The study considers issues of rational use and protection of agricultural lands by example of the territory of Varfolomeyevskiy municipality of Aleksandrovo-Gayskiy district of the Saratov region. Review of up-to-date works taking into account regional aspects of rational use of agricultural lands on the base of ecological factors was done. State of the art of land resources use of the territory was observed as well as the reasons activated the processes of desertification, degradation of soil and vegetative cover, and loss of soil fertility. The assessment of anthropogenic load and degradation processes on the agricultural lands of the municipality was done using geospatial information. The system of activities on creating sustainable operation of liman irrigation system was proposed. The system consists of liman layer area optimization, implement of resource-saving norms of flooding, and applying techniques of surface and fundamental improving of liman lands. It was recommended to restore degraded pastures on the base of self-healing techniques of natural grass stand for the purpose of remediation during 2–3 years with simultaneous prohibition of grazing for this period. Economic justification of the developed project for the territory of irrigated pastures with water intake from the river Maly Uzen to provide balance in green fodder during grazing season shows reasonability of applying such techniques where the level of profitability will be 31 % and the project payback period is equal to three years.
Keywords: agricultural lands, rational use, degradation, desertification, amelioration, land management, land monitoring.
