Assessment of agricultural land loss due to mining in Moscow region

Abstract

The study discusses the impact of open cuts for the extraction of common minerals on soil resources and agricultural lands in Moscow region (MR). For this, the features of soil cover in Moscow region and the distribution of soil types by their use as agricultural resources were analyzed. Further, it was determined which types of soils are subject to varying degrees of open cut load. As a result, a schematic map of the soil cover with open cut load zones was made. It is shown which agricultural lands exposed to open cuts of varying intensity. A conclusion is made about the types of soil cover, which accounts for the greatest and least open cut load, as well as the degree of impact of open cuts on agricultural land resources and the correlation between the degree of open cut load and type of agricultural land use. It is shown that the most fertile soils, which occupy only 2.9% of the MR area, are not affected by the open cut load at all. The greatest open cut load is associated with agricultural lands, represented mainly by various sod-podzolic soils, which occupy 70.5% of the territory of the Moscow region. If economic trends and population growth rates in the Moscow region continue until 2030, we should expect a further increase in the influence of open cut load on agricultural land towards its intensification.