Theoretical and Applied Issues of Agricultural Landscape Research

Abstract

The purpose is to consider theoretical and applied issues of agricultural landscapes research based on the results of their agricultural landscape–ecological zoning. Materials and methods. The zoning was carried out using comparative geographical, landscape, agro-landscape-ecological, information methods, cartographic, statistical data, literary and stock sources. Its contour basis is the Map of soil and ecological zoning of the Russian Federation (MSU, 2013). Results and discussion. Agro-landscape and ecological zoning of 11 natural and economic regions of Russia has been developed: Northern, Northwestern, Volga-Vyatka, Central, Central Chernozem, Volga, North Caucasian, Ural, West Siberian, East Siberian and Far Eastern. It has been established that unilateral fascination with economically attractive crops (cereals, sunflower) leads to a violation of crop rotations, deterioration of the phytosanitary condition of crops, degradation of agricultural land. The balance of the structure of agricultural landscapes and acreage is disturbed. Protective ecosystems – perennial grasses, meadows, forests – are disappearing from them. There are few protective ecosystems in the structure of agricultural landscapes. There are practically none in the structure of acreage. The share of perennial grasses, the main soil–forming agents, in the structure of sown areas has decreased by 5-10 times. There is a negative balance of nutrients in agriculture in Russia. The main direction in the adaptation of agriculture is the agro-landscape and ecological zoning of the territory. On the basis of zoning, it is necessary to create and master regionally, landscape and ecologically differentiated agricultural land- scapes and agroecosystems, varieties of agricultural crops, apply adaptive (nature-like) techniques and technologies. Conclusions. The solution to the problem of sustainable development of balanced, productive and environmentally friendly agriculture should be based on zoning and adaptive use of natural and climatic resources, biological and environmental factors.