The agrogeosystem complex forms the basis for human life, even in the digital age. Understanding the principles of transformation of energy and matter within a given niche, agricultural production capacities can be adapted to it. Thus, in particular, the structure of the agrolandscape is used - this is a complex multicomponent composition of land resources, which also includes elements of cultivation and technological maintenance.
The concept and essence of agrolandscape
The basis of the agrolandscape is the land mass, which consists of many interconnected components. The latter can be natural objects with impact factors, and technical means of farming systems. In general, a single ecological environment is formed with elements of technological control of its individual modes and parameters - soil, hydrological, thermal, etc. At the same time, agrolandscape is a territorial unit used to solve very specific land management tasks. As a rule, it is organized in a favorable area from the point of view of agriculture with sufficient opportunities for self-regulation. This system is also characterized by anthropogenic properties that allow for resource management.
Structural structure of the system
Two groups of components that form the agrolandscape can be distinguished - as already mentioned, these are natural and agricultural elements. The first include the following:
- Soils of agrolandscapes, which in themselves can be represented as a complex multilayer system.
- Hydrological network and topography.
- Air environment.
- Water resources.
- Microclimate with its parameters.
- Flora and fauna.
Largely due to natural components, the land fund is also being exploited. The agricultural elements of the agrolandscape act as tools for this operation:
- Crop rotation.
- Work areas with fields.
- Hydrotechnical and soil protection products.
- Land
- Agrotechnical inventory and equipment.
The purpose of the agrolandscape
The agrolandscape maintenance system focuses on specific tasks that can fundamentally differ from each other. In particular, the following functions are highlighted:
- Production. Organization of optimal conditions for agricultural activities.
- Territorial. Providing opportunities for predetermining the ratio of land and creating conditions for the existence of flora and fauna.
- Physico-chemical functions. Directly related to the regulation of the physical condition of the land. Soil characteristics such as density, structure, water permeability, etc., are affected.
- Meteorological functions of agrolandscape. This is a wide range of regulatory tasks that relate to microclimatic regimes, soil conditions and the hydrological environment.
- Biological. Providing opportunities to maintain land bioproductivity, entomological self-regulation and humus formation.
In each case, a specific set of measures is used to solve the tasks. In general, these functions are oriented towards maintaining a natural environmental background and creating conditions for production activities within a specific environment.
Classification of agrolandscapes
Several signs of separation of agrolandscapes are used. The main classification involves taking into account differences in specialization or land use:
- Field systems. Arable land and other agricultural land.
- Garden plantations. Such systems are used for growing fruits, grapes, tea, berries, etc.
- Pasture. Mostly meadow areas.
- Production agrolandscape. Systems of this type are most closely connected with the agro-industrial complex and are used for livestock farming in order to obtain milk, meat, eggs and other products.
- Mixed systems. In such areas there may be several infrastructures for different uses.
There is a classification of agrolandscapes, suggesting a separation according to the degree of anthropogenic impact:
- Extensive. With high specialization, such systems are characterized by low productivity.
- Intense. A high degree of anthropogenic impact and corresponding productivity are expected.
- Adaptive. Moderate systems in terms of external impact. Productivity in this case is high.
Sustainability and assessment of agrolandscapes
Planning and calculating an agrolandscape exploitation model is impossible without preliminary assessments of the potential productivity of a particular system. As a rule, a comprehensive assessment of productivity is applied taking into account the territory's resistance to technical and climatic loads. The general indicator of national economic value is expressed through the natural potential of the area and the nature of external influences. Moreover, the stability of the agrolandscape is reflected not only by negative agrotechnical factors of influence, but also by the applied reclamation procedures that provide a positive effect of land restoration. The criteria system also takes into account the socio-economic factors of the territory that are not directly related to climatic conditions.
Changes in the ecological state of the agrolandscape
The processes of changing the fertile and biochemical properties of the soil cover in combination with water and geochemical balances determine the ecology of the agrolandscape with the dynamics of its improvement or degradation. The factors of influence include the use of chemicals in fertilizers, cultivation, erosion, violation of biogeochemical barriers, etc. These are almost inevitable conditions for agricultural exploitation, but they are also counteracted by the processes of rehabilitative optimization of the agrolandscape, which include the rational use of land, conservation measures, enrichment and the improvement of soil and hydrological resources.
Conclusion
The natural landscape itself is a complex geosystem that is inextricably linked with the natural wild environment. Its significance for human existence has always been great and today, due to environmental threats, the value of this system is only growing. And the agrolandscape is one of the most actively exploited components of the general geosystem, since the largest share of production works in this environment and its resources. To preserve and extend the life of the agrolandscape complex today, a variety of technologies are used, associated with land reclamation and the general improvement of the ecological background. Along with this, technological approaches to the direct use of land are changing.