Scientific work
Research of the Department is dedicated to solving current problems of theoretical and applied soil science, biogeochemistry, and soil survey.
The main directions of research:
1. Reproduction of soil fertility:
• Studies of soil organic matter and its reproduction in agricultural landscapes;
• Research and assessment of virgin soil;
• Assessment of agrophysical and water properties of soils;
• Physical and chemical studies of soil;
• Development of mathematical models of soil fertility;
• Research and development of measures of soil fertility restoration in fruit and berry plantations;
• Development and justification of soil fertility conservation and restoration.
2. Research intensity of erosion processes and the development of against-erosion measures:
• Assessment of the deflation and erosion degree of soils using GIS systems;
• Assessment of erosion resistance of chernozems under different tillage and fertilization systems;
• Research of washed out and deflated soils properties;
• Development and evaluation of against-erosion measures efficiency.
3. Environmental and melioration studies of organic hidromorphic soils:
• A morphological-genetic analysis of drained peat soils and their changes under different use;
• Investigation of water regime and physical-chemical parameters of meliorated soils and their agri-environmental assessment;
• Establish the impact of drainage and agricultural use on organic matter losses in peat soils;
• Development of measures of rational use of drained peat soils with preservation of their organic matter and productivity.
4. Reclamation of disturbed lands
• Justification of artificial soil profiles models for recultivation of disturbed lands of different target use: universal, high fertility, hydro-accumulative, geo-ameliorative, special (use of potentially fertile strip of rocks without coating them with a layer of soil weight)
• Monitoring of recultivated soil fertility in the process of their economic use, optimization of the limiting factors that restrict growth, development and production process of agricultural crops in different models of reclaimed soil.
• Setting a range of agricultural plants that grow successfully in overburden rocks without a layer of fertile soil mass coating.
• Development of fertilizers use (mineral, organic, bacterial and micro) on reclaimed land: types, methods, terms, rules, doses.
5. Mapping soils using remote sensing and modern geoinformation technologies.
• Mapping of soils studied areas;
• Drawing cartograms of humus content, nutrients, acidity and other indicators of soil fertility.
Department prepares graduate and doctoral students in the specialty 06.01.03 – agricultural soil science and ahrophysics
