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Natural and climatic features of the soil cover formation of Turkestan region of the Republic of Kazakhstan are identified by a set of hydrological and bioclimatic factors serving as important environment-forming functions, which are reflected in the landscape organization of the territory. When assessing soil resources of agricultural landscapes, integrated index of soil fertility was applied – the “soil index,” which takes into account the reserves of humus, mineral elements, and hydrolytic acidity. Based on monitoring observations (1996–2019) of soil fertility in agricultural landscapes (agricultural lands) of Turkestan region, assessment of soil resources was performed, which showed that in general, the generalized “soil index” ranges from 1.086 to 4.800 units depending on natural features of the territory. It is found that the “soil index” in agricultural landscapes is significantly less than its maximum value (20.000 units), which suggests a pronounced humus deficiency, showing low soil fertility in all agricultural landscapes. To assess the soil resources of agricultural landscapes in Turkestan region, a new approach was applied, which is based on the assessment of energy costs for the soil formation process, which enables to quantitatively reflect the radiation balance of the earth surface, heat, and moisture supply of agricultural land for 1941–1960 and 2001–2020. The indicators applied are subject to the law of vertical zonation and change from the mountain to the arid zone, where the potential energy costs for soil formation range from 82.2–101.9 to 129.4–135.5 kJ/cm2, and natural energy costs energy costs for soil formation from 17.2–21.7 to 121.7–125.2 kJ/cm2.

The article presents the scientific results of a study assessing agroclimatic resources in agricultural landscapes located in various natural zones of the Turkestan region of the RK (Republic of Kazakhstan). The research methods included classical and modern methods of mathematical statistics using digital technology and time series graphs to develop a mathematical model for climatic and hydrological indicators. Assessment of changes in indicators of agroclimatic resources in agricultural landscapes for 1941-2020 showed that the sum of air temperature, evaporation from the water surface and radiation balance of the daytime surface, characterising the energy resources of landscapes, increased by 10-15%, which contributes to increase in the total water consumption of agricultural land by 10-12%. Meanwhile, the decreasing tendency of the amount of precipitation by 5-10% in all natural climatic zones of the region has become one of the factors leading to a decrease in the natural moisture supply of the soil and vegetation cover of landscapes by 10-15%, acting as important environment-forming and ecological functions. The combined impact of these environment-forming factors has become the key reason for the increase in the deficit of agricultural land water consumption by 15-20%, the reduction of solar energy costs for the soil-forming process by 10-15% and the increase of the climate aridisation, and has become a signal for the need in the safety of agricultural activities, requiring the development of a set of adaptive measures to mitigate this process in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was a comprehensive assessment of water supply of the population, territory and economic sectors in the context of water-resource regions of Turkestan region of the Republic of Kazakhstan based on integrated specific water supply index, taking into account the environmental flows of river basins, providing data on the current state of water resources, level of water supply and their changes under influence of natural and anthropogenic factors. The research methodology is based on statistical analysis, long-term information-analytical materials on the hydrological condition of rivers, territorial organization of water consumption and the population of Turkestan region. For a comprehensive assessment of water supply of the population, territory and economy, a methodology was developed that allowed to assess the current state of water supply in the territory of river basins in the region and their changes under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors. A comparative assessment of water supply in the Turkestan region in terms of water-resource areas based on the proposed methodological approach and the created research base covering the period of 2002-2020 showed that, in general, there is a high level of water shortage, which is associated with water shortage problems in the region. The obtained results of study are of fundamental environmental and economic importance when assessing water supply and can be used as an effective tool for the assessment of the influence of water factors during socio-economic forecasting of the region's development, especially recreational activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase the level of management efficiency in the agricultural sector of the economy, it is necessary to ensure the implementation of the sustainable environmental management principles, taking into account the spatial patterns of climate change and bioclimatic potential of the territory. The assessment of natural moisture availability of the natural areas of the Turkestan region of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 1941-2020 (by providing a comparative analysis of indicators for 1941-1960 and 2001-2020) was conducted based on the use of the natural moisture coefficient and hydrothermal index or "dryness index" predicated on energy resources (total of biologically active air temperatures above 10°C, photosynthetically active radiation, evaporating capacity and water consumption of agricultural land). The conducted survey has used the proven domestic, international and proprietary methods according to estimates of natural water availability in the natural areas. The results of a comparative analysis of climatic indices changes in the natural areas of the Turkestan region (by sixteen weather bureau stations) for 1941 to 2020 have shown that there is an increase in average annual air temperatures in all natural areas, and the annual precipitation tends downward which affects the formation of energy resources and natural water supply. The identified features of changes in the natural moisture coefficient and hydrothermal index or "dryness index" in natural area of Turkestan region, make it possible to adjust the spread of its boundaries and consider these changes in the territorial organization of agricultural nature management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the scientific results of a study for assessing climate change trends in natural areas of the Turkestan region of the Republic of Kazakhstan based on the use of long-term climate data (1940-2020) of sixteen meteorological stations located in the region. In the course of the study, tested domestic, international and proprietary methodology for assessing climate change in natural areas were used based on plotting a fixed time series of climatic indicators and the resulting equations of linear trends. The results of the study showed that the average annual air temperature in all natural areas of the Turkestan region tend to increase, and the amount of annual precipitation to decrease, this has a negative impact on the development of recreational and agricultural nature management. On the basis of the developed mathematical models of changes in climatic indicators that characterize the coefficient of coincidence of the growth rates of average annual air temperature and annual precipitation, their quantitative values were determined in the territories of the natural areas of the region, which influence the formation of the environment-forming functions of the natural system. The results of the study enable economic entities, especially farms, to organize sustainable agricultural environmental management, and management bodies to develop plans for the development of recreational tourism in the Turkestan region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the scientific results of a study for the assessment of agricultural land in Zhambyl region of the Republic of Kazakhstan based on field studies in 2020-2021 and modern GIS technologies. The purpose of the study of the article is a comprehensive assessment of land resources used for agricultural production in Zhambyl region, identifying the prevailing areas of agricultural land, irrigated and rainfed pastures by administrative districts of the region. In the course of the scientific study, proven Kazakhstani methods of assessing the state of agricultural land, successfully applied to the arid agricultural regions of Kazakhstan, as well as methods of geographical and agricultural sciences for land analysis and calculation according to the structure of use, were used. Based on the statistical data of the Committee of Land Resources and preliminary regional plans, a map of the land fund of the Zhambyl region by land categories was created. The results of the study allow business entities, especially farms, to organize the rational use of irrigated lands, including pastures and hayfields, including the sustainability and profitability of agricultural production, as well as successfully develop agro-landscape tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issues discussed in the paper concern the assessment of changes in quantitative and qualitative indicators of water resources in the climatic conditions of the southern part of Kazakhstan. For this purpose, many years of systematic field observations and other continuous data obtained from the functioning measurement and observation stations operating within the Aral-Syrdarya Basin Inspection were used. On the basis of the obtained data, indicators were determined that characterize the quantity and quality of water supplied to the soil in the irrigation process, as well as the quantity and quality of water flowing out of the drainage systems, together with an evaluation of the effectiveness of irrigation and drainage systems. Soil salinity was assessed in five irrigated massifs with a total area of 332.55 thous. ha. For the same irrigated massifs, the annual amounts of water taken for irrigation, the amount of outflowing water and the assessment of the mineralization level were determined. Based on the developed results of field observations characterizing the hydrological and environmental situation of the lower section of the Syr Darya River in 1960–2015, the negative reaction coefficients were calculated for the local population, soil and vegetation for five of the irrigated massifs of the Kyzylorda region. The ecological situation of the habitat of soil and plants in the lower reaches of the Syr Darya River in all irrigation areas deteriorates on a time scale, since as a result of the reclamation of agricultural lands, intensive secondary soil salinization occurs and the formation of infiltration runoff with high mineralization, contributing to the violation of the harmonization of the relationship between nature and man. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]