Pedology

Pedology studies different types of soils. It pays much attention to the classification, description and appraisal or inventory of soils. Soil science is a biological science, it is closely connected with agrochemistry, microbiology and biochemistry. It is closely connected with geology, geomorphology and climatology as well. Soil science studies pedogenesis or the formation of soils, agrotechnique or the cultivation of soils, the protection of soil erosion, melioration and a number of other problems. The main aim of all pedologists is to enrich soils. A well-known pedologist, Academician Bykovsky and Professor Gladkov wrote: “Our aim is to leave better soils for the succeeding generations”.

The Soil Science Department at Rostov State University was founded by Prof. Zakharov in the early 1920's. Zakharov was a follower and deciple of the well-known pedologist Dokuchayev. At present the Soil Science Department is rather large. More than 100 students and postgraduates study here. The department is headed by Prof. Kryshenko. The students of the department must work hard to become qualified specialists. They study the following subjects: history of soil science in Russia and abroad; agrochemistry; the physical analysis of soil; the chemical analysis of soil and some biological subjects. In the department there are two soil laboratories with modern equipment and a soil museum where soil samples from different parts of our country are exposed.

In summer the students of the department usually take practical training. In their first year they take it in the University Botanical Garden. Being in their second year they take part in expeditions sampling and analysing soils in different provinces. After graduating from the university, our students work as soil science engineers or agrochemists at special research institutions and stations.

(Adapted from the Internet sites)

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Дата добавления: 2015-08-03