THE LAND DESERTAFICATION PROBLEM IN SEMIDESERTIC AND DRY STEPPE ZONES IN CHECHEN REPUBLIC

Abstract

In the sand cultivation requires a special system of farming with a complex of measures for plant protection from deflation (strip sowing, nonmoldboard tillage system with crop residues, soil protecting crop rotation, coulisses with tall-stalked plants and the system of the forest shelter belt), application of the fertilizers, ameliorants (clays), selection of crops and varieties, which ensuring high yields in relatively poor soils, rational use of agricultural machines and implements, combining the performance of several field operations in a single pass technique, laying -out of the individual plots for tractor driving located on the internal land masses. In the article, in the framework of the state order for the development of adaptive-landscape farming systems for the dry steppe zone of the Chechen Republic, the results of studies on agro-ecological assessment of climatic conditions of the administrative areas of semi-desert and dry steppe zones of the region, including the problem of desertification. In this regard, the above-mentioned factors contributing to the loss of fertile layer of soil, disruption of their structural properties, mechanical composition. On the basis of these results, the authors propose a complex of agrotechnical and reclamation measures for prevention of desertification in sandy soils of semi-desert and dry steppe zones of the Chechen Republic. The most of sandy soil lands are not protected by forest belts and therefore crop cultivation is carried out by strip cropping. Strips width in dry steppe should be 98.43…164.04 ft and semidesert zone 49.21…98.43 ft. The strips are located vertical to prevailing winds which cause the soil erosion. On the semidesert zone should be six-fields crop rotation: 1,2,3,4 – perennial grass, 5 – melons and grounds, 6 – winter rye and sainfoin for hay.