This book details methods for measuring, assessing, forecasting and controlling processes in agricultural landscapes. It proposes solutions for initiating sustainable development and focuses on methodologies with application potential for Central Asia.

The book aims to initiate a sustainable use of land and water resources in Central Asia by the transfer of scientific methods. It deals with the most advanced methods worldwide for better monitoring and management of water and land resources. We offer an array of methods of measuring, assessing, forecasting, utilizing and controling processes in agricultural landscapes. These are laboratory and field measurement methods, methods of resource evaluation, functional mapping and risk assessment, and remote sensing methods for monitoring and modeling large areas. The book contains methods and results of data analysis and ecosystem modeling, of bioremediation of soil and water, field monitoring of soils, and methods and technologies for optimizing land use systems as well. The chapter authors are inventors and advocators of novel transferrable methods. The book starts with an analysis of the current state of water and land resources. Finally concrete proposals for the applicability of novel methods are given.

Concentrates on Central Asia, a global resource hotspot with a critical state of ecosystems, high conflict potential, and an urgent need to be addressed Delivers an up-to-date complex analysis of the degradation status of Central Asian land and water Proposes new solutions for initiating sustainable development and focus on methodologies having a high application potential for Central Asia Accessible to a broad readership: scientists, planners, students, lecturers, decision makers, advanced farmers Includes summaries and figure captions based on Russian data previously unavailable in English Constitutes the first detailed overview of this important environmental theatre Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Inhalt
From the Contents: Land and Water Resources of Central Asia, their Utilisation and Ecological Status.- Soil Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan: Current Status, Problems and Solutions.- Long-Term Monitoring and Water Resource Management of the Republic of Kazakhstan.- Trends in Agriculture of Central Asia and Implications for Rangelands and Croplands.