Soil Degradation in the Republic of Adygea Under Exogenous Geological Processes

The geographical position of the Republic of Adygea determines the development of a wide class of exogenous geological processes (wind and water erosion; flooding, salinization and excessive water saturation, etc.), which may have a destructive effect on the soil cover. About 185.7 thousand ha (55.7% of the total area of 333.4 thousand ha) of agricultural land in the region are subject to weak wind erosion. Of these, 65.3 thousand ha (19.6%) are considered deflationary. 32.8 thousand ha (9.8%) of agricultural land in the Republic of Adygea are subject to water erosion. Lands saturated with water (including waterlogged) account for 64 thousand ha (19.2%). A total of 13.7 thousand ha or 4.1% of the total agricultural land in the Republic of Adygea is occupied by saline soils and solonetzes. Apart from wind erosion, exogenous processes have no significant effect on the state of the soil cover of the Republic of Adygea.