Influence of field-protective forest belts of openwork construction on the character of snow distribution

Snow in agricultural landscapes is a reserve of moisture, as well as protection of soils from deep freezing and protection of wintering plants from destructive effects of low temperatures. In the zone of insufficient moisture to which the study area belongs, the snow cover is one of the main sources of water resources, as the moisture reserves in the soil, necessary for growth and development of agricultural crops, are formed to a greater extent by meltwater infiltration. Forest belts have a direct impact on snow accumulation and character of snow deposition. The purpose of this work is to study the effect of openwork forest shelter belts on snow accumulation and snow distribution in agricultural landscapes in Ilovlinsky District of Volgograd Oblast. The snow cover was studied in the top-down direction along the slope (perpendicular to the forest belt (FB)) by laying snow measuring profiles, along which the height of the snow cover was measured with a snow measuring rod M-46 in triplicate (in the field part every 4 m, in the forest belt and plume zones every meter). According to the results of the studies, the main zones of snow accumulation were identified: the first zone (I) - the forest belt, the second (II) - the zone of snow plume formation, the third (III) - the zone of FB influence (up to 30H, where H is the plantation height), the fourth (IV) - the entire field part of the agricultural landscape. It was found that the maximum values of snow cover were recorded in the forest belt, as well as in the plume zone (1-2H). The average snow height in the field part at the level is 7 cm, which is 14 cm lower than the snow height in the FB influence zone (1-30H). In some parts of the field, the snow cover height is reduced to 5 cm. The results obtained can be used to solve various agronomic as well as anti-erosion problems.