Russia has a lot of soil. Russian scientists have been investigating it for centuries and pointeered soil science through researchers such as Dokuchaev, Dokuchaeva, Glazoskaya, Glinka and others.

Large soil data projects managed by land institutes e.g. GIZPROZEMs have since been updated using satellite data.

Current researchers conducted an agroecological assessment. They investigated land suitable for agricultural use in the Leningrad region, including the effect of rain and temperature distribution. They noted variance in previous models that have found links between climate change and soil health such as Semenov–Blagovidov’s land estimation and Karmanov’s soil ecological index.

They researched climate, soil and agrochemistry data from farms in the Leningrad region. They also used a soil map from the Museum of Soil Science, evaluating pH, organic matter, phosphorus, potassium and other agrochemical factors. Soil indicator values were previously determined in their laboratory. They considered heat during the Leningrad growing season and winter characteristics over the last 50 years.

The Semenov and Blagovidov calculations showed higher yields than Karmanov. The Karmonov method with more agrochemical indicators such as pH effect suggesting that their modelling may be able to take account of the worst factors. Higher temperatures and precipitation will need to be included alongside influence of changes in agricultural technologies and environmental factors such as land use change.

Chebykina, Ekaterina Yu., and Evgeny V. Abakumov. 2024. “Agroecological Assessment of Arable Lands in the Leningrad Region of Russia under the Influence of Climate Change” Agronomy 14, no. 9: 2113. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14092113