Current state of the soil cover of the Don River delta and coastal zone under the conditions of intensified anthropogenic activity

Abstract

The soil cover of the Don River delta is characterized by heterogeneity and complexity due to local differences in the intensity of alluvial sedimentation and hydrological regimes and to diverse forms of microrelief. Currently, there is an increase in anthropogenic load on the delta soils. Based on long-term field research using GIS technologies, three key ecological and geographical areas of soil formation in the northern, central, and southern parts of the delta were identified. In the ecological and geographical distribution of soilscapes in the Don River delta, five main types of anthropogenically transformed soil complexes with different degrees of degradation were according to the degree of degradation. These complexes were formed during the development of the predominant soil-forming processes-potable, alluvial, sod and gley formation under the influence of anthropogenic impact.