SCIENTIFIC HERITAGE OF V.R. WILLIAMS AND CURRENT ISSUES OF AGRONOMICAL PEDOLOGY
This article reviews the influence of the scientific heritage of V.R. Williams on the development of agronomical pedolody. This article also provides the analysis of some of his erroneous theoretical propositions. This paper focuses on the priorities for the scientific substantiation of agriculture, such as GIS development for the agricultural land evaluation and landscape designing, scientific basis for no-tillage, maintaining proper soil organic matter content and soil structure as well as soil biota, etc. Scientific heritage of Williams became the foundation and motivation for establishing of a number of scientific schools in soil and grassland sciences and agronomy and in general significantly influenced further development of agricultural science. A number of statements in his theory were based on assumptions which later were not verified experimentally. Some of them related to substantiation of ley farming system and its further imposing in the framework of confabulated nature modification program (1948-1963) actually were harmful. Despite the criticism and convincing arguments delivered by D.N. Pryanishnikov, N.M. Tulaikov and some other qualified scientists, the government favored Williams’ viewpoint. The same example of absolute authority and science cooperation repeated in the Khrushchev era. Such lessons of the past remain relevant to this day. Overcoming contradictions arable farming tends to be more ecological and biological. The core problems of soil and agronomic background of farming are the following - GIS development for agronomic evaluation and designing of agrolandscapes, substantiation of minimum tillage, direct seeding and mulching, regulation of organic matter balance in the soil, its biogenic and biological activity. Exploration of soil structure acquires particular importance because it was significantly retarded after the criticism expressed by V.R. Williams in 60-s.