By ravines and gullies forest belts influence on the erosion and accumulation process on hollow slopes

Abstract

The purpose. To develop the theory of allocation of melkozem on hollow downslopes under the influence of gullen- and balk-adjacent woodland belts and to attract more attention to restoring wood-melioration operations in terrains of agricultural land-use. Methods. Geomorphological analysis of map material and space pictures, selection of typical for conditions of Northern Steppe hollows on downslopes of different exposure with various combination of agricultural lands. Geodesic methods of soil-erosive surveys which determine developmental character and moving direction of soil on different elements of land forms and as a result — formation of head loops of ablation — accumulation on hollows. Results. Influence of gullen- and balk-adjacent woodland belts is fixed on erosive-accumulative process on hollows which upper part from below is limited by woodland belt and is under intensive agricultural land-use, and lower one — is under forage grasslands. During field and cameral surveys catchment areas of woodland belts are specified. Character of formation of head loops of ablation and accumulation proves that soil as a result of ablation or plowings was tolerated from drainage area and secondary downslopes and deposited on thalweg in catchment area of woodland belt. Conclusions. Gullen- and balk-adjacent woodland belts are the organizing beginning of soil-protective land-use on slope lands. They promote levelling procedure of surface of soil on field part of hollows, reduce erosion processes on drainage areas and form head loops of accumulation in working area of the influence. Besides they promote activity of natural gears of protection of soils on hydrographic network. With termination of active erosion processes on the balk part of hollows the powerful soil-covering is formed, and on thalweg — dumetums. It as a whole confirms necessity of restoration of wood-melioration operations on lands of the agricultural factories.