Spatial Modeling of the Effects of Deflation Destruction of the Steppe Soils of Ukraine

Abstract

The decrease in the agricultural efficiency is associated with the influence of wind erosion, the consequence of which is a decrease in the soil fertility. Significant effects of wind erosion are typical of the arid and semi arid zones with a small amount of precipitation, high air temperature and degree of evaporation, reinforced by strong winds and low differentiation of plant protection. It has been proven that the intensity of the effects of deflation processes depends on the physical and geographical conditions of the distribution of agricultural land, systematic soil protection activities and the availability of vegetation. It has been established that the acceleration of the deflation processes occurs in the territories with increased anthropogenic pressure, which leads to ecological disturbance of the natural balance characterizing territorial ecosystems. In the course of the studies it was found that the natural processes of wind erosion are significantly enhanced by the absence of a scientifically-based and ecological land development system of agriculture, which leads to destruction of the soil cover, reduction of soil fertility, damage to the agricultural crops and, thus, the economic damage. As a result of application of the GIS and ERS technologies, the empirical-statistical model of the possible soil loss due to wind erosion in the territory of the Steppe zone of Ukraine, it has been found that in the course of the deflation processes in the territory taken by naked fallow upon the absence of the conditions for the deflation resistance activities, the value of soil loss at the epicenter of dust storms can reach about 600 t / ha. Studies proved the importance of the deflation resistant action of the vegetation cover, which tends to an increase in the erosion dangerous (favorable) areas of agricultural land by 1.7 times, which reduces the soil loss by 5.62 times. In accordance with the intensity of the effects of the deflation processes and the increase of the soil losses, the contour and land development deflation resistance activities with elements of soil protection agriculture were proposed.

Changes in Climate and Bioclimatic Potential in the Steppe Zone of Ukraine

“…The high degree of agricultural development (77.83%) and plowed territory (66.76%) of the Steppe zone determines the low level of ecological sustainability of landscapes. More than 60% of the irrigated land area of Ukraine is in the territory of the Steppe zone, it is about 1324.1 thousand hectares, of which 461.2 thousand hectares (34.8%) are irrigated (Dudiak et al 2021).…”

“…Particularly negative manifestations of anthropogenic and climatic changes are concentrated in the Steppe zone (Lisetskii et al 2016). The level of water resources supply and their quality has decreased significantly (Pichura et al 2018), the natural water network of small and mediumsized rivers has been destroyed by 60% (Oti et al 2020, Lisetskii 2021), the frequency of droughts has increased (Assan et al 2020, Ukrainskiy et al 2020) and manifestations of erosion processes (Dudiak et al , 2020, the state of land resources deteriorated (Breus et al 2019, which led to a decrease in the yield of agricultural crops (Domaratskiy et al 2020, Vdovenko et al 2022. In order to increase the level of management efficiency in the agrarian sector of the economy (Vdovenko et al 2015, Mayovets et al 2021, it is necessary to substantiate environmental protection measures for the restoration and rational use of natural resources, to ensure the implementation of the principles of sustainable nature management, taking into account the spatio-temporal patterns of changes in climate and the bioclimatic potential of the territory.…”

Changes in antideflation resistance of chernozem typical under different tillage and fertilizers

“…It has been established that the acceleration of the deflation processes occurs in the territories with increased anthropogenic pressure. An understanding of soil resistance to wind erosion as affected by the integration of cropping system intensification and tillage method is imperative for reducing wind erosion, thereby improving global food security and reducing environmental degradation (Dudiak, Pichura, Potravka, Stroganov, 2020).…”

Long-term Changes in the Stability of Agricultural Landscapes in the Areas of Irrigated Agriculture of the Ukraine Steppe Zone

“…The area of lands with a high degree of degradation in Ukraine is more than 1.1 million hectares, most of them in the steppe zone. In particular, the low culture of agriculture leads to a violation of technology and timing of tillage, protection of plants from weeds, pests and diseases, which negatively affects the reproduction of soil fertility (Dudiak et al 2020. This exacerbates the problems of humus, agrophysical and reclamation conditions and leads to a decrease in soil fertility as well as environmental safety of land use Considering the current state of irrigated agriculture in the Steppe zone of Ukraine, the unsatisfactory technical level of a significant part of irrigation systems, as well as the level of resource and technological support for both irrigation and growing crops on irrigated lands, it can be argued that there is a high potential danger of developing negative processes and phenomena (Pichura et al 2015, Ukrainskiy et al 2020.…”