Assessment of Natural and Forest Reclaimed Forage Lands in Semi-Desert Conditions in Southern Russia

Abstract

Haphazard use of pastures has become one of the factors of disturbance of their natural vegetation. Therefore, forest reclamation works were carried out and significant areas of strip plantations of shrubs were created in the Caspian Sea region in the mid-20th century. In the arid zone of Russia, one of the most important tasks in the field of scientific provision of protective afforestation is the improvement of methods and techniques of arrangement, increasing longevity and environmental, agricultural, and utilitarian efficiency of plantations. This study aims to determine the long-term impact of afforestation on the functioning of pasture ecosystems. The influence of tree and shrub layer on biodiversity and productivity of vegetation cover of pastures was also studied. The research objects are plantations growing on the reclaimed pastures. The research is based on the materials of biomonitoring and field experiments using standard methods of forest inventory and geobotanical survey. Rectangular-shaped test plots of 0.25–0.30 ha were laid out for the study of forest plots. Test plots were used for a detailed description of the location, soil composition, time, method, and technology of plantation development, as well as a comprehensive assessment of the growth and longevity of tree and shrub crops. Data from key plots were used to study the successional processes of vegetation cover. The research results have shown that deep plowing preparation of soil to obtain high results in rooting, preservation, and growth of shrub species has an advantage over other soil preparation technologies in the semi-desert zone. It was found that the shrub layer up to 45 years old retains its productive and generative abilities. Pasture protection belts from Haloxylon aphyllum and reclamation and fodder plantations from Krascheninnikovia ceratoides and Calligonum aphyllum have a high cenosis potential and stability. In this case study, in semi-arid regions, afforestation with shrubs is the best way to improve and restore pastures. For citation: Rybashlykova L.P., Lepesko V.V. Assessment of Natural and Forest Reclaimed Forage Lands in Semi-Desert Conditions in Southern Russia. Lesnoy Zhurnal [Russian Forestry Journal], 2021, no. 3, pp. 37–48. DOI: 10.37482/0536-1036-2021-3-37-48