Landscape-Ecological Assessment of Dry Lands of the Russian-Kazakhstan Border Zone for Sustainable Land Use

Abstract

An algorithm for the landscape-ecological assessment of drylands is developed and implemented based on the integration of geosystem, ecological-landscape, and agro-ecological scientific approaches, as well as landscape planning tools. The algorithm includes an analysis of the landscape structure of the territory and land-use dynamics; assessment of the potential natural resistance of landscapes to agricultural impact and their agricultural production quality; functional zoning; and the development of optimization measures for land use. The results of the study showed that 92% of the territory of the Russian-Kazakhstan border zone is represented by landscapes with poor or no resistance to agricultural impact. Landscapes with low values of agricultural production quality constitute 73% of agricultural land. Landscapes of good and medium agricultural production quality make up 19% and are located on flat interfluves. Recommendations for sustainable land use in the zone of dry steppes are proposed based on the identified landscape differentiation.