Vasily Robertovich Williams is a well-known Russian scientist, soil researcher, grassland ecologist, and agronomist who laid the foundations of the scientifically organized breeding in Russia. Williams is considered to be one of the founders of agricultural soil science; he is rightly called the progenitor of the advanced farming culture.
Vasily Williams created classical research works in soil science and agriculture, which, along with other Russian scientists' works, marked the beginning of soil science as a new discipline.
Williams justified the leading role of biological factors in soil formation, created the doctrine stating that the biological interchange of the matter is the basis of soil development, came up with the idea of the joint development of inorganic and organic nature, as well as developed and justified the ley farming system, St. Petersburg State Agrarian University writes.
For more than half a century, Vasily Robertovich Williams' research activity was associated with Timiryazev Academy (currently, Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy). The scientist headed the famous university twice – in 1907-1908 and 1922-1925. In 1934, V. R. Williams Soil and Agronomy Museum was founded. It treasures one of the world's largest soil collections. Near the main building of Timiryazev Academy, there is a monument to the scientist erected by architect I. A. Frantsuz and sculptor S. O. Makhtin.
The article is based on open sources
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