Dynamics of Agricultural Soil Erosion in Siberia and Far East
Socioeconomic reforms in agrarian sector together with the climate change induce spatial changes in anthropogenic factors of agricultural soil erosion pattern and soil erosion itself in the Asian part of Russia. Comparison of pre- and post-reform quantitative parameters of erosion rate and soil loss from arable slopes was performed using logical-mathematical erosion models within different administrative regions of the Asian part of Russia. Significant spatially-differentiated decrease of annual soil loss from arable slopes was revealed in most of the administrative regions, except for Altai Krai and Amur Oblast. On the arable lands of other administrative regions, the decrease ranged from 25 to 50 percent compared to soil loss in the period of 1960–1990. The maximum decrease was observed in aridic landscapes of republics of Tyva, Buryatiya and Zabaykalskii Krai (–73–93%). Spatial changes of erosion rate are less prominent on land currently under cultivation: significant growth was observed only in the Far East economic region. The main driver of the post-r-eform dynamics of agricultural erosion was the countrywide decrease of cropland area and the change in the soil-protecting capacity of agrocenoses.