Soil Degradation Factor Evaluation on the Example of Agricultural Lands in Kuibyshevsky District Rostov Region

Abstract

Purpose: to assess soil degradation factor on the example of agricultural lands of Rassvet LLC, Kuibyshevskiy district, Rostov region, by agrochemical soil indicators. Materials and methods. The object of the study was the soils of Rassvet LLC of Kuiby-shevskiy district Rostov region, which can be classified as typical for the region, the Priazovskaya natural and agricultural zone. The targeted survey on three types of soil degradation was conducted. The following agrochemical indicators were determined in the selected composite and point samples: the content of mobile forms of phosphorus and potassium, the content of organic matter. The soil degradation factor was assessed by comparing the actual state with the “reference” one. Results: based on the results of the research, the humus, phosphorus, potassium content cartograms were built, and differentiated cartograms were built using ArcGIS software, which allow developing recommendations for differentiated fertilization. Conclusions. In fact, 50 % of soils in the study area have a low humus content in accordance with the accepted classification, but at the same time, they are classified as slightly degraded in accordance with the degradation factor calculation on average on the farm. According to the content of exchangeable potassium and mobile phosphorus, the soils are not degraded. Attention is drawn to the discrepancies in the determining degradation factors in different sources and radically different approaches. Data interpretation on the fertility indicator is difficult due to the fact that regional standards differ in different sources. Thus, studies in the field of soil degradation are of direct practical importance and should be directed primarily to the development of methods for rational land use and soil protection and regulatory documents in the field of land degradation that define a unified approach.