Soil Erosion in the North Caucasus (Review)

Abstract The review of publications is based on the analysis of more than hundred publications on various types of soil erosion in the North Caucasus Federal District (NCFD). The North Caucasus is characterized by a complex set of erosive and accumulative processes. The review analyzes literature data on water erosion of soils in rain-fed agricultural landscapes; water erosion of soils of irrigated agricultural landscapes; water erosion on soils of pastures; wind erosion (deflation) of soils; and zoning of lands according to the potential risk or extent of water and wind erosion of soils. A historical analysis of the development of research into soil erosion in the North Caucasus is presented. It has been shown that studies of soil erosion there were conducted mainly in the 1970s and 1980s, with most of the work focused on experimental sites. Soil erosion studies are almost nonexistent in the republics of Chechnya and Ingushetia. Studies of water erosion of soils in the North Caucasus are poorly generalized. The publications emphasize the problem of diagnosing the degree of soil degradation from wind erosion. There are discrepancies in the estimates of areas of land subject to soil erosion. Whereas the problem of soil erosion in the North Caucasus is becoming more urgent due to the growing agricultural activity and negative effects of climate change, there are few recent studies, especially field observations concerning soil erosion in the North Caucasus Federal District.