Articles

The article is devoted to the theory and practice of applying the concept of land degradation neutrality (LDN) for
the conditions of the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation. Its basic version is considered, based on the analysis
of three sub–indicators, where the assessment of land degradation trends in the study area is based on the analysis of changes in the main indicator — the percentage of degraded land from the total area of the territory, and three
sub-indicators of SDG 15.3.1: changes in land productivity, changes in land cover and dynamics of soil organic carbon reserves. As an adjustment to the basic approach of the LDN, it is proposed to supplement it with regional data on soil characteristics. Th e following soil properties can be recommended as necessary for considering in the
evaluation model — the content of humus and nutrients, as well as pH, these characteristics, on the one hand, are
largely related to soil fertility, and on the other hand, they are most at risk of degradation changes during human
exploitation of soils. Modifi cation of the LDN methodology allows not only to clarify the central (umbrella) indicator,
but also to identify the relationship of the latter with indicators of agricultural production, in particular, gross crop
yields. Analysis of the data using the modifi ed LDN method showed that 64.8% of the region was degraded (which
is almost 2 times higher than the values obtained by the basic LDN method), which leads to a signifi cant loss of crop
yield. Th e article proposes an algorithm for assessing the relationship between land degradation and gross crop yields
based on correlation and regression analysis (spatial models).

Th e response of the microbial community of soils to diff erent levels of oil contamination in a model experiment was studied according to indicators: basal respiration (BR), basal induced respiration (SIR), carbon of microbial biomass (Cmic), potential denitrifi cation (DNF), methanogenesis, catalase activity. Th e soils are represented by light chestnut (Haplic Kastanozems Sodic) and meadow-chestnut (Gleyic Kastanozems Chromic) dry-steppe zone of the Stavropol area, diff ering in the organic matter content, salinity and the content of physical clay. Th e intensity of BR increased aft er 30 days of the crude oil input into the soils and caused the growth of Cmic due to the activation of oil-oxidizing microorganisms in anaerobic zones of soils. DNF varied in light chestnut and meadow-chestnut soils not directly, that was probably due to the level of organic matter content in soils and their salinity. Catalase activity was a sensitive indicator for the petroleum hydrocarbons in light chestnut soil, but salinity was the determining factor in its activity in meadow chestnut soil. Biotesting with the use of worms Eisenia fetida showed the inability of test organisms to survive in non-contaminated chestnut soils. A signifi cant indicator that did not depend on natural factors in chestnut soils was BR and related indicators. Catalase activity and DNF have limitations on the salinity factor.

Th e damage caused by soil and land degradation was assessed at three hierarchical levels (the region as a whole, the municipality, the agricultural sector) of the spatial organization of six test regions of the Russian Federation (Volgograd, Belgorod, Kaliningrad, Vladimir, Samara and Penza regions). Th e indicators of soil and land degradation for all test objects
were a decrease in the content of exchangeable potassium, a decrease in the content of mobile phosphorus, a decrease
in the content of humus, a change in the acidity index of soils. In addition, for the test objects of the Volgograd region, the indicator of land salinization was used, the Belgorod region — soil erosion, the Kaliningrad region — the indicator of the metabolic coeffi cient (qCO2) of soils. It was found that the minimum and maximum values of the specific total damage fr om degradation can be detected for regions with a similar composition of soil cover (Saratov and Belgorod regions, respectively, wh ere chernozem soils predominate). When the values of specifi c total damage from soil and land degradation are close to each other at various hierarchical levels of spatial organization of regions (Vladimir, Saratov, Belgorod and partly Penza regions), in terms of intensity and scale of manifestation of the studied degradation processes, the agricultural farm is «typical» for the entire municipal district, and the municipal district is «typical» for the entire region.

Th e article analyses the problems of establishing factual circumstances of environmental violations against soils,
presents examples from the judicial practice, shows the possibilities of using special knowledge when considering
cases relating to negative anthropological impact on soil-geological objects. Th e following methods were used in the
research: observation, analysis, synthesis, description, comparison. It is substantiated the need for wider application
of results of forensic examination of geological evidence in the administration of justice. Th e most eff ective and
science-based form of using special knowledge is forensic environmental examination and particularly geological
evidence examination or forensic environmental and soil expertise. Such kind of examinations are actively carried
out in FBE «Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation» and in
FSPI «Forensic Expert Centre of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation». It is given an example of a
complex forensic environmental examination. Proposals are presented to expand the range of persons conducting
forensic environmental and soil examinations.

An electronic raster map of the ecological state of lands of Russian regions was prepared for the reference period from 2001 to 2020 based on the characteristics of the primary photosynthesis products derived from Earth remote sensing materials from space in the form of indicators of «productivity», land ransformation and dynamics of organic matter content in the soil and their generalizing indicator of sustainable development goals — SDG 15.3.1. Land degradation indicator. Th e calculation shows that 2.2 million square kilometers, which constitutes 13% of the territory of Russian Federation, belong to the category of degraded by the end of 2020. 45% of the territory is occupied by land from the stable category, which has not changed over the past 19 years. 41% of the territory belongs to the lands that have improved during the reference period. A statistically reliable nonlinear regular relationship of the indicator of the ecological state of lands of Russian Federation was established in the form of an indicator of the share of non-degraded lands, considering the share of non-established lands with the amount of specific emissions of pollutants into the atmospheric air from stationary sources located on the territory of the subject. The threshold value of specifi c emissions from stationary sources at the level of the subject of Russian Federation was established, amounting to 1610 kg per sq. km. Th e probability of exceeding the threshold value of specifi c emissions is 37%. The risk of increasing land degradation with an increase in emissions is typical for 36% of territorial units of Russian Federation.

The paper discusses the problem of reducing the content of ascorbic acid (as a plant-protective antioxidant compound in Solanum tuberosum L. potato tubers) while improving the nutritional regime — the use of complete mineral fertilizer in low doses, humidity and temperature conditions and physiologically optimal for potato growth pH values (weakly alkaline). The possibilities of using exogenous antioxidants (humic preparations) to maintain the level of ascorbic acid in commercial products are considered. Experimental data were obtained in fi eld studies on two types of soils and in two climatic regions (Voronezh and Moscow regions). It has been shown that humic preparations can maintain the level of ascorbic acid as an independent top dressing, and against the background of full mineral fertilizer with an increase in yield.

The research demonstrates the cadastral value calculation sensitivity to agroclimatic parameters and (soil conditions/ factors determing soil fertility) in humid, arid and semi-arid territories of the Russian Federation. Thе regularities to decrease the cadastral value of agrolandscapes are determined with an increase of gleying, (soil) erosion, stonyness, salinization, alkalinization, defl ation and over consolidation of soils. Cadastral value of agrolandscapes signifi cantly
increases due to drainage and irrigation.

A detailed review of existing methods of economic assessment of soils in Russia is carried out. It is shown that the
foundations of such an assessment were laid and voiced by V.V. Dokuchaev — in public lectures at meetings of the
Imperial Free Economic Society. Of the domestic soil assessment systems, the most perfect and holistic is the one
created by a group of employees of the V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Institute under the leadership of I.I. Karmanov. The main elements of this system are the soil-ecological index (a bonus score refl ecting the level of soil fertility taking into account specifi c climatic conditions and terrain) and the tariff category of the soil type of the assessed site. Modern methods of assessment, including monetization of ecosystem services of soils in determining the amount of damage from land degradation and assessing the value of soils based on the concepts of «zero soil», are analyzed. It is shown that the most promising approaches to the economic assessment of soils are — the assessment of the cost of individual soil properties, the cost of soil modifi ers used to improve soil quality, the cost of soils, soils and soil mixtures used for the purposes of reclamation, landscaping and landscaping, the assessment of the cost of ecosystem services of soils for lands of various economic use. Examples of approbation of some methods of economic assessment of soils for the territory of the Educational and Experimental Soil-ecological Center of Lomonosov Moscow State University «Chashnikovo» are considered.

The possibility of using microbiological indicators of soil «health» to assess the soils. The fundamental possibility of quantitative characterization of the functional potential of the microbial system with the assessment of «ecological services» is shown. Th ermodynamic criteria of natural microbial system (exergy and specifi c exergy) allow to carry out diagnostics of soil condition with direct estimation of degradation and damage. System characteristics of soil microbiota allow to approach the solution of many topical problems of functional soil science.

In the scientifi c and industrial spheres of the country, to date, there have not been clear ideas about the separation
of the functions of soils and lands in the fi eld of assessment, rationing and quality management, which leads to a
confusion of concepts and some confusion in the management of modern environmental management and environmental
protection. Th e features of the functioning of soils and lands as independent components of the environment
in matters of their assessment, rationing and quality management system established by the law «On Environmental
Protection» are considered. Th ere is a certain scientifi c and regulatory and methodological inadequacy in relation to
the development of indicators for the total assessment of environmental components included in the natural complex
of lands, especially industrial lands and settlements of the country. Th e ideas about acceptable indicators of soil
quality and levels of anthropogenic impact on them are generalized. Some attention was also paid to the issues of land
standardization with the development of ideas for establishing the natural and natural-anthropogenic background
of soils and related features of assessing the quality of soils of lands of various economic purposes. Th e paper touches
upon the issues of the specifi c trinity of the functioning of lands based on the development of ecological, resource
and socio-economic components. At the same time, the analysis of socio-economic regulation of land quality contributes
to the selection of the optimal direction in the organization of sustainable development of the territory and
the functioning of the entire natural resource complex of lands. To separate the concepts of «soil» and «land» at the
scientifi c and practical level, related to the peculiarities of their assessment, rationing and management, it is proposed
to pay special attention to the development and adoption of the federal law «On Soil Protection».