Abstract

Land degradation especially as a result of the rapid increase in demand and pressure in the population, have emerged as one of the most important problems. Degradation leads to the loss of biological and economic productivity due to the fact that the soil loses its functional properties, which are one of the most important elements of the terrestrial ecosystem. Combined with excessive biophysical and socio-economic damage in arid areas, land degradation causes irreversible consequences leading to desertification. Thus, land degradation is an environmental threat not only on a local or regional scale, but also on a continental or even global scale. The change in the state of soils as a result of anthropogenic impact and climatic changes determines the relevance of conducting a study of the soils of the Republic of Kalmykia. Endosalic Calcisols of sandy loam and sandy granulometric composition predominate in the structure of the soil cover of the southern part of the Caspian lowland, significant areas are occupied by sands. More than 70% of agricultural land is subject to wind erosion. Salt marshes are widely distributed.

Keywords: Caspian lowland, arid soil, organic carbon, soil acidity, heavy metals.

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