The Russian soil scientist Vasily Vasilievich Dokuchaev belongs to the idea of studying the soil as a special natural body. The great geologist devoted his scientific activity to revealing the laws of the geographical location of soils. The practical contribution of the scientist to the study of chernozem is recognized worldwide.
Vasily Dokuchaev - an outstanding soil scientist of the nineteenth century. The geologist’s birth date was February 17, 1846. The place of the future scientist was born in the village of Milyukovo in the Sychevsky district of Smolensk province. The father of a future scientist with many children was a clergyman. Mother raised seven children with her husband.
Scientific activity of a soil scientist
The craving for science by young Vasily Dokuchaev manifested itself after the seminary in Smolensk and the admission to the St. Petersburg Theological Academy in 1867. Vasily was enrolled in the university for the first year of the Natural Department of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics in the fall of 1867. The beginning of his career was connected with the appointment of the future professor of geology as a tutor in the 3rd year. After 2 years, Dokuchaev received a diploma of higher education, completing work related to the study of soils of the banks of the river Kasni.
Under the influence of the scientific activities of Mendeleev, Inostrantsev, Beketov and Sovetov, Dokuchaev continued to study soil science. The positions to which he was appointed made it possible to make a great contribution to the study of discipline. The scientist served:
- the keeper of the mineralogical collection - 1872-1878;
- the head of the "chernozem commission" - 1878-1881;
- a researcher of the lands of the Nizhny Novgorod region - 1882;
- Professor of the Department of Mineralogy - 1883-1888;
- Director of the Institute of Agriculture and Forestry in Novoaleksandriysk - 1892-1895.
The 10 thousand km chernozem expedition lasted 4 years. The first trip was made by a scientist in 1877. The geologist spent a lot of time on frequent trips to the southern regions of Russia, and was in the Crimea. Extensive analysis in laboratory conditions was carried out by his pupils: Zemyatchensky P., Kostychev P., Shmidt K., Sibirtsev N. In 1882, Dokuchaev made a total study of the soils of the Nizhny Novgorod region after the proposal of the zemstvo, interested in accurate quotations of land. During multiple trips, scientists introduced a methodology for soil surveys based on soil maps, genetic classification, scoring, and the principle of genetic soil science.
Expedition Reports
Since 1877, the scientist worked on the report "Materials on land valuation of the Nizhny Novgorod province." Within 6 years, he published 14 issues of the report with the application in the form of soil maps for each of the sites that underwent a full examination. The pupils of the scientist who took an active part in the development of the report were: Krasnov A., Levison-Lessing F., Verkhmin A. and others. After repeated trips, the geologist published the monograph Russian Black Earth in 1883, which described methods for determining soils by origin, application, chemical composition, methods of examination and classification. The scientist did not examine the soil as a surface layer from the standpoint of agronomy. He believed that the origin of soils is influenced by such basic factors as:
- mother breed;
- climatic conditions;
- Flora and fauna;
- terrain
- Spread;
- geological age of the region.
The scientific work "Russian Black Soil" is a basic doctoral dissertation in the field of genetic soil science. According to the developed methods, it became possible to influence the fertility of the soil composition. Dokuchaev, after defending the monograph, became a doctor of geological sciences and for 5 years he held the position of professor of the department of mineralogy.
Organizational Activities
Since 1888 Vasily Dokuchaev conducted a large-scale Poltava expedition. A report on the work performed under the guidance of a scientist was compiled in 16 volumes. He thoroughly studied solonetzes and gray layers of forest soil, identifying 7 zones: deserts, boreal, forest-steppe, northern forest, steppe, dry steppe, subtropics. During the research, the scientist was awarded numerous awards during his lifetime.
The famous scientist held leadership positions, managing various commissions on the organization of soil science and geology. In 1888, he became chairman of the Soil Commission, the first scientific association of geologists. From 1889 to 1890 headed the commission that conducted soil research in the environs of St. Petersburg.
A geologist who visited the World Paris Exhibition with a collection of soils was awarded the Order of Merit for Agriculture in 1889. The scientist became the organizer of the Department of Genetic Soil Science in 1884, headed by his pupil N. M. Sibirtsev During the "Special Expedition" in 1892, a geologist proved the effectiveness of the program. The appraisal expedition spread to the soil of Shipov Forest, Kamennaya Steppe and Khrenovsky Bor. This made it possible to identify specific causes of degradation of chernozem soils and to develop methods to combat this phenomenon.
Privacy and funeral
The end of 1895 was marked by the discovery of a severe disorder of the nervous system in a scientist. In 1896, he had an attack, and a year later in February, the scientist lost his wife, who died from cancer. Due to severe headaches, Dokuchaev began to lose his memory and feelings, but willpower allowed the scientist to return to his beloved work for a while.
A repeated attack of a serious illness in 1900 did not allow the geologist to leave his home. In 1901, in the spring, an outstanding soil scientist wrote a farewell letter to the follower Vernadsky V.I. Death overtook the scientist in 1903 on October 26. The funeral was held at the Lutheran cemetery in St. Petersburg, where on October 29, 1903 many of the pupils of the great geologist gathered.
