SOIL CARBON DYNAMICS AND GEOECOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION OF ARID LANDSCAPES

https://doi.org/10.48498/minmag.2026.254.6.003

Soil carbon depletion caused by land degradation is a major geoecological problem in arid regions. The aim of this study was to assess soil carbon dynamics and geoecological transformation under different degradation levels. The research was based on soil analytical methods, carbon budget assessment, and statistical analysis. The results showed that vegetation cover is the main factor controlling carbon accumulation, whereas salinization, erosion, and overgrazing accelerate carbon losses. Carbon stocks decreased from 71.2 to 30.9 t C ha⁻¹ with increasing degradation intensity, while carbon sequestration efficiency declined from 76.4% to 23.7%. Stable soils functioned as carbon sinks, whereas degraded soils approached carbon source conditions. The study confirms that soil carbon is an effective indicator of geoecological transformation and ecosystem resilience in arid landscapes.

*G. Toychibekova, E. Akkereeva, J. Sharafieva, K. Sarbaeva