Results of 50-Year Studies on Afforestation as Related to the Problem of Desertification Control in Ciscaspian Lowland in Russia

Abstract

This work contains results of 50-years research on Dzhanybek Forestry Station (the part of the Institute of Forest Research of RAS) located in the Caspian lowland within the Trans-Volga clay semidesert, 30 km to the north of the Elton lake, on the border of Russia and Kazakhstan. Natural conditions are characteristic for the region in the western part of Volga-Ural interfluve. The local climate is arid and continental. The territory represents a closed basin plain. Solonetz soil complex and vegetation are predominant. Underground waters lie on the depth from 4 to 6 m. The capacity of capillary fringe is 3 m. Two presented ecotops differ in main parameters limiting the ability of plants to live: mineralization of underground waters, salinity and fertility of soils. The solonchakous solonetzes and ligth-chestnut soils determine one of them, while non-saline meadow chestnut soils with the fresh water lenses in depressions are common for the second one.