Maslova Irina Yakovlevna as a merited agrochemist of the Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry, SB RAS

Abstract

The article describes professional biography of a remarkable researcher Doctor of Biological Sciences Maslova Irina Yakovlevna, who as an excellent agrochemist and soil scientist had worked in the Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry of the Siberian Branch of the (USSR) Russian Academy of Sciences since its establishment in 1968 until recently. In 1960 Maslova I. Ya. graduated from the Moscow Timiryazev’s Agricultural Academy as a specialist in soil science and agrochemistry and for several years afterwards studied soils in the Barabinsk lowland, the Kulunda steppe and northern forest-steppe zone in the Novosibirsk region in West Siberia. In 1963 Maslova I.Ya. became a post-graduate student in the Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry of the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences and started her own research of the agrochemical properties of leached chernozems in the near-Ob River area with a  special focus on soil sulfur. Notably, in 1972-1984 Maslova I.Ya. participated in the State Inter-agency research program on ultra-potassium alumosilicate ores from the Synnyr mining site in the Central Siberia, studying in detail their potential use as a chlorine-free potassium fertilizer. Since 1976 Maslova’s research had been focused mainly on soil sulfur as during her studies in agroecosystems on podzolised chernozems and grey forest soils she found that under optimum NPK supply spring wheat did not reach expected yields even under favourable weather conditions due to, as further research showed, sulfur  limitation. Since then Maslova became especially interested in this nutrient, mostly In 1983-1984 Maslova I.Ya., as a member of the joint expedition team studied meadow soils in the floodplain of the Orkhon River in Mongolia, actively teaching and advising Mongol specialists in Agrochemistry and soil science. In 1992 Maslova I.Ya. successfully proved her Doctoral thesis where she substantiated that spring wheat sulfur requirements depend on the rate of nitrogen supply, as additional nitrogen input results in available sulfur deficit, at first manifested in the grain quality, and then in the total yield. Maslova I.Ya. also concluded that soils of West Siberia are very diverse in relation to sulfur content, its speciation, profile distribution and plant availability, especially in the top soil horizons where sulfur can be found mostly in non-available form. To conclude, I. Ya. Maslova’s career as a steadfast, consistent and well focused one provides a perfect pattern for contemplation by young researchers.