Who is considered the “father of pedology”?

Vasily Vasilyevich Dokuchaev (1846-1903), a Russian geologist and soil scientist, is regarded as the “father of pedology” since he established soil science as an autonomous scientific study. Dokuchaev’s work set the groundwork for the scientific study of soils and their development, moving away from prior perspectives that saw soil as solely a geological product.

In 1883, Dokuchaev hypothesized five factors that regulate soil formation:

  • Climate (cl): Temperature and precipitation patterns affect soil characteristics.
  • Vegetation/Organisms (o): Plant and microbial activity add organic matter to the soil.
  • Parent Material (p): Parent Material (p) refers to the underlying rocks or sediments’ mineral composition and physical qualities.
  • Topography/Relief: Landform forms influence drainage, erosion, and deposition processes.
  • Time (tr): Soil formation is slow and occurs over a range of time periods.

The equation Soil=f(cl, o, p)tr contains these elements.

Related Questions

Quick Links