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Abstract
The article contains a brief history of the development of the soil classification scheme of the Republic of Belarus. It comprises the description of the most widely-used (acknowledged) genetic classification of soils, characteristics of basic taxonomic units (type, subtype, sort, kind, and variation), and characteristics of the 13 main types of Belarusian soils. The map of the soil cover of Belarus and the morphological and genetic characteristics of typical and unique soil varieties are presented. The main problems of the national soil classification and its correlation with the international WRB system are shown.

Abstract
The teaching of soil classification in the universities of Russia is being discussed as a comparatively new experience in the education of environmental science students. The lecture course (24–30 academic hours) changes in response to the inevitable changes in soil classification systems. In the introduction, the objectives and structure of soil classifications are outlined, and then a brief overview of the most well-known national systems is given, which is also important for understanding the difficulties, origin and problems of the International WRB system. The latter is the central point of the lecture course: its principles are explained, the main diagnostic features of Reference Soil Groups are communicated, and students are trained to use system basing on the descriptions of soil profiles and analytical data relating to them. As a result, students give WRB names to soils either by correlating with a name from the national system, which is familiar to them, or by looking at soil profile photos; in both cases morphological and analytical data are clarified by the teacher. Chernozem is used as an example for training. In the conclusion, the reasons to know soil classifications are specified, and they are differentiated for soil scientists, geochemists and geographers.

Abstract
The paper addresses issues related to the application of the General Theory of Classification in the development of a universal soil classification system. The requirements for such a system, a comparison of different approaches to its development, and obstacles on the way to it are outlined. Additionally, the problem of the definition of soils and the importance of distinguishing between differentiating and diagnostic criteria are discussed. It is shown that, from the perspective of the General Theory of Classification, a universal soil classification system should be natural, genetic, "fundamental-and-specific", and hierarchical. It is concluded that the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) does not meet these requirements and therefore cannot be considered as universal. Ways of addressing the problems of a universal soil classification system are suggested.

Since the Shipibo began cash cropping rice, their land use patterns have changed with proportionately less utilization of soft sandy soils, which are best for staple Musa production, and greater use of harder clayey soils, which are more suitable for rice and root crops. Statistical analysis of soil samples reveals the physical‐chemical basis for Shipibo soil categories and indicates the effect ofswidden agriculture on levels of important soil characteristics. While cultural principles for planting have summarized these important ecological relationships in the past, they are often violated with increasing rice production. Examination of time allocation and food consumption data shows that changes in Shipibo land use patterns are associated with higher labor costs during brief periods of the agricultural cycle and greater dependence on domesticated animal foods.

U posljednje vrijeme u Hrvatskoj sve se vise istražuju tla urbanih, industrijskih i vojnih prostora. S obzirom da urbani stanovnici provode znatan dio vremena na tim tlima, njihove značajke postale su iznimno bitne pa ih je nužno poznavati i uvažavati, naročito s aspekta potencijalnog onečišćenja i mogućeg štetnog utjecaja na zdravlje ljudi i životinja. Pri tome se postavlja pitanje njihove klasifikacije, s obzirom da se do nedavno u postojećim klasifikacijskim sustavima Republike Hrvatske takvim tlima nije pridavala značajnija pozornost. Cilj ovog rada je predložiti način razvrstavanja tala u urbanim, industrijskim i vojnim prostorima, uvažavajući pri tome postojeću strukturu klasifikacije tala Hrvatske (Husnjak, 2014.). Za izradu ovoga rada korišteni su postojeći podaci istraživanja tala u urbanim, industrijskim i vojnim prostorima Republike Hrvatske, temeljem čaga su utvrđene značajke tih tala. Sva tla unutar navedenih prostora, predlaže se razvrstati u skupinu prirodnih, antropogenih ili tehnogenih i tehničkih antropogenih tala. Prirodna tla nastala su u skladu s pedogenetskim čimbenicima i procesima, dok su antropogena tla meliorirana prirodna tla isključivo u funkciji poljoprivredne proizvodnje. Ova tla bi trebalo razvrstavati prema spomenutoj klasifikaciji tala Hrvatske. Tehnogena i tehnička antropogena tla su novonastala tla isključivo zbog intenzivne tehnološke i tehničke djelatnosti čovjeka izvan poljoprivrede. Predlaže ih se razvrstati u red terestričkih tala, odnosno u razred tehnogenih ili u razred tehničkih tala. U razred tehnogenih tala, pripadaju uz tla deponija i tla flotacijskih materijala, jos dva nova tipa tla: tlo industrijskog kompleksa i tlo vojnog kompleksa. Spomenuta tla nerijetko cine tzv. ,,Brownfield" zemljišta. U razred tehnickih tala predlaze se uvrstiti pet novih tipova tala: tlo parka, tlo igrališta, tlo zona za rekreaciju, tlo stambenog okoliša i tlo prometnog okoliša. Za navedene tipove tala daju se detaljni i jasni kriteriji za njihovu podjelu na nize pedosistematske jedinice. ; In recent years, soils of urban industrial and military areas have been increasingly researched in Croatia. Given that urban residents spend a considerable amount of time on these soils, soil characteristics have become extremely important. It is essential to know and appreciate those soils, especially in terms of potential contamination and possible harmful effects on human and animal health. This raises the question of those soils classification considering that, until recently, such soils have not received much attention in the existing Croatian soil classification systems. The aim of this paper is to propose a method of soil classification in urban, industrial and military areas, respecting the existing structure of soil classification of Croatia (Husnjak, 2014). For the preparation of this paper, the existing soil survey data form urban areas, industrial and military complexes were used, on the basis of which the properties of these soils were determined. All soils within urban, industrial and military areas are suggested to be classified as natural or anthropogenic or technological and technical anthropogenic soils. Natural soils were formed according to pedogenetic factors and processes, while anthropogenic soils are meliorated natural soils only for the purpose of agricultural production. This soils are proposed to be classified according to the existing Croatian soil classification. Technological and technical soils are newly formed soils solely due to the intensive human activity outside of agriculture. It is proposed to classify those soils in the order of terrestrial soils, and in the classes of technogenic or technical soils. Also, in the class of technogenic soils, it is proposed to include two new soil types in addition to landfill and flotation materials: the soil of industrial complexes and the soil of military complexes. The mentioned soils often form so-called Brownfield land. Lastly, five new soil types are proposed to be included in the class of technical soils: park soils, playground soils, soils of recreation zone, residential environment soils and traffic environment soils. For these soil types, detailed and clear criteria are proposed for the separation into lower pedosystematic units.

Abstract
Soil classification systems provide a common language for scientific communication, represent the diversity of soils and create a scientific basis for soil management, monitoring and conservation. There are several soil classifications currently in use in Russia. Teaching soil systematics to students at the Faculty of Soil Science of the LMSU has developed over the years to meet specific requirements at different stages of education. Students learn to use and correlate different classification systems. Bachelor's students study classifications to enable professional communication and describing soil diversity. Master's students further learn the key principles of soil formation, historical and current trends in the development of soil science and the international terminology of soil science. Studying different aspects of the theory and practice of soil classification at different stages of education gives our students a solid base for systematising their knowledge and acquiring skills in scientific research.