THE IMPACT OF OIL PRODUCTION ON THE EROSION NETWORK DEVELOPMENT IN VOLGA-URAL STEPPE REGION

The purpose of the work is to consider the features of the erosion network development of the in the steppe zone with mixed agricultural and oil-producing land use. The research was carried out on six key study plots with an area of 100 km² each which allocated within the Volga-Ural agricultural and oil region. Satellite images and fieldwork were used to digitize, map and classify erosive landforms. The main directions of erosion activity at key plots are identified for the period from 1985 to 2020. The analysis of the length and density of the spatial distribution of the erosion elements is carried out. It is shown that the activation of production activities at an oilfield is capable of initiating new and strengthening current erosion processes. During the time of maximum technogenic load, the total length of the erosion elements can increase by more than 50%. There is a steady increase in the total length of the erosion network during the increase in the time of operation of the oil field. Agricultural lands located in the zone of the oilfield are influence increased risk of soil erosion. In such cases, the tasks of protecting land from technogenic transformations and their return to agricultural circulation are actualized.