Papish I. Tne Chernosems on the loess rocks of the Volyn-Podillia and Precarpathion province.

The dissertation substantiates the theoretical and methodological principles of the process-genetic approach to the study of chernozems on loess rocks at the regional level. A new scheme of classification and diagnostics of chernozems based on substantive-genetic principles with distinct parameterization of the properties of different soil horizons types has been suggested. Soil-geographical zoning of the Volyn-Podillia and Precarpathian territory was conducted on the basis of structural analysis of the soil cover and redistribution of chernozems in it. The peculiarities of genesis of various chernozem types in natural and natural-anthropogenic landscapes are identified. The signs of genetic memory of chernozems about the Middle Holocene anthropization of Volyn-Podillia landscapes are revealed. Also, the regularities of changes in the properties of chernozems within facies are investigated. The chemical-mineralogical composition of silt fractions of different chernozem types was identified applying the method of X-ray diffractometry of silt fractions and the ratio of the main mineral phases of the soil profile was determined. Moreover, the processes of eluvial (relative) hydrosludization of the profile and the mechanism of formation of clay-differentiated chernozems are investigated. The data on the gross chemical composition of silt do not confirm the process of podzolization of chernozems on carbonate loess rocks. It was beneficial for the research to determine the parameters and values of the indicators that reflect the nature and direction of development of various elementary soil processes in the chernozems of the Wet Atlantic Facies. In addition, the origin of powdery silica powder SiO2 and the processes of its formation are examined. To conclude, the significant result of the research is the detailed description and analysis of the peculiarities of granulometric, aggregate, salt, carbonate, humus, chemical-mineralogical and morphological profile formation of various chernozem types.