Determination of the spatial and temporal dynamics of water erosion development using GIS technologies

Abstract

Currently, there are 0.21 hectares of arable land for every inhabitant of the planet. According to the UN forecast, the availability of arable land in the future will decrease to 0.14 ha/person not only due to population growth, but also due to land allotment for the construction of settlements, industrial facilities, hydroelectric power stations, mining and, most importantly, for strengthening erosion processes of anthropogenic nature. So, over the past 30 years, 58 hectares of arable land of the Bolsheelovskoye JV of the Elabuga municipal district of the Republic of Tatarstan has been withdrawn from agricultural circulation. In addition, a comparative assessment of the initial soil cartogram with a map compiled 30 years later using the geographic information system showed a 2-fold increasing area of medium washed-out soils and the transition of 100 hectares of unwashed-out arable land to the category of slightly washed. Based on the research results, we developed a set of anti-erosion measures, including the planting of stock-regulating and field-protecting forest strips, strip lane placement of crops and increasing soil fertility based on the biologization of farming.