ECOLOGICAL MICROZONING OF CULTIVATED LAND IN THE CONDITIONS OF PAVLODAR REGION

Abstract

The objective of this study is to develop a microzoning system based on the ecological-landscape approach for organizing effective protection and rational use of agricultural land in planning and forecasting documents. The study employed a comprehensive analysis of the landscape structure of land use and examined the ecological condition of the soil cover using geoinformation technologies and field investigations. As a result of the study, conducted in the dry-steppe zone of Northern Kazakhstan, patterns of soil degradation were identified in relation to the landscape features of the area and the intensity of agricultural use. Based on the identified dependencies, a system of ecological-landscape microzoning was developed providing a differentiated approach to land use planning and soil protection in regional conditions. The significance of the results lies in the possibility of preventing degradation processes, preserving and restoring soil fertility without reducing the economic efficiency of agricultural production. The developed system of ecological-landscape microzoning of agricultural land uses is applicable to territories with different ecological-landscape conditions and can be integrated into existing farming systems. The peculiarity of the developed methodology lies in its detailed consideration of the landscape structure of the area, based on the identification of morphological units and the incorporation of the territory’s ecological and regional characteristics. A detailed approach to delineating homogeneous ecological–landscape structures enhances the effectiveness of measures aimed at preserving soil fertility in the management of agricultural lands.