Аннотация:Modern landscapes are the result of the dynamic interaction between natural and cultural driving forces. Natural and anthropogenic biomes, especially agricultural landscapes, are unstable systems with a weak capacity for self-regulation. Knowledge about the interactions between subsystems of agricultural landscapes facilitates appropriate management strategies. Purpose of this research is agroecological land evaluation and land use dynamics analysis for the unique agricultural area in the middle taiga in XVIII-XXI centuries. The study was conducted at a local scale at Ustianskii key area (south Arkhangelsk oblast).
Main objectives are: (i) land use reconstruction for XVIII, XX, XXI centuries (using General survey materials, maps and Landsat imagery), (ii) agroecological land evaluation, (iii) to calculate share of soils with limiting conditions for the elements of a regular grid (iv) to analyze reasons of land use dynamics (agroecological, climatic, distance to settlements, water bodies, roads). We identified that during last 300 years share of agricultural lands doubled, while share of forests decreased by more than 2 times. Increase in share of arable lands occurred on account of lands with limited conditions. These factors (erosion, waterlogging, bedrock) are crucial for land use heterogeneity. We revealed that in 1950s arable land’s extent exceeded potential land capacity for agriculture. Therefore, we can predict that the least convenient lands will be abandoned. Also we state that distance from rivers and villages does not significantly contribute to land use structure.