Diagnostic Indicators for Assessing Irrigated Arable Land and Pastures Degradation

Abstract

Purpose: determination of diagnostic elements and indicative figures characterizing the degradation processes development in various types of soils of irrigated arable land and pastures. Materials and methods. Reference data and databases collected by various research institutes of our country, normative and methodological documents adopted in the country, as well as publications of domestic and foreign authors served as materials for the study. Complex and retrospective analysis, synthesis and deduction were used as methods. Discussion. The classification of soils by type and level of degradation makes sense in the context of determining the need for measures to preserve and restore soil fertility. Taking into account the specificity and diversity of types and kinds of such an object of assessment as soil, it is necessary to carefully consider the correctness of each indicative factor gradation. An example is: when analyzing the methods for assessing soils by the degree of alkalinity, it was noted that the level gradations vary depending on the type of soil. The table with main diagnostic indicators for assessing the degradation degree of irrigated arable land and pastures is presented in the paper. The form of the table was adopted on the basis of existing regulatory and methodological documents with amendments and additions in the indicators. Conclusions. Based on the analysis, the parameters for assessing the degree of degradation of agricultural land are formed into three groups, based on the order of their discovery: primary (estimated), basic, additional. The main diagnostic indicators and their gradations which make it possible to establish the level, type and evaluate the reasons of soil degradation of agricultural lands with acceptable reliability are identified.