About the similarity of background components of the soil cover in the southern forest-steppe zone of the central Russian upland with respect to their physical properties

The similarity and differences between representative profiles of typical a nd leached chernozems with respect to their physical properties (the conten t of physical clay (<0.01 mm), clay, and sand particles; soil compactness; and the content of water-stable aggregates) and the content and reserves of humus are analyzed. The comparison between these subtypes of chernozems is performed in two variants: (a) with regard to their position in a particul ar soil combination and (b) irrespectively of the place of these soils in t he soil cover. The properties of individual soil horizons are also compared . The major reasons of spatial variability in soil physical properties are revealed.