Geosystem approach for assessment of soil erosion in Priol’khonie steppe (Siberia)

Abstract

This research follows traditions of landscape science developed in Russia since the early XXth century which is considered the complexity of landscapes with their abiotic and biotic characteristics. As a study area, we choose Piol’khon plateau where the impact on the landscapes has significantly increased. The specific climate and soil conditions lead to soil erosion processes (downwash, rainwash and linear erosion) in the study area. On the rate of water erosion, are influenced follow factors: a stage of degradation (combination of species composition and trampling characteristics), steepness of slope, above-ground herbaceous phytomass, and amount of fine sand in the upper soil horizon. Most sensitive geosystems types to erosion processes were specificated.