Semi-desert Region Research Articles

Multiple Maternal Lineages of <i>Strauchbufo raddei</i> (Strauch, 1876) in Mongolia Revealed by Mitochondrial DNA

The Mongolian toad Strauchbufo raddei (Strauch, 1876) is one of widely distributed and dominated amphibian species in eastern Asian, including Mongolia. In this study, we amplified and sequenced a total of 50 samples of S. raddei, from three main regions in its Mongolian distribution range namely, Northern, Eastern, and Gobi regions. Our phylogenetic trees (Bayesian inference; BI and time-calibrated) and network analysis clearly support presence of multiple maternal mitochondrial DNA lineages for S. raddei in Mongolia. As expected, samples from these three regions were clustered separately in BI tree (Bayesian posterior probability (BPP 0.52). In addition, the population specific haplotypes, estimated genetic distances (e.g. uncorrelated p distance; ranged from 1% to 25%) and hierarchical AMOVA suggested relatively strong population genetic structure of S. raddei across Mongolia. Time-calibrated tree and ancestral range analysis showed that the first colonization of S. raddei may have occurred in Northern part of Mongolia approximately 9.63 mya, then dispersed over other parts of the country. Estimated approximate time for crossing event of S. raddei over dry steppe and semi-desert regions in Mongolia was 5.02 – 2.50 mya. Finally, high level of genetic diversity (overall; haplotype diversity, Hd = 0.93; nucleotide diversity, π = 0.011) of S. raddei were observed in Mongolia. Importantly, through this study, we contributed to closing sampling gaps in distribution range of S. raddei in Eastern Asia, which is key to better understanding species history, as well as describing cryptic lineages.

Rapidly Evolved Genes in Three Reaumuria Transcriptomes and Potential Roles of Pentatricopeptide Repeat Superfamily Proteins in Endangerment of R. trigyna.

Reaumuria genus (Tamaricaceae) is widely distributed across the desert and semi-desert regions of Northern China, playing a crucial role in the restoration and protection of desert ecosystems. Previous studies mainly focused on the physiological responses to environmental stresses; however, due to the limited availability of genomic information, the underlying mechanism of morphological and ecological differences among the Reaumuria species remains poorly understood. In this study, we presented the first catalog of expressed transcripts for R. kaschgarica, a sympatric species of xerophyte R. soongorica. We further performed the pair-wise transcriptome comparison to determine the conserved and divergent genes among R. soongorica, R. kaschgarica, and the relict recretohalophyte R. trigyna. Annotation of the 600 relatively conserved genes revealed that some common genetic modules are employed by the Reaumuria species to confront with salt and drought stresses in arid environment. Among the 250 genes showing strong signs of positive selection, eight pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) superfamily protein genes were specifically identified, including seven PPR genes in the R. soongorica vs. R. trigyna comparison and one PPR gene in the R. kaschgarica vs. R. trigyna comparison, while the cyclin D3 gene was found in the R. soongorica vs. R. trigyna comparison. These findings suggest that genetic variations in PPR genes may affect the fertility system or compromise the extent of organelle RNA editing in R. trigyna. The present study provides valuable genomic information for R. kaschgarica and preliminarily reveals the conserved genetic bases for the abiotic stress adaptation and interspecific divergent selection in the Reaumuria species. The rapidly evolved PPR and cyclin D3 genes provide new insights on the endangerment of R. trigyna and the leaf length difference among the Reaumuria species.

Chemical Composition, Fatty Acids, Total Phenolics and Antioxidant Activity of the Desert Truffle Terfezia Boudieri Chatin in the Northern Region of Saudi Arabia

Terfezia boudieri Chatin (T. boudieri), which belongs to the Terfeziaceae family, is a desert truffle growing naturally from mycorrhizal relationships with plants that inhabit the slightly moist sandy soils of some desert or semi-desert regions. The chemical examination of the methanolic extract of T. boudieri led to the isolation of a new ketone and the known compound mannitol. The structures of the 2 isolated compounds were resolved using spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Infrared (IR) spectroscopy and were supported by literature data. The GC-MS analysis of the Fatty Acids (FAs) of T. boudieri oils showed high Unsaturated FA (UFA) profile (78.72%). The major FAs were linoleic acid (62.36%) and oleic acid (14.7%). Comparing the extracts obtained, the methanolic extract revealed the highest levels of Total Phenolic Content (TPC) of 185.56 mg GAE/100 g of truffle, thus the same extract showed the best results for antioxidant activity.

Epizootiological monitoring of wolf helminths in Northern and Central Kazakhstan.

Wolves (Canis lupus) play a role in nature, including the regulation of the number of ungulates and the use of dead animals. In addition, wolves are a natural link and carrier for the spread of many parasitic invasions. Hence, the main task in preventing the spread of parasitic invasions is to regulate the wolf population. This study aimed to monitor the endoparasitological fauna of wild wolves inhabiting Northern and Central Kazakhstan. Overall, 81 wolves were investigated for parasitic worms using the K. I. Scriabin method. Wolf intestinal materials were collected from the following six regions: North Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, Kostanay, Akmola, Ulytau, and Karaganda. The genetic diversity of the parasites was identified using a polymerase chain reaction with specific primers. After data collection, a comprehensive statistical analysis was performed. Several helminth types were identified in wolves, including Echinococcus granulosus, Taenia hydatigena, Mesocestoides spp., Toxascaris leonina, Trichinella nativa, Alaria alata, and Dirofilaria repens. Based on the results of this study, young male wolves aged 1-4 years were the most vulnerable to helminthiasis. Wolves living in steppe and semi-desert regions are often exposed to helminth infections. The prevalence of T. nativa in the wolves was 20.4%. This study also revealed the presence of echinococcosis among wolf populations in Karaganda and Kostanay, with prevalence rates of 4.1% and 4.7%, respectively. The overall prevalence of tapeworms in wolves was 54.3%. This study highlights the significance of understanding the potential risks associated with helminth infections in wild carnivores because helminths can act as disease reservoirs and pose a threat to humans, livestock, and other wild carnivores. These results can contribute to the development of effective control and management strategies for helminth infections in wolves, which can infect humans and livestock.

Redistribution of Hydrothermal Resources on Different Elements of the Microrelief of Soils in the Semi-desert Zone and Agrolandscapes under Wheat

In the semi-desert regions of Azerbaijan there are habitats with varying elevations of only a few tens of centimeters. The zonal soils on the territory of the massif are gray-brown soils. Gray-brown soils develop under ephemeral plant cover. The soil is carbonate throughout the entire profile. Below the carbonate horizon lies a layer enriched with sulfates in the form of veins of crystalline gypsum. The content of absorbed sodium in the gray-brown soils of the deluvial plain of the Siyazan-Sumgait massif is 30-50% of the number of absorbed bases in the Solonetz-Columnar soil horizon. The amount of humus in the upper layers of the soil fluctuates between 1-2%, towards the bottom it sharply decreases. In studies carried out on gray-brown soils of the Siyazan-Sumgait massif, hydrothermal potential indicators vary within the range of 426-552 m3/ha. The distribution of temperature and humidity in depth in the soil under wheat differs from the natural habitat. In the arable layer, the temperature is evenly distributed throughout the entire profile, while the humidity gradually increases in the lower layers. The influence of the hydrothermal regime on wheat yield was: 2022 — 24.0-30.0 cwt/ha; 2023 — 16.0-24.5 cwt/ha.

The Playful Karoo: Translating a South African Story into the Metaverse

ABSTRACT This research paper explores different game design methodologies that can be used to translate the South African novel Souvenir by Jane Rosenthal, set in the semi-desert region known as the Karoo into a Virtual Reality experience, which can live on the Metaverse. The paper suggests that the translated Virtual Reality experience can be used as a tool for climate change action and awareness, as well as a way to preserve South African stories on the Metaverse. The paper focuses on various narrative design methodologies for storytelling in game design, suggesting which would work best for the translation of a novel into a Virtual Reality experience. Additionally, it explores practical methodologies for the production of 3D game objects and assets required to recreate the Karoo landscape as described in the novel. This encompasses an exploratory excursion conducted within the Karoo region itself, wherein the collection of primary data is executed for the creation of game assets. Additionally, this involves a comprehensive examination of Henry Jenkins’ methodologies in game design, particularly focusing on narrative elements within gaming. A meaningful impact on the Metaverse is pursued through the translation of this Karoo-based South African novel, into Virtual Reality.

Chemical diversity of the essential oils of Artemisia sieberi in Iran

Artemisia sieberi is widely distributed in the desert and semi-desert regions of Iran. We collected samples from different parts of Iran and proceeded to extract and analyse their essential oils using hydrodistillation and GC-MS, respectively. Among seventy-two compounds identified within the oils, the hydrocarbon and oxygenated monoterpenoids, trans-thujone (0.0–22.9%), cis-thujane (0.0–47.3%), 1, 8-cineole (0.7–37.1%), camphor (0.0–46.4%), santolinyl acetate (0–33.8%) and cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (0.0–16.4%) and the sesquiterpenoid, davanone (0.0–59.6%), were reported as the predominant components from the 17-accession. The above-mentioned GC-MS analytical results in conjunction with chemometric calculations, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Clustering Analysis (HCA), suggested 6 chemical groups of A. sieberi collected from the Northern to the Southern parts of Iran. The chemical classification of EOs were based on the sum of concentration of terpenoids with distinct C-skeletons, but not individual constituents. These distinct groups include the species predominant in, I: thujane, II: davanone, III: davanone and bornane, IV: p-menthane, V: bornane and VI: irregular monoterpenoids. The trace or less distributed phytochemicals are also suggested to divide the A. sieberi into two main group of sesquiterpene and monoterpene producers.

Comprehensive analysis of land use and cover dynamics in djibouti using machine learning technique: A multi-temporal assessment from 1990 to 2023

Understanding land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics in semi-arid regions is vital for unraveling complex environmental processes and resource management. This study delves into the intricate interplay of land patterns and resource dynamics, offering indispensable insights into the environmental repercussions of these changes. The study aims to quantify land use categories in Djibouti's semi-desert region using remote sensing. It analyzes temporal changes and evaluates Random Forest (RF) algorithms for land use classification. Through meticulous quantification and comprehensive temporal analysis, the research contributes significantly to remote sensing and environmental science by enhancing understanding of land use dynamics and informing sustainable land management practices. Leveraging machine learning supervised classification on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform using Landsat data spanning four time periods (1990, 2002, 2012, and 2023), alongside spectral indices and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data, our study achieves unprecedented insights. Our findings reveal a significant landscape transformation, delineating seven major land cover classes: mangroves, bushes, farmland, built-up areas, water bodies, barren land, and salt plains. With overall accuracy ranging from 89 % to 95 %, our assessments demonstrate significant changes in land use types over the studied period. Notably, mangroves, bushes, farmland, and salt areas witnessed declines, while built-up areas, water bodies, and barren lands expanded. This research underscores the pivotal role of remote sensing in monitoring long-term land use changes and their ecological impacts. By harnessing technological advancements, our study empowers stakeholders to make informed decisions for sustainable resource management and environmental conservation in semi-arid landscapes.

Designing a T-cell epitope-based vaccine using in silico approaches against the Sal k 1 allergen of Salsola kali plant

Allergens originated from Salsola kali (Russian thistle) pollen grains are one of the most important sources of aeroallergens causing pollinosis in desert and semi-desert regions. T-cell epitope-based vaccines (TEV) are more effective among different therapeutic approaches developed to alleviate allergic diseases. The physicochemical properties, and B as well as T cell epitopes of Sal k 1 (a major allergen of S. kali) were predicted using immunoinformatic tools. A TEV was constructed using the linkers EAAAK, GPGPG and the most suitable CD4+ T cell epitopes. RS04 adjuvant was added as a TLR4 agonist to the amino (N) and carboxyl (C) terminus of the TEV protein. The secondary and tertiary structures, solubility, allergenicity, toxicity, stability, physicochemical properties, docking with immune receptors, BLASTp against the human and microbiota proteomes, and in silico cloning of the designed TEV were assessed using immunoinformatic analyses. Two CD4+ T cell epitopes of Sal k1 that had high affinity with different alleles of MHC-II were selected and used in the TEV. The molecular docking of the TEV with HLADRB1, and TLR4 showed TEV strong interactions and stable binding pose to these receptors. Moreover, the codon optimized TEV sequence was cloned between NcoI and XhoI restriction sites of pET-28a(+) expression plasmid. The designed TEV can be used as a promising candidate in allergen-specific immunotherapy against S. kali. Nonetheless, effectiveness of this vaccine should be validated through immunological bioassays.

A systematic review on the morphology structure, propagation characteristics, resistance physiology and exploitation and utilization of Nitraria tangutorum Bobrov.

Nitraria tangutorum Bobrov., belonging to the family Nitrariaceae, is a drought-tolerant and salt-loving plant and has drawn attention for its good economic and ecological value. As one of the main group species and dominant species in China's desert and semi-desert regions, N. tangutorum possesses superior tolerance to drought, high temperature, cold, barren, high salinity and alkalinity and wind and sand. Its root system is well developed, with many branches and a strong germination capacity. Once buried in sandy soil, N. tangutorum can quickly produce a large number of adventitious roots, forming new plants and continuously expanding the shrubs, forming fixed and semi-fixed shrub sand dunes. Sand dune shrubs can trap and fix a large amounts of quicksand, prevent desert expansion and erosion, and play an important role in maintaining regional ecosystem balance and improving ecological environmental quality. In addition, the phytochemical screening studies report that N. tangutorum contains an abundance of various compounds including flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic acids and polysaccharides. These compounds confer a range of beneficial bioactivities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-fatigue, liver protection, neuroprotection, cardiovascular protection, lowering blood lipid, regulating blood sugar level and immunoregulation. The fruits of N.tangutorum also contain vitamin C, amino acids, minerals and microelements. It has been traditionally used as a nutritional food source and in folk medicine to treat diseases of the spleen and stomach, abnormal menstruation, indigestion, and hyperlipidemia. N. tangutorum, as a wild plant with medicinal and edible homology, possesses remarkable economic and medicinal values. This detailed, comprehensive review gathers and presents all the information related to the morphological structure, propagation characteristics, resistance physiology and exploitation and utilization of N.tangutorum, providing a theoretical basis for the researchers to conduct future in-depth research on N.tangutorum.

К вопросу о перспективах возделывания овсяницы тростниковой (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) на орошаемых землях Нижнего Поволжья

Purpose: to perform a review of an under-investigated bluegrass crop – tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), which is not widespread in forage production, but has some advantages over other bluegrass grasses. Discussion. Tall fescue is characterized by high seed and forage yields, a long-time growing season, early regrowth in spring, an ability to vegetate until late autumn, and an active regrow capacity. Fescue agrocenoses are responsive to irrigation and a high background of mineral nutrition. The ability to grow on saline and alkalini soils is also important. It is widely used for slope and ravines stabilization. Providing optimal combinations of plant life factors creates conditions for good growth, development and formation of high productivity for a long time as well as allows the crop to persist and prevail in multi-species agrocenoses in a wide variety of soil and climatic conditions – from forest and forest-steppe to steppe and semi-desert regions. Tall fescue grows well in damp places under natural conditions. This moisture-loving plant tolerates moisture-saturated, heavy loamy soils well. Regulation of the water regime of fescue crops ensures a more complete use of the biological potential of the crop, which is expressed in the receipt of two additional mowings, compared to natural moisture conditions. Tall fescue is used mainly in the form of hay, silage and haylage. Conclusion. Cultivation of tall fescue against the background of mineral fertilizer application and irrigation ensures an yield increase on average up to 15 t/ha of dry matter and up to 2.5 t/ha of crude protein collection. The wide distribution of this valuable crop in forage production in arid zones is hampered by the lack of scientifically based rational methods for creating highly productive grass stands and elements of cultivation technology.

Distribution characteristics of gastric mucosal colonizing microorganisms in different glandular regions of Bactrian camels and their relationship with local mucosal immunity.

Bactrian camels inhabiting desert and semi-desert regions of China are valuable animal models for studying adaptation to desert environments and heat stress. In this study, 16S rRNA technology was employed to investigate the distribution characteristics and differences of mucosal microorganisms in the anterior gland area, posterior gland area, third gland area, cardia gland area, gastric fundic gland area and pyloric gland area of 5-peak adult healthy Bactrian camels. We aimed to explore the possible reasons for the observed microbial distribution from the aspects of histological structure and mucosal immunity. Bacteroides and Fibrobacteria accounted for 59.54% and 3.22% in the gland area, respectively, and 52.37% and 1.49% in the wrinkled stomach gland area, respectively. The gland area showed higher abundance of Bacteroides and Fibrobacteria than the wrinkled stomach gland area. Additionally, the anterior gland area, posterior gland area, third gland area, and cardia gland area of Bactrian camels mainly secreted acidic mucus, while the gastric fundic gland area mainly secreted neutral mucus and the pyloric region mainly secreted a mixture of acidic and neutral mucus. The results of immunohistochemistry techniques demonstrated that the number of IgA+ cells in the anterior glandular area, posterior glandular area, third glandular area, and cardia gland area was significantly higher than that in the fundic and pyloric gland area (p < 0.05), and the difference in IgA+ between the fundic and pyloric gland area was not significant (p > 0.05). The study revealed a large number of bacteria that can digest and degrade cellulose on the mucosa of the gastric gland area of Bactrian camels. The distribution of IgA+ cells, the structure of the mucosal tissue in the glandular region, and the composition of the mucus secreted on its surface may have a crucial influence on microbial fixation and differential distribution.

Effective methods of agricultural use of light colored gray soils distributed in Kuva hill

Fergana Valley is a tectonic depression surrounded by mountains, and its appearance is in the form of an ellipse. Its length from west to east is 300 km equal to 50 meters from south to north. 70 km The height of the valley reaches from sea level in the west to . in the 250 мeast 1000 м. The height of the surrounding high mountains of Central Ferghana is 2000 - 4000 m and more. Such a sharp geomorphological structure determines the specific characteristics of the valley’s climate. The western and central parts of the Fergana valley (up to the Margilan oasis) belong to the desert region, and the eastern part to the semi-desert region. The climatic conditions of the desert part are described by the meteorological stations “Ko’kan”, “Ultarma” and “Namangan”, and the semi-desert part by the data of the weather stations “Fergana”, “Nasriddinbek” and “Fedchenko”. In the western and northern regions of the valley, the long-term average air temperature is +13+13.5 0 C. The coldest month of the year is January, its average temperature is -2.1-2.40 C. The period with the highest temperature is July, and the average temperature is around +24.8+27.6 0 C. ( Tables 1-2 ). The minimum temperature is -27-29 0 C, the maximum temperature is +42+46 0 C. We present the detail of the morphology of the 1st soil cross-section, trying to reveal the specific characteristics of the pale gray gypsum soils in the Kuva hills. The soils formed in the Kuva hills, where we conducted research, are the result of the long-term development of the area. Kuva mountain range is located 500-600m above sea level. The pale gray soils distributed in these areas are composed of stony rocks formed on loess and loess sand. At the same time, it appeared on coarse, gravelly-soft rock formations and gravels, on top of which a thin skeleton of sand and silt is covered.

Lacking Sexual Size Dimorphism in Some Rodent Species (Rodentia) in Semi-desert Region of Mongolia

Lacking Sexual Size Dimorphism in Some Rodent Species (Rodentia) in Semi-desert Region of Mongolia

An annotated Checklist of grasshoppers (Acridoidea: Orthoptera) of Punjab, Pakistan

Grasshoppers (Acrididoidea) found in Punjab, Pakistan, are documented in this article with an annotated checklist. Grasshoppers were collected from several districts of Punjab for the current study with the help of insect net (3.5 inch in diameter and 20 inch in length). The field locations encompassed agricultural, mountainous, semi-mountainous, and semi-desert regions characterized by a diverse range of vegetation, including crops, grasses, herbs, shrubs, and other plant species. A comprehensive identification of 74 grasshopper species was conducted, encompassing 11 subfamilies such as Oedipodinae, Gomphocerinae, Eyprepocnemidinae, Acridinae, Oxyinae, Cyrtacanthacridinae, Hemiacridinae, Calliptaminae, Tropidopolinae, and Catantopinae and Dericorythinae (now known as Dericorythidae). Hopefully, this study will form a base line for future Orthopterists in Pakistan.

Predicting the Potential Distribution of Haloxylon ammodendron under Climate Change Scenarios Using Machine Learning of a Maximum Entropy Model.

Haloxylon ammodendron (H. ammodendron) is a second-class protected plant of national significance in China that is known for its growth in desert and semidesert regions, where it serves as a desert ecosystem guardian by playing a substantial role in maintaining ecosystem structure and function. The changing global climate has substantially altered the growth conditions for H. ammodendron. This study focuses on identifying the key variables influencing the distribution of H. ammodendron and determining their potential impact on future distribution. We employed the Maxent model to evaluate the current climate suitability for H. ammodendron distribution and to project its future changes across various shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) scenarios. Our findings indicate that precipitation during the warmest quarter and precipitation during the wettest month are the most influential variables affecting the potentially suitable habitats of H. ammodendron. The highly suitable habitat area for H. ammodendron currently covers approximately 489,800 km2. The Maxent model forecasts an expansion of highly suitable H. ammodendron habitat under all future SSP scenarios, with the extent of unsuitable areas increasing with greater global warming. The increased highly suitable habitats range from 40% (SSP585) to 80% (SSP126) by the 2070s (2060-2080). Furthermore, our results indicate a continued expansion of desertification areas due to global warming, highlighting the significant role of H. ammodendron in maintaining desert ecosystem stability. This study offers valuable insights into biodiversity preservation and ecological protection in the context of future climate change scenarios.

Transformation Processes for Energy Production Alternatives from Different Biomass Sources in the Highlands and Semi-Desert Areas of Mexico

Biomass revalorization is a worldwide trend which can contribute to diversifying the energy sector and to obtaining added value products. The objective of the present review is to discern potential sources of biomass and their corresponding alternatives for transformation, with a particular emphasis on energy generation within the Mexican highlands and semi-desert regions. Methodologically, this review was conducted by reviewing various search engines, identifying articles related to energy production, the transformation processes, and the obtained product, establishing the relevance of each contribution, and including the information that was deemed pertinent. From this information analysis, it was found that most of the studies are conducted at theoretical and laboratory levels; then, scientific knowledge has been generated in this topic. However, low interaction with the social and industrial sectors is observed. It is required to develop strategies to transfer the generated knowledge and to scale up the studied transformation processes to generate ecological, economic, and social benefits. According to the information obtained it can be concluded that the agricultural and forestry sectors in the highlands and semi-desert regions of Mexico hold significant promise for generating bioenergy via the utilization of residual biomass, including stubble, straw, branches, stems, and sawdust. Moreover, the implementation of these sophisticated techniques for the conversion of residual biomass into biofuels and other forms of bioenergy contribute to the improvement of the adverse effects associated with the use of fossil fuels while fostering a more environmentally sustainable economy.

Peculiarities of species composition of phytocenoses with dominance and participation species of the genus Salsola L. in desert and semi-desert regions of Kazakhstan

The purpose of the research was to identify the features of the floristic composition of rammunities with representatives of the genus Salsola L. (North-Western (Aksai), Southem, South-Eastem regions of Kazakhstan). Traditional methods of field geobotanical researches were used in the process of studying. As a result of expedition works, 24 studied plant communities (with predominance and participation of various Salsola) were described. Communities differed from each other by species composition, which is caused by a variety of combination of habitat factors. The analysis of the floristic composition of the described rommunities resulted in the identification of two groups: 1) rommunities dominated by species of the genus Salsola; 2) rommunities in which the presence of species of the genus Salsola was insignificant. During the research, it was revealed that annual species S. nitraria Pall. and S. tragus L. are well adapted to the habitat conditions of desert and semi-desert regions and it was roncluded that they can be used for reclamation of disturbed lands.

The State of Soils in the Semi-Desert Region of the Republic of Kalmykia

The State of Soils in the Semi-Desert Region of the Republic of Kalmykia

Methodology for Calculating Water Supply for Irrigation from Reservoirs of Multifunctional Purpose (on the Example of China and Belarus

Reservoirs with multifunctional purposes are the most widely used as sources of water for irrigation. In China, a large number of irrigation systems have been created using reservoirs as sources for flood prevention, irrigation, industrial and agricultural water supply. In Belarus, the Soligorsk, Lyuban, Petrovich, Pogost and other multifunctional reservoirs are used for irrigation. The useful (regulating) volume of a multifunctional reservoir consists of separate components calculated for each consumer in the basis of a hydrological and feasibility study. Thus, the useful volume of water intended for irrigation should provide the required irrigation capacity and capacity of the irrigation system. When determining the useful (regulating) volume of a multifunctional reservoir, the total water requirements for various purposes (water supply, irrigation, hydropower, etc.) are calculated. For each consumer, the required design supply is assigned and the appropriate method for determining water consumption is used. Reservoirs intended for water supply count on 95–97 % availability of runoff, and for irrigation purposes – on 75–80 % availability in zones of moderate and excessive moisture. In arid, desert and semi-desert regions of China, where lack of water in dry years can lead to large crop losses, irrigation reservoirs are expected to be 90–95 % secure. The volumes and costs of water in the reservoir for irrigation purposes must cover the needs of plants in water within the established time frame for the year of estimated availability. The paper provides a formula for determining the weighted average irrigation rate and the volume of water required for irrigation. A methodology is presented for calculating the useful volume of a reservoir intended for industrial water supply and irrigation, for which flow regulation is calculated for two supply of water consumption. A method is proposed for determining the flow rate of entrained sediments for various stages of their movement. A formula is presented for the total volume of suspended and bottom sediments entering the reservoir.