Sand Massifs Research Articles

Геоинформационная оценка агроландшафтов (на примере тестового полигона «Перекрестное» Состинского ландшафтного района Сарпинской низменности)

The use of geoinformation technologies and remote survey data for assessing, mapping the state and forest-reclamation arrangement of agricultural landscapes is a modern research method that allows analyzing spatial data remotely and interpreting them into analytical maps. To study the “Cross” polygon, laid out on the territory of the Sostinsky landscape area of the Sarpin Lowland in 2015, a space map was compiled based on an ultra-high resolution satellite image of the Wold View 3 satellite. The geomorphological characteristics of the test site were constructed as a result of analysis based on the digital terrain model SRTM 3. The use of geoinformation technologies and satellite images for the analysis of agricultural landscapes at the test site allowed to identify the structure and characteristics of agricultural land. As a result of the research, it was found that the soil at the landfill is represented by an array of salt marshes with salt marshes (95% of the landfill area) and sand massifs (5%). The analysis of changes in arable areas showed the cessation of economic use of agricultural land until 2018 and the resumption of field work on a small part of the test site in the period 2018–2019. The materials obtained during the decoding and mapping of agricultural landscapes of the Sarpinsk lowland can be used to form an ecological framework of sustainable landscapes, as well as extrapolated to analog landscapes.

Water Regime Types in Sand Massifs of the Don River Basin

Water Regime Types in Sand Massifs of the Don River Basin

Диагностика состояния почвенного покрова государственного природного заказника «Цимлянский» и процессов эрозии песков

A study of the composition of the soil cover of the territory of the state nature reserve "Tsimlyansky" was conducted in order to track the state of the ecosystem by the main processes of soil formation and indicators of the state of vegetation cover: humus accumulation, the formation of a differentiated profile, projective coverage and the presence of loose sands. The field stage of the study was carried out with the laying of soil sections on sites reflecting the main forms of meso- and microrelief. Samples from each genetic horizon were selected in soil sections for laboratory study of granulometric composition, humus content, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content. According to remote sensing data, an assessment of the depth of groundwater occurrence was carried out, a digital relief model and a surface runoff model were built to track probable zones of water erosion of sands. According to the multispectral survey by SWIR-NIR-RED channel synthesis, the areas of loose and loosely anchored sands during the growing season were estimated, the danger of deflationary destruction of the sand massif was estimated. Based on the data obtained, maps of groundwater occurrence, surface runoff and loose sands are constructed. The results of the conducted studies allow us to conclude that the level of resistance to erosion processes is safe for the ecosystem, however, the safety margin of the measures carried out decades ago is approaching a dangerous level, which requires the planting of new protective forests and shrubs to restore the most effective sand retention system. Keywords: GIS, REMOTE SENSING, TSIMLYANSKY NATURE RESERVE, VEGETATION COVER, SOILS, SOIL COVER, SAND MASSIFS

Лесопригодность экотопов Волго-Ахтубинской поймы для культур сосны

In the south of European Russia, the largest sand massifs are found in the zone of dry steppes and semi-deserts. Effective utilization of such lands requires creation of protective forest planting of drought-resistant coniferous species like Scots pine and Crimean pine. The productivity and longevity of such stands vary widely over the territory and depends on the presence of additional to atmospheric precipitation water supply and the root layer mineral supply. In this regard, sand massifs of steppificated river valleys composed of multiphase or single-phase polymineral rocks are of particular interest for afforestation. One of the most important objects of afforestation is the Northern (within the Volgograd region) highest and most drained part of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain. Volga River damming by the Volga Hydroelectric Station (Volga GES) led to a restructuring of surface and ground water regimes, formation of new conditions of water and mineral nutrition and changes in other important factors of forest ecosystems in the area. The research aims at developing a classification of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain ecotopes by water-mineral nutrition conditions, cultivation, expected productivity and longevity of pine plantings. We studied relationships of growth parameters of Pinus silvestris L. stands with soil-ground and hydrological conditions in different ecotopes of the large hilly and transitional floodplains after the Volga River damming by the Volga GES. Dynamics patterns of this relationship were revealed. It was found that in the northern part of the Volga-Akhtuba valley (approximately up to the Kapustin Yar – Kamenny Yar line) with increasing stratification, heavier granulometric composition of the root layer to sandy loam layer, lowering the surface level at a small distance from the drainage channel moisture supply and growth of Scots pine plantations improve, forest suitability of ecotopes increases. There is a risk of early decay and death of high-density pine forests in periods of low water and dry years on soils underlain by thick loams. Three groups of ecotope forest suitability were identified according to these indicators, as well as the conditions for the creation of forest plantations, productivity and longevity of plantings. The least favorable ecotopes are in the highlands of the hilly and transitional floodplains with minor soils of different composition on single-phase open-textured sands with deep (more than 4–5 m) groundwater table during low-water season. The most favorable are welldrained areas of the transitional floodplain with light soils on thick stratified predominantly sandy loam sediments, as well as on sands with close to the surface groundwater occurrence. Average ecotopes in terms of conditions are poorly drained areas of the transitional floodplain with minor sandy loam and loamy soils on deep loams.

Анализ состояния растительного покрова на территории ООПТ с применением дистанционного зондирования

Protected areas of different types use as an instrument for reaching different goals. Physical verification and investigation of environmental resources are necessary. The “Tsymlyanskiy” state reserve territory is located on one of the unique Rostov and Volgograd sand massifs. The vegetation of the object is represented by intrazonal natural plant communities and artificial forestries. During the reserve’s vegetation inventory, methods were used: benchmarking technique, field study, and building the digital elevation model based on the data from SRTM3. Seven vegetation types were identified, and the main patterns of their dissemination were revealed. Keywords: THE “TSYMLYANSKIY” STATE RESERVE, REMOTE SENSING, VEGETATION, MAPPING, NDVI

Influence of variety of soil-ground conditions of sandy soils (by the example of the Ust-Donetsk sandy massif) on the quality of the grape vine

The paper reveals the influence exerted on the development of post vitro grape mother plants and various microzones found on the Ust-Donetsk sand massif. The differences in the microzones were in the fertility level and a number of soil properties. The considerable influence provided by the growing conditions not only on the development of plants but also on the survival rate and life expectancy of mother bushes observed during the use of mother plants for 17 years has been noted. To ensure effective land management, a detailed site study and, depending on the differences identified, the use of precision farming techniques is required before laying out the parent plants. The reason for this is that sandy soils, in general, have a high degree of heterogeneity due to physical and chemical characteristics such as flowability, susceptibility to wind transport, low organic substance content, and cation exchange capacity.

Species diversity and productivity of pasture lands ecosystems on sandy soil

The results of monitoring studies carried out to identify the features of the current distribution of vegetation and productivity of sandy pasture ecosystems in the south of the European territory of Russia are presented. The objects of research were natural pasture phytocenoses on the territory of the Tsimlyansk sand massif. The methods of ecological and geobotanical surveys were used in the work. Plant samples were collected at key sites located in different wet areas using the 5-fold slope method. To identify dominant and subdominant species of natural phytocenoses, the Drude species abundance assessment scale was used. It was found that the pasture ecosystems of the Tsimlyansk sand massif are characterized by the presence of 58 dominant and subdominant species from 22 families, which occupy a certain position in the herbaceous and shrub communities, depending on the moisture content of the territory. The territory of complete humidification is characterized by the presence of 7 dominants and subdominants from 7 families. In the territory of excessive moisture, 9 species from 7 families dominate in phytocenoses. On the territory of sufficient and variable moisture, 26 species from 8 families predominate in the communities. The territories of moderate humidification are distinguished by the presence in the associations of 22 dominant species from 9 families. The territory of complex moistening, which is insufficient and severely insufficient under sand hills and moderate in the groves, is characterized by the presence of 9 dominant and subdominant species from 6 families in the communities. In 2018-2020 it was revealed that the annual phytomass of the grass and grass communities of the Tsimlyansk sand massif increases from spring to summer (from 91-117 to 204-267 g/m2) and decreases from summer to autumn (from 204-267 to 156-190 g / m2). The average annual productivity of natural phytocenoses is 156-190 g / m2.

Features of aeolian relief formation of the sandy massif Suvinskii Kuitun in the Barguzin Depression

The principal objective of the article is the determination of the main features of the aeolian relief formation of the Suvinskii Kuitun sand massif, one of the regions of active modern aeolian morphogenesis in the Barguzinskaya Depression. A brief description of the morphology of the aeolian relief, characterized by the predominance of deflationary forms over accumulative ones, is given. Among the forms of active deflation, deflation basins dominate here, separated by elongated deflation inselbergs, composed of sands of lacustrine, alluvial, deluvial-proluvial, and aeolian genesis. The mineralogical and granulometric composition of sandy deposits in the southern part of the Suvinskii Kuitun, characterized by poor roundness of sandy grains, has been analysed. A distinct northeastward eolomotion was revealed towards the foothills of the Ikat Range and its accumulation there. The age of the aeolian sands, mainly related to the formation of the Tagar culture (the end of the Bronze Age) was determined. The phytomelioration carried out in the second half of the 20th century led only to a partial fixation of sands, without affecting their overall deflation in most areas of the Suvinskii Kuitun.

The effect of temperature fields on soil and plant cover formation in arid ecosystems of the Uvs Nuur basin

Introduction of remote and automated methods into the practice of soil and ecological studies urges for development of the methodological basis for combined analyses of surface and satellite data. The aim of the study was to explore the possibility to identify and typologise the structural and functional borders of soil cover using temperature fields, obtained by combined analysis of the temperature time series obtained by field and remote temperature monitoring. The functional relationships that are expressed within geosystems as the flux of energy and matter are reflected in soil temperature regimes, hydrophysical soil properties and plant cover biological productivity, which were studied in the arid ecosystems of the Uvs Nuur depression in Tuva, Russia. The quantitative characteristic of the temperature fields of the psammophytic soils were obtained, and the effect of hydrothermal conditions and soil hydrophysical properties on above- and belowground phytomass stocks of the sand massif Zuger-Els revealed and discussed.

Sand Distribution In Central Fergana

Sands have a high heat capacity and rapid heat transfer - properties that sharply distinguish them from all other soils and determine the characteristic climatic conditions of sand massifs.

Current dynamics of aeolian processes in the mountain-basin relief of Russia and Mongolia (Lake Baikal basin)

The paper deals with the study of the modern dynamics of aeolian processes within the mountain-basin relief of the Khubsugul region of Northern Mongolia and Southwestern Transbaikalia of Russia as exemplified by three key sections of the transboundary region united by the Selenga river basin. These studies are intended to reveal the nature of the development of aeolian massifs of different morphology and location in order to assess the ecological and geographic potential of various territories of the Lake Baikal basin. The study was carried out with a wide use of geomorphological, geobotanical, comparative-geographical methods, as well as the latest methods of remote sensing using unmanned aerial vehicles with the construction of orthophotomaps of aeolian massifs and three-dimensional models of overflying territories. Three key areas-on the eastern coast of Khubsugul, the valley of the Uure-Gol river in the Eastern Khubsugul region and at the western end of the Malkhan ridge (Mankhan-Elysu stow), differing from each other in many natural parameters, are assessed geomorphologically and geobotanically and their comparative geographical analysis was carried out. The current state of the studied sand massifs is estimated by the nature of the dynamics of aeolian processes and a preliminary forecast of their development is briefly given considering the intensity of the existing pasture load and its possible activation by analyzing the structure of the vegetation cover.

WASTEWATER EVAPORATOR POND ASSESSMENT OF «CASPI BITUM» LLP

The dynamics and level of pollution of the wastewater evaporator pond of the bitumen plant were studied in 2018-2019. The chemical composition of the waste water (WW) pond was determined by 8 indicators. The average annual indicators of the studied harmful substances in the water exceeded the permissible level from 1.1 to 21.9 times. At the same time, exceeding standards were registered for substances of 3 and 4 hazard classes: total iron - up to 2.8 times, petroleum products - up to 1.7 times. The content of anionic surface active agents (SAA) in the evaporator pond with an average degree of oxidation was recorded in excess of the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) by 2.0 times, 2.13 times, and 2.32 times on average over the years at points 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The average values of biochemical oxigen demand/chemical oxigen demand (BOD5/COD) for 2018-2019 were as follows for the studied points of the evaporator pond: at point 1 (water outlet) - 0.215, at point 2 (South-Eastern part) - 0.195, at point 3 in the area of the sand massif - 0.21, and under the condition of BOD5/COD<0.5 it means that the WW is over by resistant to oxidation compounds. This requires accelerating the evaporation process. A heliotechnical system of translucent coverings has been developed and offered for intensifying the evaporation process and isolating harmful substances from contacts with the biosphere. This system is environmentally and economically feasible.

Bench Sands and Their Role in Water Recharge to Rivers in the Don Basin

Water balance studies have been carried out in the territory of sand massifs in the Don River Basin. The studies were mostly focused on the water-regime plots in Kalachevsko-Golubinskie and Archedinsko-Donskie sands. The area under study was divided into zones according to sand types based on land relief, the conditions of the soil cover, vegetation, and phreatic-water mineralization and level. Water-balance parameters and the characteristics of water regime were evaluated for individual types of sands. The volume of gravity flow of precipitation into the Don river system was determined. The study suggests the important role of sand massifs in water-resources protection, which consists in water freshening and maintaining river discharges.

Aeolian Processes in Forest-Steppe Landscapes in the Upper Angara Region in the Holocene

Presented are the results from investigating the aeolian sand massifs in the Belaya river valley. The Belaya, Kholmushino and Usolye massifs with the area of 2, 1.4 and 269 km, respectively, are singled out. They are differentiated by the degree and magnitude of manifestation of aeolian processes, and by the morphology of landforms. The Belaya massif is characterized by narrow gully‒low ridge topography. The initial fluvial relief is moderately modified because of the isolated location of the area in the spur of the incised meander and its boundedness by the slope of the narrow segment of the valley. In the Kholmushino massif located in the zone of contact of the segment of the incised channel and the broadening of the valley, aeolian forms were able to evolve fully but they occur only along narrow terraced surfaces of the rectilinear segment of the valley. The more favorable conditions emerged for the evolution of the Usolye massif. The broad-floodplain type of Belaya channel promoted accumulation of significant volumes of sandy material and its free transport in the process of aeolian morphogenesis. The most intense aeolian accumulation was observed in the lower reaches of the Belaya at the interface of the Late Glacial and Holocene (from 13.1 kyr BP) and was proceeding throughout the Early Holocene until 8.9 kyr BP when there occurred a decrease in activity of the aeolian processes and an intense soil formation began. The landscape-climatic conditions of the Atlantic period were favorable for the attenuation of aeolian activity and for a gradual fixation of sands by vegetation. The intensification phases of the aeolian processes were replaced by stages of a decrease in activity of the aeolian morphogenesis and soil formation in the intervals 9.3‒8.6; 6.7‒6; 3.5‒2.6 and 1.2‒0.9 kyr BP. The pedogenesis stages coincided with an increase in heat and moisture availability. Analysis of the findings suggests the rhythmic behavior in the evolution of the region’s natural environment in the Late Glacial with the manifestation of aeolian phases every 4‒5 ka and phases of intense soil formation every 1.9‒2.5 ka.

Genesis of Water and Dissolved Matter in Soda Lakes of Nizhnii Kuitun of the Barguzin Depression

We examine the formation conditions for the resources and chemical composition of mineral lakes located in the vicinities to the unique natural site of the Barguzin intermontane depression, Nizhnii Kuitun. Presented are the results from studying the surface structure of this sand massif. It is shown that its formation is associated with peculiar features in the tectonic development of the Barguzin depression. It is pointed out that the block of rocks forming Nizhnii Kuitun is broken up by tectonic faults into several smaller parts, and this had a determining impact on its modern appearance. The lakes under study are situated in the northern part of Nizhnii Kuitun, in the Nukhe-Nur urochishche, in the topographically clearly pronounced drainless depression. The formation of this depression occurred during the uplifting stage of the block of rocks when intensively fragmented rocks, located at the interface of the faults, lagged behind in vertical movement. The depression receives the runoff of surface and underground waters which drain sedimentary deposits of Nizhnii Kuitun. Data are provided to demonstrate that the lakes are situated in the ablation funnels of sand-clay sediments. On the basis of a quantitative determination of the chemical composition of water and gases, it is proved that seepage waters of sandy sediments of Nizhnii Kuitun and nitrogenous fissure-vein waters play the main role in the formation of resources and chemical composition of the lake water in the area of the Nukhe-Nur urotshistshe. The hydrological-hydrogeological model of the formation of the lakes under study is suggested. In a dry period when the amount of water infiltrating through the sand deposits of Nizhnii Kuitun decreases, the proportion of deep fissure-vein waters increases; therefore, water mineralization increases in the lakes as well as fluorine, sodium, tungsten and molybdenum contents. In wet years, the contribution of drainage waters to the formation of the lake’s resources increases, and the concentration of these elements decreases.

Classification of the desert steppes ecosystems of Western Kazakhstan

The results of the steppe zone ecosystems investigation in Western Kazakhstan are presented. Theclassification of the main types of terrestrial ecosystems of the desert steppes subzone, divided by the forms of macrorelief(elevated plains, river valleys, sand massifs) and grouped into categories according to the type of water regime (automorphic,semihydromorphic, hydromorphic), is presented. Within the automorphic category, one zonal class of ecosystems hasbeen distinguished: cereal-wormwood desert steppes on light chestnut soils. The semi-hydromorphic category includesecosystems of wormwood-halophytic-cereal steppe meadows on meadow-chestnut soils. The hydromorphic categoryof river valleys is characterized by ecosystems of floodplain forest-meadow and tree-shrub tugai on floodplain meadowsoils.

Land Degradation of the Republic of Kalmykia: Problems and Reclamation Methods

The Republic of Kalmykia is located in the European part of the arid belt of the Russian Federation, in which the desertification of a significant part (up to 80%) of its territory is a serious environmental and socioeconomic problem. Thus, of the 6 264 000 ha of agricultural land, 77.9% are subject to various types of degradation, of which 93 960 ha are waterlogged, 526 180 ha are eroded, 1 753 920 ha are deflated, and 2 505 600 ha are saline. The highest deflationary degradation indices are observed in the southeastern regions of Kalmykia (DId 31.7–71.1 points), which is due to natural (increased aridity of the climate) and anthropogenic (excessive pasture load) factors. A conceptual model that reflects the mechanism of reclamation impact on degradation processes occurring on agricultural land under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors has been developed. An agrobiological method for the phytomelioration of degraded lands on open sand massifs is proposed, including the planting of Calligonum aphyllum (Pall.) Gurke, Leymus racemosus Lam. Tzvel. Bassia prostrata (L.) A.J. Scott, Krascheninnikovia ceratoides (L.) Gueldenst., and Agropyron sibiricum (Willd.) P. Beav. Complexes of land reclamation measures that are differentiated for various categories of agricultural land have been developed to ensure the creation of optimal conditions to increase the natural resource potential of arid ecosystems and to prevent the desertification of the territories, to level the complexity of the soil cover, and to reduce the natural and anthropogenic salinity, salinity, and the risk of other negative processes.

Ecological-Phytocenotic Organization of Psammophytic Communities of the Tsimlyanskiy Sandy Massif

Aim. Evaluation of species diversity and ecological and phytocenotic organization of psammophytic communities of the grass-shrub layer of the Tsimlyanskiy sandy massif, Rostovskaya Oblast and Volgogradskaya Oblast, Russian Federation Material and Methods. Generally accepted methods in environmental-geobotanical surveys were used. Species composition and yield of phytocenoses, dominant species and relative percentages of species in the phytomass were determined and vegetation groups were identified with respect to soil moisture and to nutrition. Results. 69 species from 17 families were identified. The largest number of species is from the Asteraceae (18), Poaceae (15) and Fabaceae (12) families. In terms of classification in relation to moisture, the largest numbers of species were xeromesophytes (30) and xerophytes (23). Species saturation was assessed as 3-6 species per 1 m 2 . The vegetation of the massif is azonal with a tendency in the direction of decreasing xerophyticity and the intrusion of meadow-bog and forest communities. As regards classification according to nutrition, of the total number of species, the largest number was of meso-trophs (41). In the communities of sandy steppe II terraces grains dominate (66.5%) with the proportion of grasses being 33%. Here 16 species were identified with a high proportion of the herbs Agropyron pectinatum (Bieb.) Beauv., Elytrigia elongata (Host) Nevski, Festuca valesiaca Gaudin, F. beckeri (Hack.) Trautv., Poa pratensis ssp. pratensis and Stipa capillata L., S. pennata L. Conclusions. The Tsimlyanskiy sand massif is characterised by regionally bo-tanico-geographic specific vegetation. In the flora, there are typical hemip-sammophilous and psammophilous species with a dominance of cereals -characteristic of the regional soil and climatic conditions. The species composition of communities varies depending on the landscape-ecological conditions.

ЕКОЛОГО-ЕКОНОМІЧНА ОЦІНКА ВПЛИВУ НЕЗАКОННОГО ВИДОБУВАННЯ БУРШТИНУ НА СТАН ДОВКІЛЛЯ РІВНЕНСЬКОЇ ОБЛАСТІ

Research rationale. The current state of the natural environment in the northwestern part of Ukrainian Polissia is characterized by a huge-scale changes in cultivated lands. The reasons for the disturbance of the structure of natural landscapes are the unauthorized extraction of gemstones, in particular, amber. Problem statement. For Ukraine, this issue has become particularly acute as the environmental consequences of illegal mining are quite disastrous as far as the disturbed biotopes cannot be restored to their original state in a natural way without human intervention, thus they need to be recultivated. Analysis of recent studies and publications. The researches that cover the agenda include the issues of monitoring and determination of locations of lands disturbed due to illegal amber mining as well as the use and classification of lands disturbed as a result of mining industry’s activities. Uninvestigated parts of general matters defining. The introduction of an economic and legal mechanism for compensating by the violator for damage caused by illegal amber mining and the failure to carry out land reclamation after the completion of mining operations will ensure more effective protection of the interests of the state and territorial communities as well as the rights of owners and exploiters of land plots, and will have a positive impact on reducing breaches of law in the area of land utilization. Objective of the research. The purpose of the study is to assess the impact on the environmental condition of the Rivne oblast as well as economic assessment of the extent of damage caused by illegal gemstones mining. Statement of basic materials. Obvious signs of negative anthropogenic impact related to unauthorized use of subsurface resources have been established, namely: the unauthorized removal of the fertile soil layer, excitation of the entire structure of the soil cover, hydrological regime, geological structure of the subsoil area, destroyed vegetation. At the same time, disturbance of land, both for forest and agricultural purposes of various forms of ownership. Following the researches, the extent of damage and compensation to the state resulting from the illegal mining of gemstones was determined. Conclusions under the article. On the territory of the Ukrainian Polissa the technogenic sand massifs and badlands are being intensively formed, which area is constantly increasing. The spread of such formations on the lands of forestry and agricultural purposes creates a threatening ecological and economic situation throughout the region.

Special aspects of the development of harmful objects on the grape mother plants of the original category in the conditions of the Rostov region

The results of monitoring the distribution of phytopathogens and pests under conditions of maintaining mother plantations, improved and propagated in tissue culture, category original in the conditions of the Nizhne-Kundryuchensky sand massif in Rostov region, are presented. In the basic vineyard, conditions are met that exclude the possibility of secondary infection of healthy plants and make it possible to obtain planting material of the elite category. Vineyards have not been cultivated on these areas for at least 10 years, which reduces the risk of the presence of outbreaks of harmful organisms specific to grapes. Before establishing of the basic vineyard, the soil samples were diagnosed for the presence of harmful organisms in it. The results of the survey showed the absence of such pests in the soil as the larvae of scoops, beetles, click beetles, as well as bacterial diseases and nematodes. According to the results of monitoring observations, it was revealed that the mother plants of the basic plants of the ARRIV&W Branch of FSBSI FRANC are mainly spread by the following fungal diseases: powdery mildew, black spot, downy mildew, the intensity of which, due to regular protective treatments, did not exceed 2.5 points. The harmfulness of the main insects (leafhoppers, ticks, thrips) on the basic vineyard, is economically insignificant. Studies confirm the absence of migration of the leaf form of phylloxera. Pesticides were used during protective measures, guided by the principle of rotation of active substances and with the use of an active substance of one name no more than twice a season.