He introduced the idea that other variables could explain the geographical variations in soil type besides geological factors (parent material), such as climatic and topographic factors, and by the duration of pedogenesis (soil formation).

He arrived at his theory after extensive field studies on Russian soils in 1883.

As a result of Dokuchaev's research, many Russian terms became part of the international soil science vocabulary (for example, chernozem, podsol, gley, solonets).

A crater on Mars is named after him, and the Dokuchaev Award, an equivalent of the Nobel Prize in the field of Soil Science, was instituted by the International Union of Soil Sciences in his honor.

Dokuchaev published in 1869-1901: 285 works, including 61 books and 4 maps.