Optimal Use of Natural Resources in Al-Muthanna Desert (Soil as A model)

Soil is one of the important natural resources in Al-Muthanna desert, and the climate has played an important role in its formation. The soil in the study area is classified into several types that vary in their quality for agriculture. I concluded that the soil of the depressions and the plains alluvial soils are among the best types of those soils, followed by the sandy desert soil, which is characterized by its large area and can be exploited when providing water for it. As for the gypsum desert soils, they are of medium quality for cultivation, due to the presence of gypsum in them in high quantities and the lack of water retention. While the sandy and rocky dune soils are unsuitable for agriculture due to their high permeability. Wind and water erosion works to expose rocky soil rocks and transfer sand dune soil particles, but they constitute an important resource in the manufacture of building materials and glass if they are used properly.

Common oak survival in the forest ecosystem of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain in the north of Astrakhan region

Forests in our natural environment play an important role. They are a necessary natural resource and perform many functions in the forest ecosystem. As in our country, as well as abroad, due to numerous studies, the enormous role of forests in preserving the ecological balance of the environment has been confirmed. To ensure the uniqueness of the Astrakhan region, it is necessary to restore Lower Volga forests, which in turn perform significant functions, namely: influence on hydrological regime, protect soil from degradation, wind and water erosion, preserve recreational potential of the territory and provide local population with stable agricultural production. In spring and fall of 2019, employees of the Precaspian Agrarian Federal Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences planted 120 seedlings of common oak (60 plants in spring and 60 plants in autumn) in the areas located in the right bank of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain to the south of Solenoye Zaimishche village. At the end of October 2020, 64 seedlings (53 %) of common oak survived. The best (100 %) survival rate was noted in annual seedlings, which were planted in spring at the site with shading. The greatest plant death (20 %) was in two-year-old seedlings planted in fall at sites with no shading.

Element Content in Volcano Ash, Soil and River Sediments of the Watershed in the Volcanic Area of South Iceland and Assessment of Their Mobility Potential

In this work, we present the results of element content in river sediments and soil of the Rangárvellir river in southern Iceland as well as in the volcano ash from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010. Severe natural catastrophes have devastating impact on the environment. We selected the Rangárvellir area located in the vicinity of Mt Hekla, Iceland’s most active volcano, for our study. This study site is ideal to investigate wind and water erosion and sediment transport processes of two main glaciers rivers: the Eystri-Rangá and the Ytri-Rangá and the Hroarslækur River. Sediments of these rivers consist of volcano materials, ash and lava. In order to assess the sediment dynamics, we collected sediment, soil and volcanic ash. The fractioning of the elements was carried out using sequential extractions. The distribution of Si indicates that the sediments originate from the same geochemical basis. Li and partly B exist in the first phase of volcanic ash and river sediments but not in the mobile phases of soils. In the mobile phase of volcanic ash, P was found but it did not exist in the first phase of soil and sediments. These results suggest the different chemical fingerprints in the water sediments and surrounding soil.

Soil Sensitivity to Wind and Water Erosion as Affected by Land Use in Southern Iran

Land degradation by soil erosion is one of the most severe environmental issues that is greatly dependent on land use management. In this study, the effects of long-term land use management (including annual cultivated field (ACF), fallow field (FF), rangeland (R), and orchard field (OF)), soil depth (0–10 and 10–20 cm), and soil organic matter content (SOM) on wind- and water-erosion indices were investigated in calcareous soils of southern Iran. Soil samples were collected from four above-mentioned land-use types, and some soil properties and erosion indices were measured. Results showed that the most of soil aggregates stability indices in the surface layer (0–10 cm) of OF were higher than those in ACF, FF, and R, respectively, by nearly 39%, 32%, and 47% for dry mean weight diameter of aggregates (MWDdry); 10%, 10%, and 48% for dry geometric mean weight diameter of aggregates (GMDdry); 21%, 17%, and 15% for water-stable aggregates (WSA); and 11%, 16%, and 31% for aggregate stability index (ASI). Moreover, the mean of the soil wind erosion indicators in OF (0–10 cm) were lower than those in ACF, FF, and R, respectively, by nearly 18%, 24%, and 26%, for wind-erodible fraction (EF); 43%, 38%, and 49% for soil erodibility to wind erosion (K); and 36%, 32%, and 41% for wind erosion rate (ER). In ACF, despite the high clay content, some aggregate stability indices such as MWøDdry and WSA were the lowest among studied land-use types which showed the negative effects of conventional tillage practices. Depth factor had only a significant effect on dust emission potential (DEP) in ACF, FF, and OF. In addition, there were significant and strong correlations between SOM and MWDdry (r = 0.79), WSA (r = 0.77), EF (r = −0.85), K (r = 0.74), and ER (r = 0.74) in all datasets.

Structuring of High-Fine Mineral Particles to Prevent Wind and Water Erosion

The results of the study of the mechanism of structuring highly dispersed mineral particles by dust-pressing polymer solution StabOL are presented, using the example of overburden rocks of the Taseevsky, Baleisky and Kamensky quarries (Transbaikal Territory). Mineral and polymer-mineral samples were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, and infrared spectroscopy. The formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds is confirmed by the shift of the absorption bands of the stretching vibrations of hydroxyl groups in the infrared spectra of polymer-mineral samples towards lower frequencies and a significant increase in the intensities of these absorption bands. It was found that structuring of mineral particles during their treatment with a polymer solution occurs through the formation of organomineral complexes as a result of intercalation, exfoliation (stratification) and adsorption of polymers. The important role of hydration layers and clay minerals in this process has been revealed.

SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT: INTERNATIONAL APPROACHES AND RUSSIAN EXPERIENCE

The basic modern approaches of sustainable land management at the international level are considered. The relevance of the rational land and land resources use in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is shown. Basic definitions of the concept of "sustainable land management " and the main categories of SLM are given. On the example of SLM "no-till" technology in the Samara region it is shown that the use of methods of minimal soil cultivation allows to reduce the level of wind and water erosion, and also contributes to soil decompaction. In general, the "no-till" technology is aimed at preventing and reducing land degradation, adapting to climate change and the consequences of extreme climate and weather events.