Analysis of the dynamics of agricultural lands of the Republic of Tyva using satellite images

¹ State Budget Scientific Institution of the Republic of Tyva Center for Biosphere Research, Ulug-Khemskaya St., Republic of Tyva, Russia
² A.M. Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics, RAS, Pyzhevsky lane, 119017, Kyzyl, Moscow, 3, Russia

^* Corresponding author: sambuu@mail.ru

Abstract

The analysis of the dynamics of agricultural lands of the Republic of Tyva (Russia) is carried out. Satellite images from the Landsat-8 spacecraft for the summer period 1987–2021 were used to analyze the spatial distribution of ecosystems on the territory of intermountain basins. Digital land use maps reflect the current situation and contain information about arable land, deposits of different ages, pastures. To determine the age of the deposit, field materials were used, which made it possible to identify the composition of vegetation, varying depending on the age of the deposit, which was reflected in the images. For the first time in the post-Soviet period, a comprehensive analysis of data obtained on the basis of reconnaissance and field work, land use maps using digital technologies was carried out, which allowed us to reveal the current use of more than 30% of arable land, deposits of different ages make up 17–37% of steppe territories, most of the agricultural land is pastures. The interpretation of satellite images made it possible to draw up a map-scheme of the distribution of ecosystems on the territory of the basins. Steppe vegetation is restored on abandoned arable lands. In many fallow areas, bushes of Caragana bungei Ledeb. grow. The processes of desertification and salinization are observed in the territory under consideration.