CHANGES OF LAND COVER AND SOIL PROPERTIES OF AMUDARYA DOWNSTREAM AREAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DESERTIFICATION

This article describes the soils common in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya and the Aral region, changes in the amount of humus in soils, fertility, agrochemical composition of soils, mechanical composition and changes in the properties of these soils under the influence of degradation and desertification processes. In particular, the article discusses the issues that during the main stages of desertification, the surface of irrigated soils of the lower reaches of the Amu Darya is covered with a layer of soluble salts, and brackish-loving halophyte plants spread on these lands. According to research data, the soil cover is occupied by Arabasis aphylla and Solsola rigiga plants, which form typical desert shrubs. Along with this, the article provides information that under the influence of desertification processes, it was noticed that infertile soils changed in the negative direction, the soil became compacted, layers of layers formed under the soil, the amount of humus decreased, the soil cover dried up, and the water depth level decreased. Sand has accumulated in the surface part of the soil around the plants, and, finally, the vegetation cover in these areas consists of saxaul.