The impact of technologies for the development and use of virgin, fallow lands on agroecological stability and soil fertility

Relevance . The research was carried out in order to analyze the impact of technologies for the development of virgin and fallow lands on erosion processes in the steppe zone in the 60s and modern conditions. Methods . The analysis of approaches to the prevention of soil degradation and desertification of the territory is carried out based on materials obtained in the steppe zone of the Republic of Khakassia in the second half of the XX century and in modern conditions. We used the results of the application of technologies for the development of virgin and fallow lands of Tselinnoye LLC in different periods. Information about dust storms was taken from data from the Bey and Shire weather stations. In 1954–1960 when plowing the chernozem of the southern virgin lands, technology was used using plows, huskers and other tillage tools. The lack of adapted ways of developing and using new lands has led to an outbreak of wind erosion of soils over large areas, including in the south-east of the country. Results . The dump system of soil treatment during the mass development of virgin and fallow lands in the 60s, without taking into account soil, climatic and other conditions, led to a strong development of wind erosion. The number of days with dust storms in Khakassia reached up to 4.8–11.6 per year. In modern conditions, the removal of highly ventilated soils from arable lands and the use of strip placement of crops and minimal tillage on the rest of the arable land contribute to increasing the erosion resistance of agricultural landscapes. The use of the Tornado 500 herbicide in August during the development of the deposit reduces the erodibility by 2.5 times, compared with the technology with its introduction in early summer.