The Origin of the Theory of Anthropogenic Soil Evolution and Agropedogenesis: Contribution of F.I. Kozlovsky
The article considers the contribution of Felix Ivanovich Kozlovsky (1928–2000) to the theory of anthropogenic soil evolution, agropedogenesis and mechanisms of soil cover structuring. He proposed the concept of structural and functional models of migration flows in landscapes. F. I. Kozlovsky is a major Soviet and Russian soil scientist and specialist in the field of landscape geochemistry. He worked at the experimental land reclamation station in Ubinskoye (1954–1957), in V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute (1957–1978) and the Institute of Geography RAS (1978–2000) in Moscow. It is stressed that Kozlovsky was the first to propose the concept of a soil individual and formulate the principles of stationary studies of soil migration processes. He also developed their structural and functional mathematical model. Kozlovsky revealed autooscillation of subaerial salt accumulation in steppe soils, agrogenic alkalization of soils, increased soils’ compaction when the particles are autogenously grinded in the lower horizons while expanding and swelling. It is reported that he developed the theory of anthropogenic evolution of the soils, the theory on agropedogenesis and the structure of soil cover. He left a significant scientific legacy that combined mathematical logic and rationality, philosophical depth and breadth; his scientific conclusions were often paradoxically simple and unexpected. They were ahead of time and are still in demand today.