The first studies in the field of soil physics, physical chemistry and biophysics at the Agrophysical Research Institute were begun in 1934, when the sectors of soil biophysics and soil physics were created as parts of its structure.

B.P. Alexandrov, N.F. Bondarenko, P.V. Vershinin, K.K. Zhuchenkov, V.G. Karmanov, F.E. Kolyasev, M.A. Kaganov, A.V. Kurtener, I.A. Lytaev, M.K. Melnikova, S.V. Nerpin, O.G. Usyarov, V.M. Prokhorov, I.B. Revut, A.F. Chudnovsky have made a great contribution to the theory and development of methods for instrumental studies of the physical, physico-chemical, and thermal properties of soils. The results of research have been published in the fundamental monographs: "Fundamentals of Agrophysics" (1958), "Soil Physics" (1967), "Soil Thermal Physics" (1976).

N.P. Poyasov, N.A. Sokolova, L.N. Abrosimova and M.P. Bankin have contributed to a better understanding of the biological state and gas regime of the soils.

A.M. Globus, B.N. Michurin, V.G. Onishenko, and V.S. Zuev have made a great contribution to the theory and development of soil hydrophysical methods. The results of research have been published in the monographs: “Experimental Hydrophysics of Soils” (1967), “Energy of Soil Water” (1975), “Physics of Non-Isothermal Subsoil Moisture Exchange” (1983), “Soil Hydrophysical Support for Mathematical Agroecological Models” (1987).

A.V. Sudakov, B.I. Potapov, I.A. Romanov, V.A. Kudryashov and A.A. Okhitin have contributed to the improvement of our knowledge on physico-mechanical and structural properties of the soils.