Comprehensive assessment of degradation and methods of phytomelioration of low-yielding soils of the Volga region Rybashlykova L. P.* Federal Research Centre of Agroecology, Amelioration and Protective Afforestation of Russian Academy of Sciences, 400062, Volgograd, Russia *(e-mail: rybashlykova-l@vfanc.ru)
Online published on 25 December, 2023. Abstract In the Volgograd Region, more than 3.9 million hectares of agricultural land, including 2.1 million hectares of arable land (36%), and 1.8 million hectares of hayfields and pastures (64%), are subject to degradation and desertification to one degree or another. The article presents the results of a survey of the Trans-Volga region, by the percentage ratio of areas of low-yielding soils subject to degrading factors and calculations of a complex indicator of soil Dp. It was found that the low-productive lands of the Bykovsky district are subject to a moderate level of degradation (Dp = 0.94). An increased level of soil degradation was noted in the Mykolaiv and Staropoltavsky districts with a Dp equal to 0.91 and 0.89. A high level of degradation was detected in the Leninsky, Pallasovsky and Sredneakhtubinsky districts with Dp equal to 0.87, 0.86 and 0.83, respectively. In areas with a moderate level of degradation, a set of measures with superficial improvement is proposed. With an increased and high level of degradation, it is proposed to use root and surface improvement with the use of drought-resistant and halophytic vegetation. The results of calculations of the complex, indicator of the degree of degradation of low-yielding lands of the Volga region and the proposed methods of phytomelioration are the basis for making tactical decisions to reduce the impact of degradation factors on the soil. Top Keywords Low-productive lands, Methods of phytomelioration, Pastures, Soil degradation. Top |