Comprehensive Assessment of Agricultural Land Desertification in East Kazakhstan and Application of Biocomposite Hydrogels for Soil Fertility Restoration

ABSTRACT Background Land degradation and desertification are major global issues, particularly in arid regions such as East Kazakhstan. This study aimed to analyze these processes and develop an innovative approach for land restoration. Aims The research objective was to assess soil degradation using geoinformation analysis and to develop and test a biocomposite hydrogel for improving moisture retention and soil fertility. Experimental plots were created to evaluate the hydrogel's impact, which uses polysaccharides and natural zeolites, against control plots. Methods The study involved work across 15 sites in five districts of East Kazakhstan. The research monitored climatic and soil factors, analyzing agrochemical properties such as humus, nitrogen, and pH. Plant conditions were evaluated by height, leaf area, chlorophyll index, and photosynthetic intensity. Satellite monitoring (NDVI) and RUSLE soil loss assessment were also performed. Results The analysis showed statistically significant differences between the control and experimental plots in terms of the humus ( p = 0.003) and nitrogen ( p = 0.004) contents. Humus remained stable in the experimental plots but decreased by 15% in the controls. Soil moisture also differed significantly ( p = 0.001), with treated samples retaining 20% more moisture. Plants in the experimental plots had higher growth rates and photosynthetic activity, and the average NDVI values increased by 10%. RUSLE modeling indicated that the hydrogel reduced soil loss by 25%. Conclusions These findings confirm the effectiveness of the biocomposite hydrogel in enhancing the water retention and fertility of degraded soils. This provides a new and effective approach for sustainable land management and soil restoration in arid regions, promoting both food security and sustainable agriculture.