Influence of Environmental Conditions on Soil Processes in the High Mountains of Dagestan

Materials are presented for route, stationary soil, and ecological studies carried out in the high-mountainous zone of Dagestan with the characteristics of (a) the modern features of the development of the soil cover and (b) the ecological parameters of the soil cover and their changes under the influence of climatic warming. The variety of natural and economic conditions of the object of study resulted in significant diversity of the soil cover. The soil distribution was greatly influenced by the terrain height and the exposure and steepness of slopes. Based on soil erosion studies from previous periods, it can be noted that improper land use and climatic warming have led to radical changes in the composition of the soil cover in terms of defining indicators—soil erosion. In recent years, the area of eroded land has doubled, and the area with heavily eroded soils has increased by a third. This led to a decrease in the thickness of humus horizons in almost all soils to an average of 20 cm, and the loss of humus reserves in soils amounted to 60% of the original content. The presented analysis of soil-cover degradation and the established patterns of soil evolution on the slope lands of high mountains serve as a theoretical basis for the reproduction of soil fertility and preservation of the ecological role of soil protection from erosion and other degradation processes.