The article considers the results of leached chernozems and yellow soil research in Central Russia and in the South of Central China. The research has demonstrated that organic matter has an increased sorption capacity for heavy metals (HM), including lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), which are hazardous environmental pollutants. Studies conducted on chernozems demonstrate features of HM migration along a soil profile. Thus, the total content of elements accumulates in the upper humus horizon,

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... down the profile it gradually decreases, following a decrease in an amount of organic matter. In a soil-forming rock an accumulation of metals is again noted due to the alkaline reaction of soil solution and silt fraction, which is enriched in soil-forming rocks. A significant increase in elements content in soils of arable land (farmland soils) was revealed in comparison with a fallow territory and a forest belt. This phenomenon explains by an additional supply of HMs as an admixture of mineral fertilizers applied on plowed chernozems. In addition, HMs are also appear as a result of agricultural machinery operations during flammable fuel combustion. The ability of organic matter to increased sorption of HMs can be used to restore heavily polluted areas. Farmland soils of Sichuan province were studied as a model experiment. Keywords: CHERNOZEMS, YELLOW SOIL, HEAVY METALS, LEAD, CADMIUM, TOTAL CONTENT, EXCHANGE COMPOUNDS, VORONEZH OBLAST, SICHUAN PROVINCE