Preserving the fertility of Russian chernozems. Status, trends, forecast

Abstract

As a result of our agrolandscape-ecological zoning performed for all natural and economic regions of Russia with the presence of steppe ecosystems with chernozem soils, the following patterns were revealed: unbalanced agriculture, unbalanced agricultural landscapes, unbalanced structure of sown areas and crop rotations (significant predominance of economically attractive crops); obtaining crop yields due to natural fertility of Russian chernozems. The high ploughing of the Russian Chernozem region and the insufficient number of tread elements leads to the creation of foci of erosion, deflation and desiccation. Open, unprotected or poorly protected by vegetation the surface of plowed soil, clean vapors, and row crops is significantly more exposed to the development of erosion and deflation processes. The long-term arable use of the chernozem soils of the steppe ecosystems of Russia without due attention to the reproduction of their fertility contributed to their degradation, erosion, dehumification, destruction of the structure and compaction. At present, they are in urgent need of rational use of natural resources and protection. Based on the analysis of the state and identified trends in nature management in forest-steppe and steppe landscapes, a forecast for the preservation of the fertility of Russian Chernozems is developed.