The purpose of research is to assess the salinity of different soil type within the landscape zones with respect to waterways to update Astrakhan region’s land reclamation schemes zoning. The need for research is determined by deterioration of agricultural land, streams, fisheries, forestry and other farms, caused by global climate change, anthropogenic and environmental footprint. At the beginning of this century, the proportion of irrigated land in the structure of Astrakhan region agricultural lands in all categories of land users was about 7 %. 62.3 thousand hectares (27.3 %) were in good, 108.9 thousand hectares (47.9 %) in satisfactory and 56.5 thousand hectares (24.8 %) in unsatisfactory ameliorative condition. Over the past decade, these figures have changed slightly. The presented data on soil salinity and reducing the water content of rivers and reservoirs in the region indicate the need for careful planning of reclamation measures to support sustainable agricultural production, fish breeding and other economic activities. The work corresponds to the directions of Federal Targeted Programs approved by the Government for the development of water industry and land reclamation of agricultural lands of the Russian Federation up to 2020.
Keywords: soils, the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain, the Volga delta, zoning, irrigation methods.
