Reference soil Russian Federation 06: Chernozem

RU006

Chernozems are typically found in the long-grass steppe regions of the world, particularly in Eastern Europe and North America (Canada and the USA).

Characteristics

Soils having a very dark mollic horizon (thick, brownish or blackish surface horizon with a significant accumulation of organic matter and high base saturation) and secondary carbonates within 50 cm of the lower limit of the Ah horizon, but within 200 cm from the soil surface. They have no petrocalcic horizon between 25 and 100 cm from the soil surface, no secondary gypsum and no uncoated sand and silt grains on structural pedfaces

Distribution of Chernozems (rough estimation supplied by soilgrids)

Reference soil RU006: Chernozems

Location: approx. 110km E of Kursk A very dark grey to black topsoil, rich in organic matter, overlying a light yellowish brown calcareous subsoil. Structure is prismatic to subangular blocky in the lower part and dominantly crumb in the upper part due to high faunal activity (earth worms). Below 100 cm accumulation of calcium carbonate occurs in concretionary and pseaudomycelia form. In the Ah3 and ABk horizons, two colours are dominant. In the Ah3 and ABk horizons this is due to mottling (mottle colour 10YR 4/2). In the ABk horizon material of Ah3 (10YR 5/2.5) is tonguing into material of Bwk (10YR 6/4). Climate: x = depth (cm) of <0 degrees C penetration; snow cover height 42 cm; length of frost-free days 164

Chemical data

Depth (cm)	pH H2O	pHKCl	EC 1: 2.5 dS/m	CaCO3 % w/w	C % w/w	N %	C / N	Exch. Acid cmol(c)/kg	Exch. Al cmol(c)/kg	Ca cmol(c)/kg	Mg cmol(c)/kg	K cmol(c)/kg	Na cmol(c)/kg	Sum Cations cmol(c)/kg
0-30	6.7	-	-	-	4.70	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
30-65	6.7	-	-	-	3.00	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
65-100	6.7	-	-	-	1.70	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
100-150	8.0	-	-	-	0.60	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
180-200	7.9	-	-	-	0.50	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Profile description

Ah1 0-30 cm	black (10YR 2/1, dry)silty clay loam,moderate medium crumb and moderate fine and medium subangular blocky,
Ah2 30-65 cm	very dark grey (10YR 3/1, dry)silty clay loam,moderate medium crumb and moderate fine and medium subangular blocky,
Ah3 65-100 cm	very dark grey (10YR 3/1, dry)silty clay loam,moderate fine prismatic and moderate fine subangular blocky,gradual irregular boundary to,
100-150 cm	(10YR 5/2.5, dry)silty clay loam,moderate fine and medium prismatic and moderate coarse subangular blocky,calcareous concretions thread-like calcareous,
Bwk 150-180 cm	light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4, dry)silty clay loam,weak fine and medium prismatic parting to moderate medium subangular blocky,
BCk 180- cm	light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4, dry)silty clay loam,weak medium and coarse prismatic parting to moderate fine subangular blocky,

Kind 1 (parent material) ; Parker (eds), 1984	mixed lithology
Mode of accumulation or deposition of parent material	eolian loess
Soil Depth	200cm
Texture of parent material (second entry)	loamy

Main type of irrigation; Guidelines for soil description - Fourth edition (FAO, Rome, 2006)	no irrigation
Land use or vegetation in the immediate vicinity of the site	(semi-)natural vegetation
Remarks on Land Use / Vegetation	Natural herb-grass steppe
Rotation scheme ; Guidelines for soil description - Fourth edition (FAO, Rome, 2006)	crop rotation scheme not relevant
Status of vegetation; Guidelines for soil description - Fourth edition (FAO, Rome, 2006)	secondary
Major vegetation type; Guidelines for soil description - Fourth edition (FAO, Rome, 2006)	tall grassland

Altitude	200m
Physiographic Unit	steppe
Regional landform; McDonald, R.C., Isbell, R.F. et all, 1984; Australian soil and land survey Field Handbook, Inkata Press, Melbourne.	plain
Slope	0%
Topography; Guidelines for soil description - Fourth edition (FAO, Rome, 2006)	undulating

Drainage class ; FAO (2006) - Guidelines for soil description	moderately well
Flooding frequency (FAO, 1986)	never
Kind of ground water table (USDA, 1979)	no groundwater table observed
Estimated permeability (class) of least permeable part of the profile	high
Estimated run off (class)	medium

Evidence of alkali ; Soil Survey Manual USDA, 1951	non-alkaline
Surface cracking	no cracks observed
Slaking of aggregates by tillage, rainfall or frost (USDA/SCS, 1979)	no surface slaking/crusting observed
Rock outcrop class (FAO (2006) - Guidelines for soil description)	none
Evidence of salt; Soil Survey Manual USDA, 1951	non-saline
Surface stoniness class (FAO (2006) - Guidelines for soil description)	none

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Reference soil Russian Federation 06: Chernozem

Characteristics

Reference soil RU006: Chernozems

Classification