DEGRADATION PROCESSES ON CROPLAND IN MONGOLIA

Arable soils in Mongolia are regarded as unstable ecosystems because o f active degradation resulting from climate, relief, soil properties, and the farming system used. The most active sources of degradation ar e eolian and erosional processes, as well as soil processes associated with degradation of the humic horizon and with increases in the propo rtion of skeletal components and sand in the soils. The first stage of a program to monitor the agricultural ecosystems (both rain-watered a nd irrigated) must consist of a large-scale study to assess the curren t condition of the cropland.