The Present Status of the Soil Environment in Russia

Abstract

Russia is the largest country in the World. However, if the average amount of land is calculated per head of population, it is found that Russia is in third place (11.6 ha per person) after Australia and Canada. Moreover, the distribution of population in Russia is rather unequal. If the amount of land per head of population is calculated for different regions, it is found that in the Moscow region it is 0.3 ha per person, in the Central Economic Region it is 1.59 ha per person and in the European part of Russia, where 80% of population live, it is 3.7 ha per person. The vast territory of Russia (1709.6 mln.ha) therefore gives a wrong impression that there are an infinite amount of soil resources suitable for agricultural and natural development in the country. In fact, in Russia land resources suitable for agriculture are rather limited due to the influence of unfavourable bioclimatic conditions and increasing pressures related to anthropogenic activities