-metamorphic soils with textural differentiation, on loamy-clayey lacustrine-alluvial and colluvial deposits – as dark-humus podbels. In the north, in Priamurye region, podzolic-brown gley soils have properties of both texture-differentiated soils with the BT diagnostic horizon and of soils with a specific cryogenic structure in the middle cryometamorphic horizon. In the ideology and nomenclature of the Russian classification system, the former are defined as mucky-podzolic gleyic soils, the latter soils, as depending on the intensity of surface gley and structure development, can be defined as cryometamorphic podzolized gleyzems, eluvial-metamorphic cryometamorphic gleyic soils, or gleyic svetlozems.

The largest area of taiga gley-differentiated soils on the Soil map of Russian Federation, scale 1:2.5 M, is located in the north of West Siberia. Small areas are dispersed over the northwestern European Russia, Eastern Siberia and the North-East. Interpretation of taiga gley-differentiated soils in terms of Russian soil classification system (2004) is rather ambiguous owing to high diversity of ecological conditions where these soils occur, аs well as variability of soil morphological, chemical, and physicochemical properties in diverse mapping units. Comparing properties of taiga gley-differentiated soils described in the Program of the map (1972) and in regional publications with the diagnostic criteria for soil types in some orders of the Russian classification system made it possible to find adequate names and taxonomic position for these soils. Thus, taiga gley-differentiated soils in the middle and northern taiga of Western Siberia proved to be allocated to several orders: weakly differentiated and gleyed soils with a brown profile were referred to the order of organo-accumulative soils as shallow-peat gleyic soils; their more hydromorphic variants – taiga gley-differentiated shallow-peat soils were defined in the order of gleyzems, as peat gleyzems, soil with morphologically differentiated profile having a particular cryogenic structure were qualified for svetlozems and iron-illuvial gleyic svetlozems in the order of cryometamorpic soils, and for eluvial-metamorphic soils of the same order in case of cryogenic structure was absent. Taiga gley-differentiated soils in their northwestern area are confined to varved clays and correspond to (soddy-)eluvial-metamorphic gleyic soils.

An analysis of the soil cover of Russia as presented on the soil map on a scale of 1 : 2.5 M with the use of a new substantive-genetic soil classification system has been performed at the level of soil orders. The high level of classification-based generalization makes it possible to assess the most general patterns of soil geography and soil resources and to identify changes that have occurred as a result of renaming of each polygon on the map with the use of the new classification. The areas occupied by soil orders have been calculated. In total, there are 24 soil orders on the new map, including 21 orders of natural soils and 3 orders (agrozems, turfzems, stratozems) of anthropogenically transformed soils. Soils of the orders of agro-abrazems, chernozems, and turbozems are not presented on the map. As on most small-scale soil maps of Russia, the zonal regularities of the soil cover in the East European Plain and high lithogenic mosaicity in Central and Eastern Siberia are clearly seen. The new map includes soil orders that were absent on the initial map: cryozems, cryometamorphic and hydrometamorphic soils, lithozems, cryoabrazems, cryoturbozems, urbostratozems, and organo-accumulative soils. Soils characteristic of humid conditions predominate: Al-Fe-humus soils (Podzols) (319.2 M ha, or 19% of the land fund of Russia), gley soils (Gleysols) (223.9 M ha, 13%), texture-differentiated soils (Luvisols and Regosols) (190.8 M ha, 11%), and peat soils (Histosols) (143.5 M ha, 8%) and occupy more than a half of the territory of Russia. The area of humus-accumulative soils most suitable for arable use is 103.6 M ha (6%). Considerable areas are occupied by soils of the orders of cryozems (Turbic Cryosols) (111.4 M ha), iron-metamorphic soils (Chromic Cambisols) (92.7 M ha), structure-metamorphic soils (Cambisols) (47.3 M ha), pale-metamorphic soils (Cambic Cryosols) (12.8 M ha), hydrometamorphic soils (Calcic Gleysols) (4.3 M ha), and cryometamorphic soils (Cambisols Gelic) (3.4 M ha), which corresponds to the vast continental territory of Russia with balanced moisture conditions. Separate place belongs to the soils with strict limitations for use (lithosols (Leptosols), weakly developed soils (Regosols, Nudilithic Leptosols)) but playing important biospheric functions and requiring special protection.

The dark-humus soil type was included in the updated legend of the Soil Map of the Russian Federation at scale 1 : 2.5 M, converted to the system of Soil Classification of Russia. The soil profile starts with the dark-humus horizon gradually merging to the parent rock; any mid-profile diagnostic horizons are absent. Large areas of dark-humus soils are found in the forest-steppe, steppe and taiga zones of the European Russia, Western and Central Siberia, in the Trans-Baikal region, the Altai-Sayany Mountains, and the Caucasus. The type of dark-humus soils comprises both mesomorphic soils (of normal moisture conditions) and soils with additional surface or ground-water moisture. The main prerequisites for the formation of dark-humus soils are, on the one hand, the climatic conditions favorable for the dark-humus horizon formation, and, on the other hand, parent material - mostly derivates of hard rocks, restricting the development of mid-profile diagnostic horizons. In the updated map, the following initial legend units are partially or completely converted to dark-humus soils: several units of chernozems, dark-gray forest and gray forest non-podzolized soils, soddy-taiga base-saturated and slightly unsaturated soils, several mountain soils, a significant part of soddy-calcareous soils, as well as some mountainous forest-meadow soils. The diversity of dark-humus soils subtypes is determined by secondary carbonate features, weak signs of clay accumulation and podzolization, alteration of the mineral mass, gley and cryogenic phenomena.

The development of the digital model of the soil map of Russia derived of the map of the Soviet Russian Federation, 1988, compiled in Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute, comprises the transfer of soil names in the initial legend to those in the new classification system of Russian soils (2004). Floodplain soils (only native) are represented by seven legend units (out of 205) that were named in terms of soil classification of USSR, 1977, and part of their names indicated ‘landscapes’ rather than soils, which disagrees with the principles of the new classification system. Basing on numerous publications and following the rules of the new system, soils were renamed. Most of them were referred to alluvial soil types within the synlithogenic trunk (Fluvisols), and their new names indicate both their properties and their zonal attachment. In order to obtain more adequate patterns of soils in river valleys additional soils were introduced including stratified-alluvial soils in the trunk of primary pedogenesis (Regosols). Simultaneously, the composition of polygons in the database was revised in accordance with regional data; human-modified soils were introduced (agro-soils and urbo-soils).

The overview of publications on soil cartography in “Pochvovedenie”/“Eurasian Soil Science” journal for the period 1899–2020 demonstrates a high diversity of themes and certain trends in the number and dynamics of papers. Their total number (365), calculated per 5-year-long intervals, was distributed rather evenly among these 121 years: approximately 10–15 papers in each interval, although three maximums are rather clear. The first one fell on the post-war interval and was followed by 1965–1970 and 2010–2015 maximums. Discussion of large-scale maps dominated the early publications, many of them tackled soil surveys and applied problems; in the mid-century papers, soil maps of various regions of the country were described since it was time of extensive terrain investigations; numerous were also papers concerning methodology of soil mapping. New approaches and technique were actively discussed in the papers at the turn of centuries, such as remote sensing or digital soil mapping. Along with map compilation issues, there are publications on applying information provided by soil maps for both traditional and novel purposes: schemes of zoning in the former case and development of prognostic maps or assessment of pedodiversity in the latter case. The majority of papers on zoning, concern soil-geographical (later soil-ecological) schemes, whereas the derived types of zoning, for example, ameliorative or erosional, are discussed in few papers. The performed overview may be regarded as summing up the results of traditional soil mapping development with emphasizing its most valuable achievements, as well as indicating the initial signs of new trends.

A digital version of the soil map of the Russian Federation, scale 1 : 2.5 M, is being prepared based on the analysis of the attributes of polygons with peat soils in the West-Siberian taiga and sub-taiga zones. The correction was perfomed in 795 polygons (with the total area of 179 483 km2) out of 1 711 polygons considered (with the total area of 262 204 km2). The currently formulated idea of the dominance of oligotrophic bogs in the West Siberian taiga region of mires served as the basis for suggestion to replace the mesotrophic peat soils by oligotrophic ones in 598 polygons of the total area of 87 250 km2. Similarly, the polygons of microcatenas comprising oligotrophic and mesotrophic peat soils (57 polygons, total area of 38 405 km2) were modified: only oligotrophic peat soils were considered to be the dominant ones there. At the same time, a number of polygons with prevailing oligotrophic soils, confined mainly to the sub-taiga zone were proposed to be replaced by polygons with mesotrophic peat soils. The thermokarst pools in ridge-hollow mire complexes that were shown on the soil map of Russia beyond the permafrost zone were eliminated from the map database; the mapping of destructive peat soils was rearranged in accordance with the new interpretation of this taxon in the Russian soil classification. This work should improve the quality of research in the field of assessing the resource potential of peat soils in West Siberia.

The Soil Map of the Russian Federation, 1 : 2.5 M scale (1988) requires updating to include soil data that have been accumulated in the past decades, reflect real changes in the soil cover, including anthropogenic transformation, and ensure precise localization of soil objects and correspondence of the map to satellite data with the use of digital soil mapping technologies. The substantive-genetic classification system of Russian soils (2004, 2008) provides the conceptual basis for this updating. The conversion of soil information from the initial map of 1988 into the new classification system is being performed for each polygon of the digitized map. It is based on the analysis of a vast body of diverse information and includes both the search for analogues of the names of mapping units in the new classification system (renaming of the soils) and the correction of the composition of soils in the polygons: new natural soils, cultivated soils (agrosoils), and urban soils are added to the attribute database. The largest number of new natural soils has appeared in legend sections “Soils of tundra” and “Soils of taiga and broadleaved forests”. Anthropogenic soils (119 legend units) that are shown on the map for the first time, have their maximum representation (36 units) in the section “Soils of steppes”; it is close to the number of natural soils (37 units) in this zone. A considerable percent of anthropogenic soils (> 50% of the natural soils) is also typical of legend sections “Soils of broadleaved forests and forest-steppes,” “Soils of dry steppes and semideserts,” “Salt-affected and solonetzic soils”. The total number of natural and anthropogenic soil units (425) in the new legend is more than twice as large as the initial number of natural soil units in the base map (205). The results of the renaming and updating of soils for each soil polygon are fixed in a separate section of the attribute database to the map and will be used for generating the new map by the methods of digital soil mapping.

The basic three-component classification system of soils of the world was published by V.M. Fridland in 1982, and its profile-genetic component was taken as a basis for the classification of soils of Russia (1997– 2004–2008). Unlike the former systems, in that of Fridland the priority is given to soil properties, and this conceptual background is transferred into the new Russian system. The substantive-genetic principles of both systems are implemented in diagnostic horizons and genetic properties; both systems have similar hierarchy of taxa, nomenclature, keys. Changes introduced in the classification of soils of Russia derive either of proposals forwarded in the course of its application, or of information accumulated. They concern the improvement of definitions and introduction of new diagnostic elements; however, the main principles are preserved in the existing and forthcoming versions.

V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute has initiated a project on compilation of a new Digital Soil Map of Russia on the basis of the Soil Map of the Russian Federation (SMRF) 1 : 2.5 M scale (1988) revised and interpreted in ideology and nomenclature of the new substantive-genetic Classification System of Russian Soils (CSRS). The first stage implies the conversion of soil mapping units on the original map into the CSRS with a corresponding renaming of soils in the attribute database to the digitized version of the map for each soil polygon. During the second stage, a new digital model of the soil cover is developed with the use of digital soil mapping technologies, basic soil map, and new materials, including satellite images and digital elevation models. The legend section “Tundra Soils” contains 16 soil units forming their own areas or found in various combinations (soil complexes). As a result of the reclassification and careful analysis of each soil polygon, the soils of Arctic and Subarctic tundra have obtained a more detailed and differential representation on the new map, and their diagnostics based on the morphology of the profiles and major soil properties have been specified. The most significant changes in the initial content of the map concern the soils referred to as gley soils on the SMRF. A separate group of cryozemic soils has been specified. Weakly developed soils (petrozems, psammozems, and pelozems) and lithozems have been introduced on the map for the first time. Differential decisions are suggested for the soils of “spotty tundra” with sorted and nonsorted circles and for the soils of cryogenic fissures and cracks. The results of the study have made it possible to refine the diagnostics and nomenclature of soils in the CSRS.

Results of 24 soil monoliths studying in the collection of Dokuchaev Central Soil Museum were analyzed in terms of diagnostic criteria in Russian soil classification system; these were chestnut, brown aridic, pale and cryoaridic soils. The topsoils of chestnut and brown aridic soils meet the criteria for the light-humus horizon (AJ), but their values in Munsell readings proved to be lower. In pale soils, the upper horizons were identified as gray-humus instead of light-humus ones as prescribed in the system. The cryohumus AK horizon, diagnostic for cryoaridic soils, is peculiar by the abundance of reddish frost-fragmented plant residues (detritus). We failed to differentiate metamorphic BM and xerometamorphic BMK horizon, they had more features of the latter. Both horizons are similar to the pale-metamorphic BPL horizon in color, although the BPL has a definitely weaker structure displaying some cryogenic features. These are less prominent in cryoaridic soils than in pale soils, hence, the diagnostic BPL horizon in cryoaridic soils may be removed to the category of diagnostic property. A similar re-evaluation may be proposed for the carbonate-textural CAT horizon: to consider it as a diagnostic property in the carbonate-accumulative horizon (ВСАt). The ВСА horizon in all soils studied differed by carbonate pedofeatures, namely, segregations in brown and chestnut soils, impregnations in pale soils, impregnations and coatings in cryoaridic soils.

The level of genus in the “Classification and diagnostics of soils of the USSR”, 1977 is discussed as applied for diverse purposes. It was very often required in soil surveys to indicate details of soil processes, current or inherited features when compiling small- and medium-scale soil maps. In the recent classification of Russian soils, genus level is mostly used for the analytical characteristics of soils, whereas its former functions were transferred to the subtype level; for example, red color of parent material corresponds to “red-profile” subtype. In the updated classification system of soils of Russia, it is proposed to expand the sphere of the genus level application over a broader set of phenomena, to update the criteria for different genera, and to arrange genera in groups like those for genetic properties, which serve as criteria to identify subtypes. The following preliminary groups of genera may be specified: analytical including genera related to chemical soil pollution, lithological (particular parent materials), temporal for ephemeral features, pedogenetic – disclosing or indicating mechanisms of soil processes.

The analysis of the Soil Map of the Russian Federation (1 : 2.5 M scale, 1988) with identification of soils shown in each polygon in categories of the classification system of Russian soils (2004, 2008) is the first stage of work on creating the new digital soil map of Russia. It demonstrated the need to introduce a number of amendments to the classification system. They concern the definitions and names of diagnostic horizons and diagnostic features of soils. Thus, it is suggested that the mucky–dark humus horizon AH should be renamed as the mucky–humus horizon (as its properties do not fit the definition of the dark humus horizon in the system). Several new diagnostic features are introduced; for permafrost-affected soils, supra-permafrost accumulation of organic matter is designated by symbol cro. It is also suggested that the lists of soils at the subtype level, which reflects the development of certain diagnostic features, should be more flexible without their "rigid" linking to the given types. The aim of these changes is to reflect the accumulated information on the diversity of soils in Russia as displayed on the Soil Map of the Russian Federation (1988) and in the State Register of Soil Resources more adequately in the new classification system of Russian soils.

Specific soils of mountainous regions having no analogues on plains occupy less than 3% of Russia. On the soil maps of Russian Federation (1 : 2.5 M scale, 1988), they are represented by 10 mapping units, the names of which, along with the term “mountainous” reflecting characteristic properties of these soils (general youth, thin profiles, high content of gravels, underlying by hard bedrock) contain information about the particular landscape conditions of soil formation. For updating of the map, the soils shown on it are renamed in agreement with the new Russian substantive-genetic soil classification system. The profile-genetic approach lying in the basis of this system excludes the use of landscape terms in soil names. The reclassification of mapping units is performed with due account for individual features of each particular polygon shown on the map. In essence, it consists of the search of information about the soil properties for identification of the diagnostic horizons and genetic properties of the soils to give formulae of their horizonation (in symbols of diagnostic horizons and properties). This search is based on the program and explanatory text to the map and various regional publications presenting information about the soils and the agents of soil formation. The formulae of the profiles are used to determine classification position of the soils in the substantive-genetic classification system. Most of the soils from this section of the legend belong to the order of organo-accumulative soils. The differences between them are related to differences in the types of humus and surface organic horizons. In the case of the low thickness of the profiles, the soils belong to the orders of lithozems and/or poorly developed stony soils (petrozems). As a rule, the same unit in the legend to the map corresponds to two or more soils in the new classification system. The mapping unit “mountainous forest-meadow soils” has been subdivided into five different soils with due account for the regional specificity of soil properties and landscape features. In the course of this study, several suggestions to improve the classification system of Russian soils have been made.

Classification of surface bodies on technogenic parent materials is rather disputable. On one hand, the technogenic surface bodies (TSB) are predecessors of soils, on the other hand - they are made by humans, hence, differ of the natural soils by their origin. In the Russian soil classification system (versions of 2004 and 2008), the TSBs are subdivided by the kinds of human activities responsible for their formation. Moreover, the taxonomy of TSBs is a separate system beyond the soil classification, and the names of its objects are artificial and deliberately cumbersome in order to emphasize their “non-soil” essence. This system was invented by Valentin Tonkonogov, and it comprises two hierarchical levels, namely, groups and subgroups. In accordance with this system, an attempt was made to classify TSBs on coal dumps and iron ore mine tailings located in two landscape zones: forest-steppe and aspen-fir taiga in Kemerovo oblast. A third taxonomic level - “triba” - is proposed, with chemical and morphological properties of technogenic materials as differentiating criteria.

The position of palevye soils with differentiated profiles and with podzolized horizons developing from carbonate-free rocks under conditions of the cold extremely continental semihumid climate in the permafrost zone of Central Siberia in the New Russian Classification system is analyzed. The profile of these soils consists of the raw-humus horizon, bleached podzolic or eluvial horizon, and iron-illuvial or clay-illuvial horizon with some features typical of the metamorphic pale soils. According to the character of their middle-profile horizons, they can be attributed to the orders of Al-Fe-humus soils (sandy and loamy sandy varieties) and texture-differentiated soils (loamy sandy and clay loamy varieties). According to the character of their organic profiles, they can be separated as raw-humus subtypes among podzols and podzolic soils, respectively. Their specific regional characteristics - a tendency for the formation of a cryohumus horizon, clay illuviation, iron illuviation, and specific pale metamorphism of the mineral mass (pale metamorphized) (clay-illuvial subtype) - are also reflected at the subtype level. These characteristics can be present in different combinations reflected in the corresponding names of complex subtypes. In the geographical space, these soils form a transition from typical pale soils of the cold ultracontinental semiarid climate to the soils of cold moderately continental humid climate.

Morphological description of the soil profile must provide further hierarchical morphogenetic analysis and adequate diagnostic and classification of soil in any substantive-genetic taxonomic system. In a brief taxonomy-oriented description, priority should be given to soil properties having diagnostic significance; they may be different for different horizons, and those discriminating similar horizons should receive special attention. It is proposed to compile an updated field handbook for soil morphological description, supporting the recent classification system of soils of Russia.

Each of four hierarchical levels in the morphogenetic research is characterized in terms of technical and information facilities. A detailed hierarchical study was performed for the first time for chernozems and may be qualified for a basic one. Its results comprise confirmation of occurrence and details in manifestations of pedogenetic processes well-known in chernozems, as well as additional information on the pedofauna contribution to chernozem formation, variability and dynamics of carbonate pedofeatures, stability of the mineral soil ingredients.

The analysis of publications has shown that the period of intensive development of several spheres in micromorphology in the second half of the XX century was followed by a period when micromorphology became more required in applied research. Addressing micromorphology for solving pedogenetic and taxonomic questions became reduced both in Russia and in the world. Further progress of traditional micromorphology in Russia is expected owing to application of sophisticated equipment, participation in hierarchical morphogenetic studies, as well as to the possibility for students and professionals to work with a “database” - collection of thin sections representing a broad array of soils. This work is initiated at V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute, where many thin sections are already accumulated, and most specialists worked and are now working there.

In 2015, we celebrate the 110 anniversary of Academician Innokentiy Petrovich Gerasimov - one among the most prominent scientists in the world of Earth Sciences. For 30 years from the moment he is no more with us, his contribution to soil science and soil geography became more discrete and continues to astonish people by the diversity of problems he touched on, by the perfect choice of most actual research spheres, by the in-depth comprehension of the essence of many phenomena. The milestones of his scientific activity are the following: perception of soil science as an interdisciplinary geo-biological and geographic science addressing to the origin, evolution and geography of soils, as well as to the mechanisms of pedogenesis, and all this is a core of the Dokuchaev School as Innokentiy Petrovich understood it. He was absolutely sure of the enormous and not fully disclosed potential of Dokuchaev soil science, which can efficiently synthesize the ideas of adjacent sciences concerning Earth and Life. The collection of articles in this issue represents the main lines in the scientific activity of I.P. Gerasimov in the field of soil science. This is soil genesis, cartography and geography, first of all, the huge work on compiling the State soil map of the country, scale 1 : 1 M; soils of arid lands and “distinctive” soils of Siberia, elementary soil-forming processes as driving forces of pedogenesis, soil classification, age and evolution of soils, fundamentals of radiocarbon dating of soil age. It is also worth to remind that Innokentiy Petrovich was permanently involved in soil science organization activities as Editor-in-Chief of the State soil map, President of the USSR Society of Soil Scientists, member of the Editorial Board of “Pochvovedenie” journal and Head of numerous scientific commissions

Identification and systematic of elementary soil-forming processes (ESP) is an important contribution of I.P. Gerasimov to pedology. The ESP concept was derived of the ideas of S.S.Neustruyev, and is now implemented and advanced by the pupils and followers of I.P. Gerasimov; it was comprehensively discussed in the monograph of the same name published in 1992. In his paper of 1975, I.P. Gerasimov described 13 ESP sensu stricto , categorized them, and proposed to apply them for the diagnostics of most well-known soils of the USSR. For them, he proposed “process and profile codes” that were later modified into “profile formulas” and efficiently introduced into the Russian system of soil classification. An analysis of Russian and world soil classification systems in terms of the role of soil-forming processes in them has shown that they cannot be used as differentiating criteria (with few exceptions) although their knowledge contributes to better understanding of soils and soil properties. Nevertheless, soil-forming processes, similar to the elementary ones in their essence, perform an important function of controlling the choice, definitions and discriminative boundaries of diagnostic tools (horizons, properties and materials). In accordance with the traditions of the Dokuchaev School much attention is paid to soil-forming processes in the Russian system: processes serve as criteria to specify the genetic features identifying the subtypes.

Two classification systems under comparison differ in objects, terminology, hierarchical levels, and approaches to identify soils. However, they have some common features: both systems are oriented to soil properties and apply the pedogenetic concepts, on one hand; on the other hand, the results, namely, some of the soil taxonomic units are similar. The second-level units of WRB, representing the classification rather than the reference base, display a certain correlation with the subtype level in the Russian soil classification system. This level in two systems may be qualified as a really active, and it contains the most complete genetic characteristic of a soil; moreover, there is a similarity in criteria for qualifiers in WRB and genetic features (producing subtypes) in the Russian system. The difference between two classification systems is manifested in the number and essence of diagnostic horizons because they perform different functions. In the International system, they mainly serve for recognition of soils (in the key), while they directly identify genetic soil types in the Russian system.

Based upon a comprehensive analysis of detailed descriptions of soil profiles and analytical data obtained by I. Sokolov, V. Zolnikov, L. Yelovskaya and other researchers, as well as upon data on the soil-forming factors, an attempt is made to determine the taxonomic level of pale undifferentiated neutral and slightly acid soils derived from carbonate-free deposits in the new classification system of Russian soils (versions 2004, 2008). The above group of soils is not uniform. According to their diagnostic morphological and physical-chemical properties the loamy permafrost-affected soils with ice-rich permafrost should be placed in the order of cryometamorphic or iron-metamorphic soils. The loamy sandy soils with dry permafrost may be placed in the same order. The soils with a shallow profile (< 30 cm) on hard parent rock should be qualified as members of the order of lithozems. The specific features of these soils make it possible to suggest new elements to the soil classification. A subtype of pale-metamorphized soils is offered to recognize the types of rzhavozems and raw-humus rzhavozems as the soils transitional to the pale soils. This suggestion is aimed at harmonization of a variety of ideas on the genesis, conditions for the development and nomenclature of soils, which permits us to give a more complete and reliable perception of the soil cover in the Central Siberian plateau.

Under consideration are typical profiles of podzolic loamy soils described in many publications on the soils of Komi Republic with respect to their diagnostics in national and international classifica-tion systems. It is argued that the podzolic soils should be preferably recognized at the type level with numerous subtypes to reflect the variations in the profile drainage conditions. In terms of the international soil classifications (FAO/WRB) the podzolic soils may be correlated with the former Podzoluvisols and recent Retisols better than with the Albeluvisols of the intermediate versions.