Gully danger at the Middle Region of the USSR in connection with its economic development

Abstract

The gully danger has been estimated for the Middle Region of the USSR (West Siberian Plain, Kazakhstan and Middle Asia included) on the base of comparison of maps compiled by the authors, such as map of present gully distribution and map of potential gully erosion, i. e. possible erosion intensity in case of natural environment destruction due to the agricultural development of the territory. Present gully development has been estimated by indices of gully net density and frequency. Potential gully erosion has been calculated using solid discharge data at closing profiles of small drainage basins as well as data on main natural factors (catchment area, liquid precipitation, average slope of the territory, surface rock resistance to erosion).

At present the gully development at the region is not considerable (gully area is about 2 per cent of the whole territory), nevertheless in case of agricultural development about 50 per cent of the vast territory can undergo intensive and moderate erosion; the value may be increased in case of irrigation on account of the irrigation erosion at erodible soils. The study results can be used to work out anti-erosion measures and to chose the regions of economic development.