Pedosphere 36(5): 1049--1058, 2026
ISSN 1002-0160/CN 32-1315/P
©2026 Soil Science Society of China
Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press
| Morphology and classification of Chernozems modified by intensive mammalian bioturbation |
Volodymyr YAKOVENKO1 , Olexander ZHUKOV2 |
1 Dnipro State Agrarian and Economic University, Sergey Yefremov Str. 25, Dnipro 49600 (Ukraine);
2 Bohdan Khmelnitsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University, Hetmanska Str. 20, Melitopol 72312 (Ukraine) |
| Corresponding Author:Volodymyr YAKOVENKO |
| ABSTRACT |
| Bioturbation caused by burrowing mammals is a geographically widespread factor in soil formation that can significantly influence soil morphology, properties, and dynamics. However, the current version of the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) does not offer a mechanism for adequately classifying pedons altered by mammalian bioturbation. This study aimed to establish the necessity of defining the classification and nomenclatural position of specific pedons within the WRB system and propose a corresponding qualifier. Based on an analysis of the morphology of genetic soil profiles of Chernozems in the steppe zone of Ukraine, which have been transformed by bioturbation from Spalax microphthalmus, as well as the diversity of krotovinas and the micromorphological characteristics of their infill material, we proposed the introduction of the qualifier “Krotovik” as a diagnostic criterion at the second level of WRB classification. According to the nomenclatural standards of the WRB system, the proposed qualifier is defined as follows: Krotovik (kr) refers to soils that contain at least 30% (by volume, weighted average) of filled and/or empty burrows of burrowing mammals within the upper 100 cm of the mineral soil or down to a limiting layer, whichever is shallower. We recommended including Krotovik as one of the principal qualifiers in instances where mammalian bioturbation is a significant pedogenic process that considerably modifies the essential properties of the soil. In the soil cover of Europe, this is particularly relevant to the Reference Soil Groups of Chernozems, Kastanozems, Phaeozems, Luvisols, and Cambisols. |
| Key Words: biomantle,burrowing mammals,krotovinas,pedogenic process,pedoturbation,principal qualifier,soil formation,Spalax microphthalmus,WRB classification |
| Citation: Yakovenko V, Zhukov O. 2026. Morphology and classification of Chernozems modified by intensive mammalian bioturbation. Pedosphere. 36(5): 1049-1058. |
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