120 Years along the Pathway Outlined by Dokuchaev in his book Russian Chernozem

摘要

The publication of Russian Chernozem in 1883 marked the birth of pedology as a separate natural science.Dokuchaev formulated the first scientific notion of soil,worked out the methodology of soil investigations,and revealed the main regularities in the genesis and geography of soils.Among the latter,a special place belongs to Dokuchaev's law of zonality of soils and sedimentary deposits.Dokuchaev also foresaw the role of soil knowledge in nature management and environmental protection practices.In the past 120 years,pedology has achieved great progress in studying the soil resources of the planet and revealing the role of soils in the sustainable functioning of the biosphere.The history of pedological investigations proves that Dokuchaev's doctrine has deep roots and further prospects for development in Russia.