Particularities of Forming Desert Pastures Near Settlements of Southern Balkhash (Kazakhstan)

The results of field soil-and-geobotanical research study of the pastures near settlement Lepsy located in the desert area of the Almaty region are shown. The particularities of the climatic conditions for the formation of desert pastures in Southern Balkhash area are described. The characteristics of the plant cover of the pastures and the graybrown soils formed under them are provided. The effects of long unsystematic use of the pastures in the conditions of the growth of concentrated grazing areas near settlements on the degradation of the plant and soil covers have been identified, and four stages of degradation have been outlined by seven indicators. In determining the boundaries, the spectrometric characteristics of the surface of the pastures in the spectrum of near-infrared (600–750 nm), blue (400–500 nm), and red (500–600 nm) bands were used.