Influence of cattle grazing on soil degradation in mountain territories of the northern Tien Shan

The article discusses the results of studies on the degradation of soil and vegetation in the mountainous areas of Ile Alatau and the Uzynkara Range. The data of geobotanical studies of high-mountain and mid-mountain pastures of Ile Alatau and the Uzynkara Range showed the dominance of vegetation degradation over other processes. The soils of the mountainous areas are characterized by the thickness of the humus horizon, high gross humus content, large reserves of calcium and magnesium and a small phosphorus content. As our studies have shown, the thickness of the humus horizon of the studied soils is 40-60 cm, they are distinguished by a high fertility potential, but this potential is limited by such factors as soil trampling and the degree of pasture degradation. At the same time, with an increase in pasture degradation, there is a decrease in the humus layer, a decrease in the content of humus and nutrients in the soil. The assessment of plant communities as indicators of pasture degradation in the study area showed that due to excessive and unregulated grazing, the vegetation cover has been subjected to anthropogenic degradation. There is a transformation of the species composition of plants, a decrease in the productivity of pasture forages, soils, which in turn leads to a deterioration in the mechanical properties of soils: an increase in density in the 0-10 cm layer increases by 0.11%, valuable silt particles are washed away in the upper part of the profile, the content of water-stable aggregates and their water resistance decreases. 

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