Reclamation Systems for Growing Shelterbelts on Saline Soils Under Saltwater Irrigation

In the context of climate change, desertification of land is reaching global proportions. In our country, almost all southern regions are prone to desertification. This process is especially active in the Republic of Kalmykia, Astrakhan and Volgograd oblasts. The most effective way to combat desertification is planting trees and shrubs. On agricultural lands, such plantings are carried out in the form of shelterbelts bordering fields. However, when saline water tables are high, the death of shelterbelt vegetation is observed due to secondary soil salinization. Another obstacle to shelterbelt creation is the poor survival rate of seedlings in conditions of soil moisture deficit and the absence of fresh irrigation water. This article discusses the design of reclamation systems that enable shelterbelt growing without sources of water suitable for irrigation, both in the secondary soil salinization setting and in case of desert lands. These designs are protected by Russian patents for inventions. The essence of the technical solutions underlying them is using desalinated salt water for removal salts from saline soil and subsequent irrigation. To desalinate water, transport it for salt removal and irrigation, devices have been proposed that employ renewable energy sources such as solar water and air heaters, wind induced draft fans and steam condensers that use the temperature difference above the site surface and in the soil depth.