Experience in the Use of Russian Soil Classification and Diagnosis in the Systematics of Peat Soils of Oligotrophic Bogs in the North Taiga Subzone of West Siberia

Abstract

Currently, the taxonomy of peat soils is not given more attention, especially with regard to taxonomic units in the species rank. The diagnostics of 51 soil profiles in the various oligotrophic mire types in the Numto Nature Park (north taiga subzone of West Siberia) has brought about proposals to improve the existing soil classification. It is suggested to: 1) limit the peat horizon thickness in the peat-gleyzem type to 30 cm; 2) divide the peat-gleyzem type by the trophic status into oligotropic and eutrophic subtypes; 3) expand the list of taxa determined by the botanical composition of peat by means of the division of soil species into subspecies on the basis of classifications of peat and peat deposits; 4) use current vegetation as one of the main diagnostic (indicative) criteria in determining the soil type in mires; and 5) use the degree of decomposition of the peat layer underlying the peat soil for determining the variety of peat soil. The article draws attention to the difficulties in determining the classification position of soils of frozen large mounds in palsa bogs and proposes alternative solutions to this problem.