Prevention of Desertification and Land Degradation using Black Saxaul in Arid Conditions

The harsh climate of the arid zone determines several biological features in black saxaul plantations. Therefore, the study of the growth and condition of artificial plantations, depending on the use of physiologically active moisture-absorbing substances and growth biostimulants, is of particular practical importance. In the Moinkum sands of the Zhambyl region (Kazakhstan), observations of the growth and development of the black saxaul in places where physiologically active substances and biostimulants of growth were used were continued at industrial plantings in 2018, 2019, and 2020. The purpose of these studies was to prevent desertification by improving the preservation of forest crops of the black saxaul. The use of various water-retaining compounds (hydrogels), growth stimulants (Epin-Extra), and fertilizers, as well as their combined use, had a positive effect. The use of moisture-absorbing substances and biostimulators of plant growth in the cultivation of black saxaul increased the average diameter and average height of seedlings by an average of 30.1 and 38.6%, respectively. The best effect of the growth stimulators used was shown with hydrogel, Epin-Extra (plant growth biostimulator), and a ready-made mixture of hydrogel, fertilizer, and Epin. The use of moisture-absorbing substances, growth biostimulators, and nitrogen fertilizers affected the second and subsequent years after planting.