Vasily Vasilievich Dokuchaev is a Russian geologist who has reached special heights in soil science. He was the founder of the school of soil science and created a full-fledged teaching in this direction. He discovered the main laws of the geographical location and soil genesis. In this article, you will get acquainted with the biography of Vasily Vasilievich Dokuchaev and his main achievements.
Childhood and education
Vasily Dokuchaev was born in the village of Milyukovo, located in the Smolensk province, on February 17, 1846. The father of the future geologist was a priest. Vasily became the seventh child in the family - he had four older sisters and two brothers. He received primary education at the Vyazma theological college, and secondary education at the Smolensk Theological Seminary. Free training at the seminary was held mainly by children of clergy. It was a place dominated by cruel mores and traditions, supported by both students and educators. The seminary was attended by an informal division of students, according to which Dokuchaev was the “Bashka” - the first to study and the last to conduct.
After graduating from the seminary in 1867, Vasily, as one of its best pupils, went to the Theological Academy of St. Petersburg. Despite the good prospects, he studied at this institution for only three weeks. Dokuchaev realized that he wanted to devote his life to a completely different direction, and transferred to St. Petersburg University, to the natural separation. Of the distinguished scientists of that time, Dokuchaev was greatly influenced by: D. I. Mendeleev, A. N. Beketov, A. V. Sovetov, and A. A. Foreigners. He was personally acquainted with them and continued to communicate after graduation in 1871. In his candidate work, Vasily Dokuchaev carried out a geological description of the coastal zone of the Kasni River flowing in the Smolensk region.
First research
Before you find out what Vasily Dokuchaev discovered, we will get acquainted with his first steps in science. After graduating, the beginning geologist remained at his faculty as a conservator in the mineralogical collection. Here he stayed for 6 years (1872-1878). Then the young scientist was elected assistant professor, and even later (1883) professor of mineralogy. After receiving a degree, he got a job at the Institute of Civil Engineers as a teacher of mineralogy. One of the outstanding students of Dokuchaev was P.A. Solomin.
In the period until 1878, the scientific activity of Vasily Vasilievich was mainly associated with the study of the latest sediment (Quaternary formations) and soils in the European part of Russia. From 1871 to 1877, the scientist made several expeditions to the central and northern parts of Russia, as well as southern Finland. The task of Dokuchaev was to study the geological structure, time and method of formation of river valleys, as well as to study the geological activity of rivers. The following year, Vasily Vasilyevich successfully defended his thesis on the origin of river valleys in the European part of Russia. In this work, the geologist presented the theory of the formation of river valleys, under the influence of a gradually developing process of linear erosion.
Already at that time, the soils he studied together with the Quaternary sediments and dynamic geology fell into the scientific interest of Vasily Dokuchaev. In 1874, he made a report at the meeting of the Society of Naturalists of the City of St. Petersburg on the topic "Podzols of the Smolensk Province." The following year, the scientist was invited to participate in the compilation of soil maps of the European part of Russia. In 1878, the project manager V.I. Chaslavsky died, so Dokuchaev personally had to make an explanatory note to the map. He successfully coped with this task by 1879. In the same year, Vasily Vasilievich initiated the creation of a soil museum, in which a laboratory would work.
Genetic soil science
In the Imperial VEO (free economic society) from the 40s of the 19th century, the question of the need to study chernozems was raised, however, the first steps in this area were taken only after the reforms of Alexander II, which entailed the development of capitalism and the appearance of signs of soil depletion (drought in 1873 and 1875). In 1876, M.N. Bogdanov, together with A.V. Sovetov, were able to convince VEO of the need for a thorough study of soils. The Soviets drew Dokuchaev to this work. In 1877, Vasily Vasilyevich addressed the representatives of VEO with a report. In his speech, he critically analyzed information about chernozems that were published earlier, and theories of their origin (swamp, marine, land-based). In addition, Vasily Dokuchaev briefly outlined his plan for upcoming studies. Another program was proposed by P. A. Kostychaev, but VEO nevertheless preferred the Dokuchaev plan and appointed him the head of the “black earth commission”.
From 1877 to 1881, Vasily Dokuchaev made a number of trips to the chernozem zone. The total length of his expedition amounted to more than 10 thousand kilometers. In addition to describing soil sections and geological exposures, an extensive laboratory analysis of the samples was carried out, in which P. Kostychev, K. Schmidt, N. Sibirtsev, P. Zemyatchensky and others participated.
Russian black soil
In 1883, Dokuchaev published the essay Russian Black Earth. This work examined in detail: the method of origin, the field of use, chemical composition, research methods and principles of classification of chernozem. In addition, Vasily Vasilievich proposed defining the soil as a special natural mineral-organic formation, and not any surface sediment (the concept of agrogeology) or the arable layer (agronomy). He believed that each soil is the result of the interaction of the animal world, climate, mother rock, topography and time.
In order to classify soils and use them rationally, it is necessary to rely on their origin (genesis) and not on petrographic, chemical, or particle size distribution. In his work, the scientist also analyzed the reasons for the increase in the number of droughts and the damage that they cause. Among these, he highlighted: the lack of proper soil cultivation methods and measures to preserve moisture, the deterioration of air and water regimes, erosion and spraying of the granular structure of the earth.
For this research, St. Petersburg University awarded Vasily Dokuchaev a doctorate in mineralogy and geognosy. In addition, the geologist received special thanks from VEO and the full Makariev Prize from the Academy of Sciences. At the same time, P. A. Kostychev criticized the Russian Black Soil, complaining of too few samples that were studied to analyze the dependence of soil properties on climatic conditions.
Nizhny Novgorod expedition
In 1882, the Nizhny Novgorod provincial zemstvo invited Dokuchaev to conduct a complete survey of the province from a geological, soil, and natural-historical point of view, with the aim of more correctly pricing the land. The scientist, together with personally trained specialists in the field of soil science, agreed to this work. Over the six years of research, 14 issues of the report, called the “Materials for assessing the lands of the Nizhny Novgorod province,” were published. Each issue was dedicated to one county and had as an application a soil and geological map. To work in this area were: N. Sibirtsev, P. Zamyatchensky, A. Ferkhmin, A. Krasnov, F. Levison-Lessing and other students of Vasily Vasilyevich.
As part of the expedition, scientists:
- Created and worked out a methodology for compiling soil maps.
- Developed a genetic classification of soils.
- Improved valuation method.
- We tested and expanded the concept of genetic soil science.
Poltava expedition
In 1888-1894, Vasily Dokuchaev, at the invitation of the provincial zemstvo, conducted a large-scale study of the soils of the Poltava province. The results of the work he published in 16 volumes of the report. Both experienced and young pupils of Dokuchaev took part in this expedition: G. Vysotsky, V. Vernadsky, K. Glinka, G. Tanfiliev and others. During this campaign, gray forest soils were first identified and carefully examined, and the study of solonetzes began. In Poltava, as in Nizhny Novgorod, Dokuchaev created a natural history museum with a soil department. During the life of a scientist, his students conducted similar studies in 11 provinces.
“Special Expedition”
As part of the evaluation campaigns and expeditions, which were many in the biography of Vasily Dokuchaev, he actively searched for the causes of the degradation of chernozems and ways to combat this. In 1888, a geologist met with a specialist in the field of steppe agriculture and water regimes of soils A.A. Ishmael. In 1982, a year after a major drought, Dokuchaev published Our Steppes Before and Now, in which he proposed a plan for the protection of black soil. This plan included the following measures: protection of soil from erosion; regulation of beams and ravines; artificial irrigation; creation of forest belts; maintaining the established ratio between the meadow, forest and arable land.
In 1892, Dokuchaev managed to obtain permission for a “Special Expedition” to test and record the methods and methods of forestry and water management in the Russian steppes. In short, Vasily Dokuchaev, with the help of this campaign, wanted to test the effectiveness of the program he created. Together with Dokuchaev participated: N. Sibirtsev, P. Zemyatchensky, G. Vysotsky, K. Glinka, N. Adamov and others.
The development of soil protection methods was carried out in three areas:
- Stone steppe, Shipov forest and Khrenovsky forest (Voronezh region). In 1911, at this place they founded the experimental station. Dokuchaev. Now there is a Research Institute. V.V. Dokuchaev.
- Veliko Anadolsky site.
- Starobelsky massif of “weathered steppe”.
As a result, the Dokuchaev team demonstrated the effectiveness of his program. However, due to the fact that every year investments in the expedition were reduced, in 1897 it had to be stopped.
Organizational work
On the initiative of Dokuchaev and with his assistance, in 1888, a Soil Commission was created at the VEO, which became the first organization of soil scientists. Vasily Vasilyevich was appointed its chairman. The following year, also under the leadership of Dokuchaev, a commission was organized for a comprehensive study of St. Petersburg and its region.
In 89-90 years of the 19th century, Vasily Dokuchaev, whose brief biography we are considering today, was the secretary of the 8th Congress of Doctors and Naturalists, which was held in the city of St. Petersburg. In 1889, the scientist presented his collection of soils at the World Exhibition in Paris, for which he was awarded the Order of Merit for Agriculture. In 1895, Dokuchaev founded the Bureau of Soil Science, operating under the Scientific Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture. In the same year, he received consent to prepare an updated soil map, which was completed only in 1900 by A. Ferkhman, N. Sibirtsev and G. Tanfiliev.
In the period from 1892 to 1895, Vasily Vasilyevich temporarily acted as the head of the New Alexandria Agricultural and Forestry Institute. It was under his leadership that the institute was transformed into a higher educational institution. In 1894, thanks to the efforts of Dokuchaev, the first department of genetic soil science was organized within its walls, which N.M. Sibirtsev.
Last years
At the end of 1895, Dokuchaev was diagnosed with a severe form of a nervous disorder. A year later, a second attack of the disease occurred, the scientist spent two weeks delirious. In February 1897, the wife of Dokuchaev died of cancer. In the summer of the same year, he suffered from severe headaches, and a weakening of his memory and feelings began. Only in the fall, the geologist was able to return to his beloved work.
The next three years of Dokuchaev’s life were extremely fruitful: they accounted for about 25% of the geologist’s publications. During this period, Vasily Vasilievich traveled with expeditions to the Caucasus, Central Asia and Bessarabia. In 1899, he published two works in which, based on the dependence of soils on the factors of their formation, he studied the zoning law discovered by A. von Humboldt. Dokuchaev also came up with the idea of the book “On the Correlation of Living and Dead Nature,” but managed to write only the first chapter for it.
In 1900, the geologist overtook another attack of the disease. At the end of the year, he practically stopped leaving home. In March 1901, the scientist wrote the last letter to V.I. Vernadsky.
October 26, 1903 Dokuchaev died. His funeral took place on October 29. They were attended by: D. Mendeleev, A. Foreigners, A. Karpinsky, numerous students and friends of Vasily Vasilyevich, as well as delegates from various educational institutions. Dokuchaev was buried at the Lutheran cemetery in the city of St. Petersburg.
Dissemination of ideas
Vasily Dokuchaev, whose brief biography came to an end, brought up many students who later became famous researchers. Thanks to participation in world exhibitions and the presentation of his achievements at them, the scientist managed to earn recognition far beyond the borders of Russia.
In 1886, in an article on chernozems, E. Bruckner analyzed the concept of Dokuchaev and called it “a new word in science”. At the turn of the century, E. Ramann accepted the ideas of Vasily Vasilievich, but he could not completely move away from agrogeological views. An important role in disseminating the ideas of the geologist was played by the domestic publication Soil Science. I.V. Vernadsky considered his teacher a great scientist and placed him on a par with Lavoisier, Maxwell, Mendeleev, Darwin and other prominent representatives of 19th-century science. Today, the photo of Vasily Dokuchaev is familiar to everyone who is interested in soil science and geology.