The publication of this Handbook was supported by the Russian Federation

Russia (E.I. Pankova). Salt-affected soils are found in 42 out of  89 constituent entities of  the 
Russian Federation. According to the state land registry (cadaster), saline and saline- alkaline soils 

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Annex A.Classifications, assessment criteria and distribution of salt-affected soils 
occupy total areas of  16.3 and over 23 million hectares, i.e., 9% and 12.5% of  agricultural lands 
in Russia, respectively. Therefore, altogether salt-affected soils constitute about 21% of  agricultural 
lands in Russia [8].
Salt-affected soils are particularly widespread in the south of  Russia – in semidesert, dry steppe, 
steppe and forest-steppe zones. In some regions salt-affected soils occupy up to 30% of  the arable 
land area, e.g., in the Astrakhan Region, Republic of  Kalmykia, Republic of  Dagestan, Novosibirsk 
Region, etc. Hence, the use and management of  salt-affected soils are serious challenges within the 
southern parts of  Russia.
In the south of  the European part of  Russia, salt-affected soils are represented mostly by Solonetz 
and associated varieties with chloride and sulphate types of  salinity and often with a high alkalinity in 
the solonetzic B and saline C horizons. The south of  West Siberia is characterized by the prevalence 
of  sodic soils and south-eastern Siberia has local areas of  saline soils, usually, within depressions 
and river valleys. Salt-affected soils are particularly typical in irrigated areas, which have a high risk 
of  secondary salinization. In consequence, the use and management of  salt-affected soils are highly 
significant challenges in the south of  the European and West Siberian parts of  Russia.