ИСТИНА

A hierarchical soil-landscape classification is being developed alongside with creation of associated multiscale soil-landscape maps. Soil-landscape maps integrate information on essential properties of physical landscape elements - rocks, air, water, organisms, and soils (Fig.1). The maps are created in GIS by an analysis of about 250 thematic and topographic maps, which are, for example, landscape, soil, geological, geomorphological, agroclimatic, and maps of vegetation and of the ground waters, of different scales and from world maps down to maps of farm enterprises. a) b) c) d) Fig.1. Examples of the maps of properties of landscape elements at the same scale range: a) Soil texture, b) Soil stoniness, c) Salinity of rocks, d) Subjacent rocks The multiscale maps are regarded as a system of maps of all scale ranges adjusted in relation to thematic and geographical content. The maps for four scale ranges (1:60,000,000 - 1:80,000,000; 1:15,000,000 - 1:25,000,000; 1:4,000 000 - 1:10,000 000; 1:500,000 - 1:1,500,000) were created for different areas of the European part of Russia (Fig.2). Mapping units are labeled by identification codes serving as connecting links between the maps and the classification. Soil-landscape maps contain all the necessary information for soil and landscape sustainable management and assessment at all levels, from global to local. Fig.2. Multiscale maps of zonal types of vegetation at different scale ranges Keywords: systems approach; soil-landscape mapping; multiscale maps; maps of properties; identification codes; sustainable management