Mapping of Spatial Patterns of Soil Tolerance toward Technogenic Salinization in the Soligorsk Mining Region with due account for Soil Combinations

Abstract

According to the theory of soil cover patterns, soil combinations represent territorial units that can be used for assessing the technogenic impact on soils of agricultural lands in the Soligorsk mining region of the Republic of Belarus. The typical soil combinations in this area determined as a result of geosystem inventory of soil cover patterns consist of soddy-podzolic soils (Retisols), gleyed soddy-podzolic soils (Gleysols), and low moor peat soils (Histosols). They are characterized by different salinity and resistance to technogenic chemical impact. The evaluation of the status of the soil cover is based on the information provided by soil combinations as natural systems and spatial units of zoning and land typology. The parameterization of the main characteristics of soil combinations is given with the consideration of the possibility for semiautomatic and automatic recording and monitoring of their status in order to substantiate the strategy of rational land use under conditions of technogenic salinization. The factors of redistribution of chemical pollutants in representative soil combinations are taken into account with the use of the tools of geoinformation systems. A spatial basis for optimizing agricultural land use in the form of space-time models of soil tolerance to technogenic salinization is suggested.