V. V. DOKUCHAEV AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO FOREST SOIL SCIENCE

ISSN: 0024-1148 Russian Journal of Forest Science. 2011, No. 1, pp. 73-80

V. V. DOKUCHAEV AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO FOREST SOIL SCIENCE

Migunova E.S.  Ukrainian Research Institute of Forestry and Forest Melioration named after G.N. Vysotsky (URIFFM): Pushkinska st. 86, Kharkiv, 61024, Ukraine

E-mail: uriffm@uriffm.org.ua

Received: 25 july 2007

The works of V.V. Dokuchaev on the distribution of forests in the steppe and forest-steppe zones, the effect of their cutting on shallowing of rivers and climatic changes are considered. Dokuchaev always paid special attention to the role of forest in the formation of different soil types and to the possible participation of forest in the formation of chernozems, in particular. He critically considered the hypothesis of S.I. Korzhinskii on the forest invasion in the steppe zone. The "soil" method for the restoration of the former forestation in different natural zones was elaborated under the guidance of Dokuchaev. These works of this outstanding scientist have served as the basis for the formation of "forest soil science" as an independent branch of soil science.