Respondent
Theme
Soil-geographical research of the North-West Black Sea region
Annotation
In the dissertation there is theoretical generalization of the soil and geographical
research development in the North-West Black Sea region given. It was ascertained that
existing works do not cover to the full extent the evolution of scientific views, theories and
hypotheses about the genesis, geography, structure, soils properties and their efficient use,
as well as that they are not arranged enough as to soil science research formation and
development in the given region.
There were natural, personal, social and political premises observed that largely
determine nature and direction of scientific research.
There was periodization of the soil and geographical research development in the
North-West Black Sea region suggested and proved. The lack of references makes it
impossible to recreate a holistic development of agriculture and study of the topsoil before
the beginning of the XVIII century, but accumulated data allows to affirm that there is
gradual accumulation of empirical knowledge about soil properties, especially their use in
agriculture, methods of cultivation and so on. Intensive development of the North-West
Black sea region started in XVIII century and caused the necessity of topsoil research. For
the first time there were suggested soil genesis hypotheses that gave priority to the single
causes of soil formation: biological connection with rocks (I. Hebenshtreyt,
M. Lomonosov, M. Afonin, I. Komov, A. Bolotov, I. Gyuldenshtedt, M. Livanov), source
rocks, climate (A. Hrossul-Tolstoy), relief and its connection with other nature
components (O. Schmidt) etc.
Equivalent and interdependent connection between single causes: climate, flora, soil
formation rocks, relief of the territory and time, was proved by V. Dokuchaev. The
scientist divided the region into districts and marked out the Norh-West part of the
chernozem zone in Russia and the North coast of the Black Sea, that strongly differ in the
chemical and mineralogical structure of soil and rocks, kind of flora, relief of the territory
and climate conditions. As the result of the research factor and genetic soil classification
was developed, and its base was soil genesis. Agreeing with the general soil spreading
layout, suggested on the maps of K. Veselovs’kiy (1851), A. Hrossul-Tolstoy (1856),
F. Ruprekht (1864 r.), R. Vilson (1869 ) and V. Chaslavskiy (1879) V. Dokuchayev made
up the soils map of the chernozem zone of Russia European part. Output data was not only
descriptive and statistic, but also data of analytical studies with the use of isohumus strips
method.
The role of Odesa «South»` school was examined in its soil research of the North-
West Black Sea region. Various studies of O. Nabokykh, G. Tanfilyev, O. Piotrovskohiy,
G. Makhov assisted in formation of scientific schools of soil science. Scientists developed
theoretical and methodological base of the topsoil study, suggested physical and
geographical division into districts of the territory with zonal and intrazonal differences,
carried out soils agrochemical inventory, made up non-uniformly scaled soils maps and
established the first Soil museum.
Scientific works of O. Sokolovskyy had essential meaning for the soils research
development both of Ukraine as a whole and of the North-West Black sea region in
particular. Under his guidance new areas of soil research were initiated, aimed at studying
of properties and possibilities of halogen soil use in the South of Ukraine; new soils
classification was developed, that met the criteria of genesis, unity of soil formation and
exhaustion.
It was found out that boundary between separate topsoil research and purposeful
intensive research on the governmental level was large studies (1957-1961).
Wide development of irrigation in the second half of the XX century led to the chain
of negative consequences that caused the necessity of deeper studies of the irrigation
influence on the irrigated lands soil and reclamation situation. Work of the scientific and
research institutions and organizations was analyzed as to agriculture ecological and
reclamation problems in the area of irrigation systems, changes of soils physical and
chemical characteristics under the influence of years of irrigation, irrigation water quality,
features of the certain crops cultivation and etc.
The meaning of I. Gogolev research in the soil and reclamation area development
was determined. Also there was made the analysis of the geochemical and landscape, soil
and mapping, morphogenetic, soil and environmental trends and monitoring studies,
conducted under the direction of Professor I. Gogolev, and soil and erosion direction, led
by Professor G. Shvebs.
The current stage is characterized by a weakening of experimental and expeditionary
studies, due to the practical absence of state funding and low logistics. There were defined
current areas of soils research, their scientific issues and key achievements of scientists in
soil research since Ukraine has been independent.
Keywords: soil and geographical research, the North-West Black Sea region,
directions of soil science research.