Zhumbei A.I., Bezuglova O.S.

Diagnostics of the state of the soil cover of the state nature reserve "Tsimlyansky" and the processes of sand erosion

A study of the composition of the soil cover of the territory of the state nature reserve "Tsimlyansky" was conducted in order to track the state of the ecosystem by the main processes of soil formation and indicators of the state of vegetation cover: humus accumulation, the formation of a differentiated profile, projective coverage and the presence of loose sands. The field stage of the study was carried out with the laying of soil sections on sites reflecting the main forms of meso- and microrelief. Samples from each genetic horizon were selected in soil sections for laboratory study of granulometric composition, humus content, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content. According to remote sensing data, an assessment of the depth of groundwater occurrence was carried out, a digital relief model and a surface runoff model were built to track probable zones of water erosion of sands. According to the multispectral survey by SWIR-NIR-RED channel synthesis, the areas of loose and loosely anchored sands during the growing season were estimated, the danger of deflationary destruction of the sand massif was estimated. Based on the data obtained, maps of groundwater occurrence, surface runoff and loose sands are constructed. The results of the conducted studies allow us to conclude that the level of resistance to erosion processes is safe for the ecosystem, however, the safety margin of the measures carried out decades ago is approaching a dangerous level, which requires the planting of new protective forests and shrubs to restore the most effective sand retention system.

Keywords: GIS, REMOTE SENSING, TSIMLYANSKY NATURE RESERVE, VEGETATION COVER, SOILS, SOIL COVER, SAND MASSIFS