The Role of Geogenic Factors in the Formation of Soil Diversity in the Samara Region (Middle Volga, Russia)

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Authors revealed the role of geogenic factors in formation of soil diversity in Samara region. They highlighted the need of development of lithological taxonomic and diagnostic features for the protection, proper use and mapping of soils in complex geogenic, in particular lithological conditions. Also, they found that the lithological framework has a greater influence on soil diffusion in space than the climatic series and associated vegetation ecotones. This is an interesting work and meaningful to informing the soil classification and management. Overall, the paper is well structured and written. There are only minor issues that should be addressed by authors.

1. The marking for Subfigure a and b in Figure 2 should be lowercase “a” and “b”
2. The marking for Subfigure b in Figure 5 should be lowercase “b”, and the A should be written as lowercase a in the legend.
3. The marking for Subfigure b and d in Figure 8 should be lowercase “b” and “d”
4. The marking for Subfigure d in Figure 9 should be lowercase “d”
5. The unit for texture is written wrong in Table 1 title.
6. Please consider to add new relevant citation such as Zhou, Na, Xue Han, Ning Hu, Shuo Han, Meng Yuan, Zhongfang Li, Sujuan Wang, et al. 2024. “The Crop Mined Phosphorus Nutrition via Modifying Root Traits and Rhizosphere Micro‐Food Web to Meet the Increased Growth Demand Under Elevated CO₂.” iMeta e245. https://doi.org/10.1002/imt2.245

        Xing, Wen, Ning Hu, Zhongfang Li, Liangshan Feng, Weidong Zhang, Gerhard Du Preez, Huimin Zhang, et al. 2024. “Soil Enzyme Profile Analysis for Indicating Decomposer Micro‐Food Web.” iMeta 3, e161. https://doi.org/10.1002/imt2.161

Author Response

Dear reviewer 1!

Thank you for your work with text of my manuscript and comments!

I have taken into account all your comments.

Below you can see detailed replies.

 

Authors revealed the role of geogenic factors in formation of soil diversity in Samara region. They highlighted the need of development of lithological taxonomic and diagnostic features for the protection, proper use and mapping of soils in complex geogenic, in particular lithological conditions. Also, they found that the lithological framework has a greater influence on soil diffusion in space than the climatic series and associated vegetation ecotones. This is an interesting work and meaningful to informing the soil classification and management. Overall, the paper is well structured and written. There are only minor issues that should be addressed by authors.

Thank you for this comment.

1. The marking for Subfigure a and b in Figure 2 should be lowercase “a” and “b” – thank you, corrected.
2. The marking for Subfigure b in Figure 5 should be lowercase “b”, and the A should be written as lowercase a in the legend. – thank you, corrected
3. The marking for Subfigure b and d in Figure 8 should be lowercase “b” and “d”- – thank you, corrected
4. The marking for Subfigure d in Figure 9 should be lowercase “d” – thank you, corrected.
5. The unit for texture is written wrong in Table 1 title. – thank you, corrected.
6. Please consider to add new relevant citation such as Zhou, Na, Xue Han, Ning Hu, Shuo Han, Meng Yuan, Zhongfang Li, Sujuan Wang, et al. 2024. “The Crop Mined Phosphorus Nutrition via Modifying Root Traits and Rhizosphere Micro‐Food Web to Meet the Increased Growth Demand Under Elevated CO₂.” iMeta e245. https://doi.org/10.1002/imt2.245 - thank you, paper is considered and added.  Xing, Wen, Ning Hu, Zhongfang Li, Liangshan Feng, Weidong Zhang, Gerhard Du Preez, Huimin Zhang, et al. 2024. “Soil Enzyme Profile Analysis for Indicating Decomposer Micro‐Food Web.” iMeta 3, e161. https://doi.org/10.1002/imt2.161 thank you, paper is considered and added.

Sincerely yours, Evgeny Abakumov

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Author,

my comments for you paper you find in attachement.

 

Best regards

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear reviewer 2!

Thank you for your work with text of my manuscript and comments!

I have taken into account all your comments.

Below you can see detailed replies.

Dear Author,

I thank you for your paper. I am pleased that such work is still being done to refine information on land cover. After the publication of this paper, I would like to start communicating about the possibility of obtaining full-resolution originals of the photographs for use in teaching at our university.

 

There are my notices for paper:

Did you study all area Samara region? Is Figure 1 Samara region? If yes recommend using of Figure 1 without red numbers by description of area (Material and methods 2.1 Geographical characteristics) and in part 2.2 Field survey use the map with red numbers (without the map right) - the number will more readable Better orientation for reader

Reply: yes, it is Samara region, thank you for your suggestion, we have followed and changed figures.

„Annual temperature in about 7 C in Samara city, 164 6 C in northern part of region and 7.1 C in the southern part of region "°C

Reply – thank you corrected.

,Figure 1. Location of surveyed plots. 2-10- designation of soil numbers on the fig. 2-10"

Reply -  thank you, done

 

Better description - may be Location of surveyed plots. Red numbers are designation of soil number (2-10).

Reply  - thank you, done

What mean letters by number?

Reply  - thank you, done

 

2.4 Laboratory

 

You should write citation to methodology. For example sedimentation methods for determination of soil texture are different. It has to be clear which method you

Reply – thank you, citation has been added.

used. The methodology has to be official. ,The carbonate content was determined by wet method with addition of 1 M 196 hydrochloric acid and titrimetric residue of acid of 0.5 M solution of NaOH."

 

With this method I am not be sure if it is correct. We use this method for sorption capacity of soils.

Reply – this is routine classical soil method, based on measuring of soil gravimetric loose after adding of hydrochloric acids. It has been clarified.

 

Why did you do listed laboratory? Meaning for your paper.

Reply – I think this is standard requirement for a such research papers.

 

Miss the information how deep you formed probes and where you took soil samples (after a certain depth, after soil horizons etc.). Why you have these locations 2-10, why you choose these places.

Reply – thank you, the deepness of soil sampling is provided in table 1. The strategy of sampling was based on soil genetic horizons, and variates in every individual soil.

 

 

„Soil diversity and morphology has been reported in fundamental monograph of V.A. Nosin [8] in 1949. This work has summarized long term works of very famous group of scientists –«Samara pedologists» with numerous solum descriptions and diagnostics. Since then, soil studies have been carried out with varying intensity; at the beginning of 204 the twenty-first century, soil studies of the Samarskaya Luka peninsula were resumed. This area is the most studied in the soil sense for the region until now [3, 9, 10].» 201-205 I think it is part for Introduction

Reply – yes, we have started to cite these authors in Introduction chapter, here it only reminder for authors, that we are not the first researchers here.

 

,If we speak about typical archetypes of forest-steppe soils, they should be repre»- 207

Reply – thank you, reformulated.

 

Do you mean for your description area? Is it your results?

Reply – yes, our own results.

You write sometimes Samarskaya Luka peninsula and sometimes Samara region -are they similar areas?

Reply – Samarskaya Luka is a part of Samara region, clarified in text..

May be bigger soil profiles. Figure 5. Formal correction A/B, or a/b in pictures and in description of Figure. The same for other figures with the same content

Reply – thank you, corrected.

I miss the connection between figure 1 (red numbers) and results (soil profiles) – where do you find soil profiles. If reader doesn't know the location nomenclature of the area has wrong orientation

Reply – thank you, Fig. 1 nor managed to split for fig. 1 and 2 with corresponding fig. captures.

 

Table 1 Fine Earth -it is not necessary to write it. The number is 100-skeleton% only. By pH value you should write pH/H2O

Reply  - thank you, done.

I am not sure with compliance between title of paper and its content

Reply - Taking into account that this article belongs to soil-geographical, I believe that the correspondence of the content to the title of the article is quite obvious.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear author:

I have read your manuscript with great interest, and first of all, I would like to congratulate you for addressing a topic that is unfortunately so scarce in current scientific literature: the genesis and distribution of soils. You will see that the revision I present here contains numerous suggestions; none of them address key aspects of the document, but they focus specifically on improving its readability and thus supporting its dissemination. Please read them in case they may be useful to you (I hope they may be) for that purpose.

Your work highlights the importance of lithology as a soil-forming factor, particularly in the generation of soil diversity. I believe this is of particular interest in territories where the bioclimatic factor has traditionally been considered of utmost importance, but I also believe it is of interest in territories where active erosion-deposition conditions favor soil rejuvenation.

I sincerely thank you for your effort in writing this manuscript and for the very interesting information and ideas contained therein.

 

L22: “…soil diffusion in space...”

Let me suggest changing it to "soil spatial distribution"

L51-52: “In humid climates, the diversity of soil-forming rocks is realized to the maximum extent, while in arid climates it is of minimal importance”.

Regarding this reflection, I would like to make the following comment, which simply contains some nuances:

Undoubtedly, in arid climates, the role of lithology in soil taxon diversity may be of little relevance, due to the limited evolution of soils, that homogenizes soil taxa; however, a certain taxonomic diversity could be related with the presence of different salts in soil-forming rocks and thus in the corresponding soils, as they can hardly be leached (as you indicate in L435-440).

On the other hand, in humid and temperate climates, unaffected by glacial erosion and deposition, the role of lithology can also be obscured by intense leaching and weathering. This is largely applicable to Mediterranean soils, with wet winters and very dry summers. From my experience in temperate regions, the lithological factor is very relevant in soil taxon diversity, but in my opinion, this role is largely determined by the relief. Thus, in areas with predominantly steep slopes, dominant young soils are logically associated with erosion and the corresponding deposition, but these soils share the space with most stable surfaces where diverse taxa may be present. Some of these soils have evolved over long periods, even before the Holocene, since these surfaces remained completely ice-free.

All of the above is sufficiently explained in lines 52-55. For this reason, I believe the phrase in lines 51-52 should be put into context, since climatic conditions (humid-arid) would not be associated with maximum-minimum diversity of soil-forming rocks. In fact, the phrase can be misinterpreted, since the diversity of rock types at a given site bears no relation to the current climate.

 

L64: Please, correct to “Middle Volga”

L71-74: “The objectives of this work were: (1) to study the diversity of soils formed on different soil-forming rocks of the region, (2) identify the most promising objects of special soil protection and (3) to analyze the role of biogenic factors in the formation of the regional ecotone of soil types.”

Objective 1) is perfectly clear, but in my opinion, 2) and 3) need clarification:

2) “…the most promising objects of special soil protection…”. Does the term “objects” refer to some specific soil taxa, as some Retisols?

3) What does the "regional ecotone" refer to? Boreal ecotone? I think it's worth mentioning this term in the Introduction, before outlining the objectives.

L76-171: “2.1 Geographical characteristics”

It would facilitate the overall reading of your manuscript if you summarized, as much as possible, the geographical description provided in your article, particularly the profusion of geographical names. Personally, I enjoyed your description of that vast territory, but in my opinion, it may be excessive for an article of this type. Of course, it's not essential, but perhaps with appropriate references, the text could be reduced and streamlined for the potential reader.

L135-137: “Syrtic clays are characterized by loess, brown-brown and gray-brown color. They are characterized by the presence of large calcareous gypsum nodules.”

In my opinion, the text needs more clarity.

• The term "syrtic" is not in common use and requires some kind of definition or bibliographic reference.
• Do you mean that "syrtic clays” are characteristics of loess deposits?
• “Brown-brown” could be replaced with "brown"
• I suggest “…large calcareous-gypseous nodules”

 

L183: “In Russia, there are different approaches to the classification of soil taxonomy.”

Allow me these suggestions:

• “In Russia, there are different approaches to soil classification”, or
• “…to soil taxonomy”

L188-189:

Would it be possible to add a table of equivalences between this new classification and WRB?

L218-223: Let me suggest a change for improve clarity:

“…solums of the same soil types, developed on loess and loess like substrata…”, may be “…solums of the same soil type which are developed on loess and…”

L220: “…shorter than solums of the same soil types…”

I suggest: "…shallower than solums of the same soil types…”

 

L221: “…as it was substituted by Uruzevskaya el al.”

You probably mean: “as indicated (or “established”; or “pointed out”…) by Uruzevskaya et al.”

L223: “The have well pronounced humus accumulation…”

You probably mean: “They have well pronounced…”

L225: Please, correct “agrilans”

L229:  I think the term "plakor" should be further defined, as it is not in universal use.

L239: “…, dry and carbonate…”

Probably you mean “…drier and carbonated…”

L239: “…in typical stipa”

Unless "stipa" is a common name in the region, the Latin name Stipa (in italics) would be more correct.

L250: “And if even the zonal full-profile soils of a region have specific features, it is clear that lithogenic soils will be even more specific.”

Just as a suggestion, I think the idea of ​​"full-profile soils" would be better understood as "deep-profile soils", in comparison to shallow-profile soils.

L255: Probably you mean “red colored and carbonated.”

L255-257: “Both of these features are lithogenically inherited, unlike the red-colored weathering crusts of, for example, the Mediterranean”.

I suggest a modification similar to this: “Both features are inherited by the soils developed on these rocks”.

I would also like to comment that perhaps the term "crust" could lead to think that the Mediterranean red soils are of the "lateritic" type. This type of soil develops in tropical, wet-season conditions. One of the most evolved Mediterranean soils are those traditionally called "terra-rossa" (commonly Chromic and Rhodic Luvisols), which, as you indicate, do not inherit their color from the parent material but rather undergo the rubification process.

L299: “…is often carbonated”.

L318: I have not been able to find an English term for “cheesert loams”

Is it a local or regional term?

L322: “…sodium content in the soil absorbing complex…”

Could this term be considered equivalent to "cation exchange complex"?

L328: “…preQuaternary…”

"Pre-Quaternary" is commonly used.

L330: “… slitized soils are confined to…”

Sorry, I couldn't find a coherent definition of "slitized." Is it possible to use another term?

L344: “Gypsums very rarely act as soil-forming rocks.”

I think it is necessary to specify the geographical context in which this material is rare, given that it may be common in other regions, for example, the Mediterranean basin.

On the other hand, I think the term "Gypsiferous rocks" is more appropriate than “Gypsums” in this case.

L373: “…more rarely of small-leaved or small-leaved forests.”

Please clarify this sentence.

L374: Please, add the second parentheses in “(Eutric Arenosol (Humic)”

L380: “…more pronounced humus accumulation and darker color of humus accumulation AY layer.”

I suggest here: “…more pronounced humus accumulation and darker color in the AY layer.”

L402: Sorry, I can’t find a coherent definition for the “typical shirt zonality”.

L430-431: “Solonchaks are soils with much higher intensity of salt accumulation than solonchaks.”

Please, clarify this sentence (Solonetz?)

L449: “…mezo depressions of relief, quite typical for regions…”

I think is more adequate “…meso-depressions, quite typical for regions…”

L459: “Zonal Retisols demonstrate high content of the carbon in the superficial …”

 I suggest here: “Zonal Retisols show high content of organic carbon in the superficial …”

L460: “The C/N ratio is narrow and indicates high degree of soil organic matter by nitrogen…”

I think this sentence may be simplified by: “The C/N ratio is low”.

L482: “Solonetz soil characterizes by more alkaline reaction in comparison with Chernozems…”

I suggest here: “Solonetz soil is characterized by…”

L485: Please, change by “adjacent”.

L494: Please, delete comma in “Soils, formed on sandy…”

L496: Please, change for: “Inter dune location is favorable for more intensive…”

L497: Please, correct: “This process in is essentially more pronounced…”

L504: Please, delete one of the “%%”

L504. Table 1: “4 b Chernozem Calacaric” by Calcaric

Taxa names as “Chernozem Luvic”, “Chernozem Typical”… and so on, probably may be changed for, coherency in English, by “Luvic Chernozem”, “Typical Chernozem”… etc.

L512: Please, correct by “Volga uplands”.

L521: “On the example of the Samara region the substantive-profile…”

I suggest change it by: “On the example of the Samara region, when the substantive-profile…”, for clarity.

 

Thank you.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Dear author:

Please review the length of sentences as much as possible. Shorter sentences would generally facilitate reading when the document is widely distributed.
Also, please review the use of local terminology and add universally used terms alongside it, as much as possible.

Thank you.

Author Response

Dear author:

I have read your manuscript with great interest, and first of all, I would like to congratulate you for addressing a topic that is unfortunately so scarce in current scientific literature: the genesis and distribution of soils. You will see that the revision I present here contains numerous suggestions; none of them address key aspects of the document, but they focus specifically on improving its readability and thus supporting its dissemination. Please read them in case they may be useful to you (I hope they may be) for that purpose.

Your work highlights the importance of lithology as a soil-forming factor, particularly in the generation of soil diversity. I believe this is of particular interest in territories where the bioclimatic factor has traditionally been considered of utmost importance, but I also believe it is of interest in territories where active erosion-deposition conditions favor soil rejuvenation.

I sincerely thank you for your effort in writing this manuscript and for the very interesting information and ideas contained therein.

Reply: thank you very much for your comment and suggestions, all of them has been taken into account, see replies below.

 L22: “…soil diffusion in space...”

Let me suggest changing it to "soil spatial distribution"

Reply: Thank you, done

L51-52: “In humid climates, the diversity of soil-forming rocks is realized to the maximum extent, while in arid climates it is of minimal importance”.

Regarding this reflection, I would like to make the following comment, which simply contains some nuances:

Undoubtedly, in arid climates, the role of lithology in soil taxon diversity may be of little relevance, due to the limited evolution of soils, that homogenizes soil taxa; however, a certain taxonomic diversity could be related with the presence of different salts in soil-forming rocks and thus in the corresponding soils, as they can hardly be leached (as you indicate in L435-440).

On the other hand, in humid and temperate climates, unaffected by glacial erosion and deposition, the role of lithology can also be obscured by intense leaching and weathering. This is largely applicable to Mediterranean soils, with wet winters and very dry summers. From my experience in temperate regions, the lithological factor is very relevant in soil taxon diversity, but in my opinion, this role is largely determined by the relief. Thus, in areas with predominantly steep slopes, dominant young soils are logically associated with erosion and the corresponding deposition, but these soils share the space with most stable surfaces where diverse taxa may be present. Some of these soils have evolved over long periods, even before the Holocene, since these surfaces remained completely ice-free.

All of the above is sufficiently explained in lines 52-55. For this reason, I believe the phrase in lines 51-52 should be put into context, since climatic conditions (humid-arid) would not be associated with maximum-minimum diversity of soil-forming rocks. In fact, the phrase can be misinterpreted, since the diversity of rock types at a given site bears no relation to the current climate.

 Reply: thank you, text is corrected.

L64: Please, correct to “Middle Volga”

Reply: Thank you, corrected

 

L71-74: “The objectives of this work were: (1) to study the diversity of soils formed on different soil-forming rocks of the region, (2) identify the most promising objects of special soil protection and (3) to analyze the role of biogenic factors in the formation of the regional ecotone of soil types.”

Objective 1) is perfectly clear, but in my opinion, 2) and 3) need clarification:

2) “…the most promising objects of special soil protection…”. Does the term “objects” refer to some specific soil taxa, as some Retisols?

3) What does the "regional ecotone" refer to? Boreal ecotone? I think it's worth mentioning this term in the Introduction, before outlining the objectives.

Reply: Thank you, corrected

L76-171: “2.1 Geographical characteristics”

It would facilitate the overall reading of your manuscript if you summarized, as much as possible, the geographical description provided in your article, particularly the profusion of geographical names. Personally, I enjoyed your description of that vast territory, but in my opinion, it may be excessive for an article of this type. Of course, it's not essential, but perhaps with appropriate references, the text could be reduced and streamlined for the potential reader.

Reply: In principle I agree with this comment, meanwhile, there is very little physiographic information on this region in English. Therefore, I would prefer to leave this summary of Russian-language sources in English.

L135-137: “Syrtic clays are characterized by loess, brown-brown and gray-brown color. They are characterized by the presence of large calcareous gypsum nodules.”

In my opinion, the text needs more clarity.

• The term "syrtic" is not in common use and requires some kind of definition or bibliographic reference.
• Do you mean that "syrtic clays” are characteristics of loess deposits?
• “Brown-brown” could be replaced with "brown"
• I suggest “…large calcareous-gypseous nodules”

Reply: thank you, corrected

L183: “In Russia, there are different approaches to the classification of soil taxonomy.”

Allow me these suggestions:

• “In Russia, there are different approaches to soil classification”, or
• “…to soil taxonomy”
• Reply – Thank you, improved.

L188-189:

Would it be possible to add a table of equivalences between this new classification and WRB?

Reply: we have managed some amendments to text.

L218-223: Let me suggest a change for improve clarity:

“…solums of the same soil types, developed on loess and loess like substrata…”, may be “…solums of the same soil type which are developed on loess and…”

Reply: Thank you so much, improved.

L220: “…shorter than solums of the same soil types…”

Reply: Thank you very much indeed, improved.

 

L221: “…as it was substituted by Uruzevskaya el al.”

You probably mean: “as indicated (or “established”; or “pointed out”…) by Uruzevskaya et al.”

Reply: Thank you, it has been improved.

L223: “The have well pronounced humus accumulation…”

You probably mean: “They have well pronounced…”

Reply: Thank you, improved is the last version.

L225: Please, correct “agrilans”

Reply: Thank you, improved.

L229:  I think the term "plakor" should be further defined, as it is not in universal use.

Reply: Thank you, corrected.

L239: “…, dry and carbonate…”

Probably you mean “…drier and carbonated…”

Reply: Thank you, corrected.

L239: “…in typical stipa”

Unless "stipa" is a common name in the region, the Latin name Stipa (in italics) would be more correct.

Reply: Thank you, corrected.

L250: “And if even the zonal full-profile soils of a region have specific features, it is clear that lithogenic soils will be even more specific.”

Just as a suggestion, I think the idea of ​​"full-profile soils" would be better understood as "deep-profile soils", in comparison to shallow-profile soils.

Reply: thank you, its really good idea to change it, done.

L255: Probably you mean “red colored and carbonated.”

Reply: thank you, considered and improved.

L255-257: “Both of these features are lithogenically inherited, unlike the red-colored weathering crusts of, for example, the Mediterranean”.

I suggest a modification similar to this: “Both features are inherited by the soils developed on these rocks”.

Reply: Thank you, text has been improved and amended.

 

I would also like to comment that perhaps the term "crust" could lead to think that the Mediterranean red soils are of the "lateritic" type. This type of soil develops in tropical, wet-season conditions. One of the most evolved Mediterranean soils are those traditionally called "terra-rossa" (commonly Chromic and Rhodic Luvisols), which, as you indicate, do not inherit their color from the parent material but rather undergo the rubification process.

Reply: thank you, corrected.

L299: “…is often carbonated”.

Reply Thank you, corrected.

L318: I have not been able to find an English term for “cheesert loams”

Is it a local or regional term?

Reply: mistake is corrected

L322: “…sodium content in the soil absorbing complex…”

Could this term be considered equivalent to "cation exchange complex"?

Reply: thank you, corrected.

L328: “…preQuaternary…”

Reply: thank you, corrected

"Pre-Quaternary" is commonly used.

L330: “… slitized soils are confined to…”

Sorry, I couldn't find a coherent definition of "slitized." Is it possible to use another term?

Reply: corrected

L344: “Gypsums very rarely act as soil-forming rocks.”

I think it is necessary to specify the geographical context in which this material is rare, given that it may be common in other regions, for example, the Mediterranean basin.

On the other hand, I think the term "Gypsiferous rocks" is more appropriate than “Gypsums” in this case.

Reply: thank you, corrected.

L373: “…more rarely of small-leaved or small-leaved forests.”

Please clarify this sentence.

Reply: thank you, clarified.

L374: Please, add the second parentheses in “(Eutric Arenosol (Humic)”

Reply: thank you, corrected.

L380: “…more pronounced humus accumulation and darker color of humus accumulation AY layer.”

I suggest here: “…more pronounced humus accumulation and darker color in the AY layer.”

Reply: thank you, corrected.

L402: Sorry, I can’t find a coherent definition for the “typical shirt zonality”

Reply: thank you, corrected

L430-431: “Solonchaks are soils with much higher intensity of salt accumulation than solonchaks.”

Please, clarify this sentence (Solonetz?)

Reply: thank you, corrected

L449: “…mezo depressions of relief, quite typical for regions…”

I think is more adequate “…meso-depressions, quite typical for regions…”

Reply: corrected

L459: “Zonal Retisols demonstrate high content of the carbon in the superficial …”

 I suggest here: “Zonal Retisols show high content of organic carbon in the superficial …”

Reply: corrected.

L460: “The C/N ratio is narrow and indicates high degree of soil organic matter by nitrogen…”

I think this sentence may be simplified by: “The C/N ratio is low”.

Reply: thank you, corrected

L482: “Solonetz soil characterizes by more alkaline reaction in comparison with Chernozems…”

I suggest here: “Solonetz soil is characterized by…”

Reply: thank you, corrected.

L485: Please, change by “adjacent”.

Reply: corrected

L494: Please, delete comma in “Soils, formed on sandy…”

Reply: corrected

L496: Please, change for: “Inter dune location is favorable for more intensive…”

Reply: corrected

L497: Please, correct: “This process in is essentially more pronounced…”

Reply: corrected

L504: Please, delete one of the “%%”

Reply: done, thank you so much.

L504. Table 1: “4 b Chernozem Calacaric” by Calcaric

Reply: Thank you, corrected.

Taxa names as “Chernozem Luvic”, “Chernozem Typical”… and so on, probably may be changed for, coherency in English, by “Luvic Chernozem”, “Typical Chernozem”… etc.

Thank you, corrected. Regards.

L512: Please, correct by “Volga uplands”.

Thank you, corrected.

L521: “On the example of the Samara region the substantive-profile…”

I suggest change it by: “On the example of the Samara region, when the substantive-profile…”, for clarity.

Reply: Thank you, its really great suggestion, applied to the text, thank you.

 

Thank you.

Dear author:

Please review the length of sentences as much as possible. Shorter sentences would generally facilitate reading when the document is widely distributed.
Also, please review the use of local terminology and add universally used terms alongside it, as much as possible.

Thank you, applied to all the text in terms of current possibilities.