Evolution of knowledge of virgin and arable forest soils in the forest-steppe area of the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

The evolution of the Grey and Brown forest soils genesis from the forest-steppe area of the Republic Moldova knows several hystyorical hypotheses that can be reunited in three groups: 1) primary formation of these soils as a special type, evolved under deciduous forests; 2) secondary formation following the degradation of chernozemic soils and the planting of woody vegetation on these surfaces; 3) their formation from virgin (natural) podzolic soils following the development of the process of substituting the woody vegetation with the grassy vegetation of steppe and meadow. According to recent research, Grey and Brown soils on the territory of the Republic Moldova are polygenetic soils and were formed as a result of going through different phases of pedogenesis: virgin grey and browns soils, formed under deciduous forests → arable grey and brown soils, formed after deforestation and the use of arable land → grey and bronw soils from the stage of evolution towards chernozems, under the secondary steppe vegetation, restored on the former agricultural lands, abandoned during the migration of peoples from east to west → arable leached (cambic) chernozems.