International Symposium on Black Soils (ISBS18): Protect Black Soils, Invest in the Future, 10 - 12 September 2018, Harbin, China

1. Status of Black Soils
in the Russian Federation.
Ivan Vasenev (RSAU-MTAA, Moscow)

2. 1. Overview of black soils in Russia
• Definition (Classification ) : type – subtype – kind – variety…
Principal Black soils in RF:
– Grey-Luvic Phaeozems
– Luvic Chernozems
– Voronic Chernozems
– Vermic Chernozems
– Vorony-Calcic Chernozems
– Calcic Chernozems
– Haplic Kastanozems
– Gypsic Kastanozems
…
V.V. Dokuchaev (1883)
“Russian Chernozem”
(“RF Soil National Atlas”, 2011)

3. 1. Overview of black soils in Russia
• Area: around 188 million ha (from total 1595,4 million ha)
1:2.5 M Scale
Luvic Chernozems + Grey-Luvic Phaeozems – 34,9 million ha
Voronic and Vermic Chernozems – 11,3 million ha
Vorony-Calcic Chernozems – 22,0 million ha
Calcic Chernozems – 17,2 million ha
Haplic and Gypsic Kastanozems – 11,3 million ha …
(“RF Soil National Atlas”, 2011)

4. 1. Overview of black soils in Russia
• Land use
БЕЛГОРОД
ОРЕЛ
ЛИПЕЦК
ТАМБОВ
ВОРОНЕЖ
КУРСК
Мценск
Новосиль
Залегошь
Хомутово
Верховье
Покрвское
Змиевка
Отрадинский
Ливны
Глазуновка
Елец
Лебедянь
Данков
Лев Толстой
Болхов
Хотынец
Нарышкино
Шаблыкино
Крамы
Дмитриевск-Орловский
Знаменка
Малоорхангельск
Колпны
Долгое
Поныри
Железногорск
Первоавгустовский
Дмитриев-Льговский
Фатеж
Золотухино
Хомутовка Конышевка Щигры Черемисиново
Кшенский
Рыльск Льгов
Курчатов
Прямицино
Любимовка
Бол. Солдатская
Суджа
Медвенка
СолнцевоКоренево
Глушково
Обоянь
Кировский
Тим
Касторное
Олымский
Горшечное
Губкин
Старый Оскол
Ивня Прохоровка
Ракитное Яковлево
Томаровка
Борисовка
Грайворон
Октябрьский
Шебекино
Короча
Чернянка
Новый Оскол
Волоконовка
Валуйки
Уразово Вейделевка
Красногвардейское
Алексеевка
Чаплыгин
Доброе
Первомайский
Кочетовка
Мичуринск
Тербуны
Волово
Хлебное
Усмань Добринка
Грязи
Рамонь
Краснолесный
Латная
Стрелица
Хохольский
Нововоронежский
Перелешинский
Панино
Анна
Давыдовка
Бобров
Острогожск
Ольховатка
Россошь
Кантемировка
Богучар
Петропавловка
Таловая
Новохоперск
Поварино
Борисоглебск
Терновка
Шапкино
Мучкапский
Уварово
Мордово
Эртиль
Инжавино
РжаксаНовопокровка
Знаменка
Рассказово
Котовск
Бондари
Сосновка
Грязи
Староюрьево
Кирсанов
Умет
Дмитриевка
Моршанск
Вернадовка
53°20'
34°00'
52°40'
52°00'
51°20'
50°40'
34°00'
50°00'
35°00'
36°00' 37°00'
38°00'
49°20'
39°00' 40°00' 41°00' 42°00'
49°20'
50°00'
43°00'
50°40'
51°20'
52°00'
52°40'
53°20'
44°00'
54°00'
43°00'42°00'41°00'40°00'39°00'38°00'37°00'36°00'
35°00'
54°00'
"Агрофирма Мценская"
Учхоз им. Калинина
Заболотовский лес
Горы Болото Уч."Зоринский"
Стенки-Изгорья
Уч. "Стрелецкий"
Уч. "Казацкий"
ОПХ ВНИИЗиЗПЭ
Уч. "Букреевы Бары"
Уч."Баркаловка"
Парсет
ООО"Горшечное"
Центрально-Черноземный регион
Границы областей
Центрально-Черноземного региона
Объекты исследования
 In case of Central Chernozemic Region of Russia:
- 60-70 % of arable lands
(more than 10 mln ha);
- 40% of Russian Sugar
Beat;
- 25 % of Russian Wheat
- 20% of Russian
sunflower;
- Good Potential for
Precision LUS
 Complex Soil Cover Patterns:
- Crop Yield high variability (2-3 times within Region and Field),
Climate Regional Dynamics and Global Changes:
- Crop Yield high dynamics (30-25 %),
Sharp increasing of investments & profits:
- Crop Yield high increasing (35 % during last 10 years),
- Fast upgrade of technologies

5. 1. Overview of black soils in Russia
• Status: SOC
Soil organic carbon stocks in 1 m:
T/ ha Level
Extremely high
Very high
High
Above average
Average

6. 1. Overview of black soils in Russia
• Status: SOC
Humus balance in the arable horizon
Negative with annual loss of more than 0,5 t/ha
Negative with annual loss of less than 0,5 t/ha
Positive
Data on humus balance
in agricultural area in
1970 – 2001 (“RF Soil
National Atlas”, 2011):
• SOC content in arable soils
have been decreased by 4.4 –
17.1% during past 45 years.
• Stable current tendency of
dehumification in arable
black soils:

7. 1. Overview of black soils in Russia
• Status: SOC – current SOM (Humus) content distribution
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
g kg
-1
old residual arable lands
rich cultivated arable lands
intensive pastures
temporary pasture, old idle lands
forest, forest-lines
lands with light texture
Ch M Ph Gr.-Luv. Ch Vor.-CalcCh Verm.Ch Luvic

8. Zonal Black Soils Natural and Museum Reference Objects in the Central
Chernozemic Reserve (Kursk Region)

9. 1. Overview of black soils in Russia
• Status: Soil erosion
•More than 33 % of black soils
have been erode (12.0% in the
all arable lands) in Russia.
•The higher degree of black soils
erosion is recorded in Volga
region, North Caucasus, Central
District.
•More than 8 % of black soils
have been deflated (especially
many in the Southern and
Siberian districts).
•More than 6 % of black soils
have been subjected to the
combined effect of water and
wind erosion.
(“RF Soil National Atlas”, 2011)

10. 1. Overview of black soils in Russia
• Status: Soil erosion
11
7
5
3
1
0
А
В
t/ha
1-st stage 2-nd stage 3-d stage 4-th stage
C,
%
>35% of black soils have been eroded at
the Central Chernozemic Region of Russia
(Vasenev e.a., 2010; 2015)

11. 1. Overview of black soils in Russia
• Status: GHG and soil Corg balances

12. 1. Overview of black soils in Russia
• Status: GHG and soil Corg balances
NEE, Reco, GPP cumulatives
• All cumulative functions in Black soils
were consistently higher than in
Podzoluvisols
--- - Moscow field with Podzoluvisols
– - Pristen field with Chernozems

13. 1. Overview of black soils in Russia
• Status: Waterlogging
Soil cover variability and soil regimes transformation
Agrogenic waterlogging of Black Soils due to sole shoe and local
groundwater development – more than 2 million ha of mochars

14. 1. Overview of black soils in Russia
• Status: Pedo- , Eco- and Bio- diversity
Grey-Luvic Phaeozems’ soil cover patterns within-field variability
due to paleo-microrelief and agrogenic plough erosion

15. RS map of the winter wheat crop projective cover
(calculated by OSAVI= 1.16 (NIR−R) /(NIR+R+0.16), 23.05.2017
RS map of the winter wheat crop projective cover
(calculated by VARI= G−R)/(G+R−B), 23.05.2017

16. 1. Overview of black soils in Russia
• Status: Pedo- , Eco- and Bio- diversity
# Key Plot or Field Area, ha Crop Year Weather Yield, dt/ha
KP -1.1 4 Barley 1996,
2000,
2004
normal 23-59
KP-1.2 4 Barley 15-64
Field 1 53 Barley 2002,
2005
dry 23-63
Sugar Beat 200-590
KP-2.1 4 Winter Wheat 1998 dry 20-65
Field 2 59 Sugar Beat 1999 normal 242-484
2003 normal 170-546
Barley 2000 normal 21-50
Pea (green food) 2001 normal 100-300
Winter Wheat 2002 dry 38-70
Field 3 53 Barley 1999 normal 25-43
Pea (grain) 22-44
Winter Wheat 22-34
Crop Yield Variability within representative Fields & Plots (Central Chernozemic Region)

17. RS map of the lupine crop projective cover with meso-relief limiting factor (calculated by
OSAVI= 1.16 (NIR−R) /(NIR+R+0.16), 23.05.2017)
RS map of the spring wheat crop projective cover with previous land-use limiting factor
(calculated by OSAVI= 1.16 (NIR−R) /(NIR+R+0.16), 23.05.2017)

18. P2О5>250
Yield - 52.5
P2О5<170
Yield - 45.9
K2О >100
Yield - 48.5
K2О<90
Yield - 43.2
Barley Yield Variability
at the slope, dt ha-1
3<Slope<5
Yield - 46.2
1<Slope<3
Yield- 51.0
8<Slope>9
Yield - 32.7
5<Slope<8
Yield - 38.6
Ch
Yield - 46.1
Ch
Yield - 53.4
ChL
Yield - 50.1
ChV
Yield - 44.1
ChL
Yield - 58.9
ChV
Yield - 48.1
W>28%
Yield - 49.8
W<23%
Yield - 38.4
Agroecological factors of barley yield
variability within field with Luvic and
Vermic Chernozems

19. 1. Overview of black soils in Russia
• Status: Acidification and Salinization in frame of one field
S= 20 ha of irrigation plot
Potatoes Ymax : Ymin=3
pH (KCl) = 4,8 – 8,2
Soil Acidification and Alkalization Problems in black soils

20. 1. Overview of black soils in Russia
• Status: Compaction
Sharp contrast in soil profile and (agro-)ecological functions in case of
natural and agro-degraded Chernozems

21. 1. Overview of black soils in Russia
• Status : Rates of degradation and soil forming processes
Processes Parameter
Processes Rates in Successions:
Agrogenic Agrogenic-
erosion
Agrogenic-
irrigation
Agrogenic-
ameliorat.
Erosion А+АВ, sm y-1
0,1-0,3 0,3-3,0 0,3-1,2 0,5-1,0
Dehumification Humus - g kg-1
y-1
0,2-1,0 0,3-1,3 0,3-0,5 0,3-1,0
Humification Humus - g kg-1
y-1
0,1-0,3 - 0,1-0,4 0,1-0,5
Overconsolidation Bulk density -g sm-3
y-1
0,01-0,02 0,01-0,05 0,01-0,06 0,01-0,03
Disaggregation  agregates 10-0,25
mm, g kg-1
y-1
1-10 1-18 10-25 8-12
Aggregation 1-10 1-5 1-5 1-5
Season
cementation Crust , sm y-1
0,1-1,0 0,1-2,0
Leaching CaCO3 - kg sm m-2
y-1
0,1-0,3 0,3-1 1-150 1-30
Carbonization CaCO3 - g kg-1
y-1
0,3-1 0,3-1,5 0,5-3,0
Acidification рН y-1
0,01-0,1 0,03-0,1 0,05-0,13 0,03-0,1
Alkalization рН y-1
0,01-0,03 0,05-0,07 0,01-0,03
Na-Salinization Na+
mg kg-1
y-1
5-18
Soil Forming and Degradation Processes Rates in Agrogenic Successions of Black
Soils (Chernozems and Grey-Luvic Phaeozems)

22. 2. Challenges of Black Soils in Russia:
Soil and Environment Friendly Agroecological DSS Development
Crop yield prediction,
Fertilizing programming
Economical predictions,
Crop varieties screening,
Best AT transfer

23. 2. Challenges of Black Soils in Russia:
Climate Changes consequences:

25. 2. Challenges of Black Soils in Russia
• Climate change
Mean Annual Temperature will essential increase in Black soil regions
in the medium term 2006-2050 vs. 1961-2005
RCP 4.5
RCP 8.5
(CMCC and RTSAU
– R. Valentini, I. Vasenev, 2015)

26. 2. Challenges of Black Soils in Russia
• Climate change
Differences in Gross Plant Production between Kursk and Moscow
(∆T annual average ≈ 2ºC), aligned by seeding date
(Meshalkina, Yaroslavtsev, Vasenev, 2015)
GPP shifted at the seeds
time (0 – point) for EC
station in Moscow (green
triangles) and station in
Kursk (blue diamonds).
Solid lines represent 7-
day running mean values
for station in Moscow
(the red line) and for
station in Kursk (black
line). Vertical lines show
the conventional
boundaries of the stages
of crop development:
0 – seeds, 1-
germination,
2 – sprouting, 3- tillering,
4 - leaf tube formation,
5 – milky ripeness, 6- wax
ripeness, 7- complete
ripeness, 8- harvest.

27. Agroecological modeling of wheat potential yield dynamics
(Savin e.a., 2016)
PAR and T limiting factors
PAR and T and soil available water limiting factors
Negative effect of soil available water limiting factor
Land agroecological evaluation for spring wheat

28. RCP 4.5
RCP 8.5
% change of Annual Precipitation Amount in the medium term
2006-2050 vs. 1961-2005
(CMCC and RTSAU
– R. Valentini, I. Vasenev, 2015)

29. Land agroclimatic suitability zoning for wheat production
(CMCC modelling – Valentini, Vasenev, 2015)
1990
2080

30. There are new Climate Change opportunities for RF
agriculture sustainable development in the Black soils zone?
Yes, but…

31. 2. Challenges in Fertilization of Black Soils in Russia
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
18000
Mt,nutrients
N P2O5 K2O
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
18000
Mt,nutrients
N P2O5 K2O
1990-92 2013-2015
 20 RF regions with annual fertilizing rates more than 100 kg per ha (in active nutrients)
 20 RF regions with soils (including Black soils) problem agroecological state and annual
fertilizing rates less than 25 kg per ha (in active nutrients)

32. 2. Challenges of Black Soils in your country
• Policies:
• RF “Land Cadaster” (2005)
• RF Law “Fertilizing Regulations in Agricultural Lands” (1993)
• RF Law “Environmental Impact Assessment” (1995)
• RF Law “Environmental Protection” (2002)
• RF Law “Organic Farming” (2018)
• Regional Laws “Soil Conservation” in 12 regions of the RF
• Land-use projects and practices control by 2 Federal agencies

33. Agroecological modeling of wheat potential yield dynamics
(Savin e.a., 2016)
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1975
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
годы
кг/га
Кашира Курск Купино Николаев Павелец
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1975
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
годы
кг/га
Кашира Курск Купино Николаев Павелец
PAR and T and soil available water limiting factorsPAR and T limiting factors
2. Challenges of Black Soils in Russia:

34. Crop potential yield calculation with 2-nd limiting factor (water
supply)
• Yjw = 105 * Wj / (Kj * Lj * (100 – j)) ,
where Kj is the water consumption coefficient, mm dt-1 ha-1 (bio-production).
• The calculations use the adapted to the region conditions pedotransfer functions of
productive moisture seasonal dynamics - depending on the seasonal distribution of
precipitation, evaporation and traditional balance.
0.0
100.0
200.0
300.0
400.0
500.0
600.0
700.0
800.0
900.0
1000.0
2013 2014 2015
Precipitation,mm
The average annual precipitation is
644.0 mm
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
120.0
140.0
160.0
180.0
200.0
Янв
Фев
Мар
Апр
Май
Июн
Июл
Авг
Сен
Окт
Ноя
Дек
Precipitation,mm
2015

35. Soil cover
patterns
variability as
factor of A+AB
horizons depth
and SOC stocks:
A) In case of
Grey-Luvic
Phaeozems
B) In case of
Chernozems
Soil Cover Patterns at the Key Plots with Luvic and Voronic Chernozems
Field,
Key
plots
Area,
ha
Slopes*
Soils
( 1:10 000
Map)
Soil Cover Patterns
(1:5000 & 1:2000 -
Maps)
А+АВ
Depth,
cm
Carbonates
Depth,
cm
Field -1 53
0-8
(0-3)
ChТ
III ChL

ChL
III, ChТ
II, ChТC
III,
ChТ
IY, ChL
II
70 - 130 15 - 100
KP -1.1 4
0-3
(0-1)
ChТ
III
ChТ
III, ChТC
II, ChL
III,
ChL
II
55 - 100 0 - 105
KP -1.2 4
3-8
(3- 5)
ChL

ChТ
II, ChТC
II, ChL
,
ChТ

42 - 78 0 - 110
Field -2 59
0 -8
(1-5)
ChТ
II ChТ

ChТ

ChТ
IY, ChL
III, ChТC
IY,
ChТC
III, ChТC
II
60 - 180 15 - 120
KP -2.1 4
0-8
(3-5)
ChТ
IY
ChТ
III, ChL
III, ChТC
IY,
ChL
IY, ChТ
II
70 - 195 20 - 150

36. Maps of pH (H2O) as limiting factors for 3 1-ha field plots
in the representative sites with Haplic Chernozems in
Saratov, Samara and Orenburg regions (April, 2018)
Plot in Samara region
Plot in Saratov region
Plot in Orenburg region

37. The observed and predicted (by DSAAT) winter wheat growth rate and yield values in at the
RSAU Field Experimental Station in 2017 (Pivchenko, Meshalkina, Vasenev, 2018)
4.00
4.50
5.00
5.50
6.00
6.50
4.00 4.50 5.00 5.50 6.00
Predicted
Observed
No-Till
4.00
4.50
5.00
5.50
6.00
6.50
7.00
7.50
8.00
4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00
Predicted
Observed
Observed and predicted values of plant growth by
DSSAT (R2=0.94) for different development phases
Model describing the growth of wheat plants
from the beginning of intensive vegetation to
flowering phase
y = 1.4015x - 60071
R² = 0.95
y = 1,4263x - 61135
R² = 0,9789
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
05.05.2017 25.05.2017 14.06.2017 04.07.2017
The observed and predicted yield values (t/ha)
Till
0
20
40
60
80
100
0 20 40 60 80 100
Predicted
Observedtill no-till

38. SOC Managing – Normative Forecasting – LQ Evaluating – Search Forecasting – SF&DP – Soil Typifying – STV Analyzing 38
2. Challenges of Black Soils in Russia: Land use management optimization
 DSS-Managing adaptive to landscape land-use in black soils regions:
Надежда на будущее – 5Традиции российской научной школыFunctional evaluation of soil
cover patterns
Evaluation of agro-ecological problems
within field scale, including SOC
degradation
Quantitative assessment of limiting factors of soil
fertility, crop yield, ecosystem services, farming profits
Annual planning of crop distribution, farming
Meso-relief parameters
Land agroecological
passport of the farm
field
Soil cover patterns
Soil potential fertility
principal parameters
Potential crop yield
prediction mapping
SOC and available
nutrients content in
the soil
IT modules for farming
technologies agro-
ecological optimizing
in the concrete field
Agroecological
assessment of the
relief and precursors
Agroecological
assessment of the
soil cover patterns
Quantitative assess-
ment of the fertility
limiting factors
Crop yield calculation
in concrete PAR and
soil-ecological state
Crop yield calculation
in field with available
nutrient limitations

39. SOC Managing – Normative Forecasting – LQ Evaluating – Search Forecasting – SF&DP – Soil Typifying – STV Analyzing 39
 Managing SOC in the black soils:
базового
агрогеоинфор-
мационного
обеспечения к
условиям
конкретного
района и
хозяйства ЦЧР.
principal parameters
Potential crop
yield prediction
mapping
SOC and available
nutrients content
in the soil
Quantitative assessment of limiting factors of
soil fertility, crop yield, ecosystem services,
farming profits
Annual planning of crop distribution,
farming systems and technology
applications
Crop yield and SOC
calculation in field
with available
nutrient limitations
Crop yield and SOC
calculation in
concrete PAR and
soil-ecological state
ment of the fertility
limiting factors
Annual planning of the within-field varied fertilizing
Annual planning of crop rotation and
rational distribution in the farm
Fertilizing efficiency
increasing in 20-25%
Farming profitability
increasing in 10-15%
Sharp decreasing of the
environmental risks
2. Challenges of Black Soils in Russia: Land use management optimization
 DSS-Managing adaptive to landscape land-use in the black soils regions:

40. 5-10% Farms 15-20%
Farms
30-40%
Farms
20-30%
Farms
In 5 years Crop Y increase in 1,5-2
times :
Sugar Beet - 35→70 t/ha,
Winter Wheat - 5 → 7 t/ha
2. Challenges of Black Soils in Russia: Policies
Dissemination and transfer of land-use agroecological models, BAAT and DSS

41. We must work together!