SOIL AND ECOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF AGRO-CHERNOZEMS OF SIBERIA

Abstract

The comparative assessment of natural potential of agro-chernozems of Siberia in order to plan rational land use, protection of soils and soil cover is carried out. The score was determined by soil-ecological index (SEI). SEI calculation was carried out on climatic, agrochemical and soil parameters. At calculating the climate index, the sum of temperatures above 100°С and precipitation was taken into account; the agrochemical index was calculated by the content of humus, mobile forms of phosphorus and potassium, the reaction of the medium and the soil index – by alkalinity, salinity, erosion, granulometric composition of soils. According to the data of the Landsat satellite and the QGIS software, a map of the distribution of chernozems in the Siberian region was created. Interactive map is comparable to the relief map of the study area, cadastral, geological and other maps. The most valuable soils for agricultural use are formed in the Krasnoyarsk and Altai Krai, where up to 50% of the total chernozem area of the Siberian Federal district (SFD) is concentrated. SEI of agro-chernozems of Siberia decreases in a number: Krasnoyarsk Krai – Altai Krai – Irkutsk region – Omsk region – the Republic of Tuva. The development of erosion and deflation to an average degree reduces the SEI value by 14-36%. The calculated SEI values of agro-chernozems can be used to determine their resource potential, cadastral and market assessment, development of recommendations for land transformation. In modern conditions, the unused chernozems are considered as unrecorded reserve for expansion of arable land, most balanced, anthropogenic, environmental resource.