Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity FEB RAS, Vladivostok, 690022, Russia
The composition and structure of the soils of the Lake Khanka lowlands have been analyzed according to their position in the scheme of administrative regions and in the system of soil-geographical regionalization. The grouping of soils at the geomorphological level was proposed using criteria of their optimal use for agricultural production in accordance with the agrochemical characteristics of the arable horizons, such as the thickness of the humus layer, the acidity and the availability of nutrients (phosphorus and potassium).
The use of soils as a mean for agricultural production causes the problem of sustainable nature management that targets the increase the nature resource potential of agro-landscapes and, above all, a progressive increase of soil fertility. The elements of sustainable nature management include% 1) the elaboration of eco-friendly agricultural technology, including livestock maintenance and processing of agricultural products and their waste; 2) development of adaptive and soil protective systems of agriculture and livestock production on the basis of recycled and non-waste (balanced) agricultural production; 3) introduction of complex land reclamation for expanded reproduction of soil fertility of multi-purpose reclamation systems; 4) comprehensive testing of intensive and promising resource-saving technologies; 5) recultivation of disturbed and rehabilitation of degraded soils.
To develop measures for the ecologically optimal use of the soil cover, it is recommended to use special mapping based on the contemporary and traditional methods. Detailed studies of soils as territorial units of different levels of organization and indicators of soil diversity should be aimed at characterizing soils as a component of natural and derivative biogeocoenoses. This is an advantage of soil-ecological studies versus highly specialized studies aimed at either determination of the norms for application of fertilizers, or irrigation and reclamation, land management measures.
Ecological optimization requires the development of monitoring systems, information support, the compilation of ecological passports and scientifically sound standards for agricultural activities, as well as the widespread development of complex, operational cartographic surveys. Without a comprehensive study of environmental problems of soil cover, without the ecologization of technologies for cultivating agricultural crops, it is impossible to solve environmental issues. In order to prevent the negative consequences of human activities, we need: 1) the legislation of ecologically clean systems of agriculture in a monsoon climate and 2) objective criteria to reliably monitor the state of soil cover. Consequently, the problems of environmental monitoring are of particular relevance.