Assessment of Soil Diversity in Western Siberia Using WRB 2006

Abstract

Soil classification has practical importance. It is a base for the mapping of soil resources, data registration, and development of land-use and soil management. In this study, during the period from 2000 to 2008, new data on soil cover, properties of its components, their genesis, and ecology have been collected in the semiarid and dry subhumid regions of Western Siberia. The study enables to upgrade information on soil variability, properties and to a certain extent filled the gap in fundamental knowledge of the area. New data includes soil genesis, soil properties, landscape, and environmental conditions of formation and the classification diversity. Basic types of soil cover disturbances and main reasons of its limited use have been discussed. In our opinion, the international soil classification system (IUSS, Working group WRB. World reference base for soil resources, 2nd edn. World Soil Resources Reports No 103. FAO, Rome, 2006; IUSS, Working group WRB. World reference base for soil resources, first update. World Soil Resources Reports No 103. FAO, Rome, 2007) addresses soil formation characteristics in semiarid and dry subhumid regions of Western Siberia fairly adequately. Present study has shown that great soil diversity exists, presenting 12 of 32 reference soil groups in the study area.