The publication of this Handbook was supported by the Russian Federation

M.K. Sapanov and M.V. Konyushkova (Russia)
Currently, there is a need to develop agroforestry practices within arid regions on the basis of  the 
concept of  adaptive management of  natural resources that can help to create self-sustaining forest 
ecosystems capable of  surviving for several decades and even centuries without human intervention.
To date, it is generally been believed that only short-lived forest ecosystems that require continuous 
and expensive agrotechnical and agroforestry management can be created. It has been estimated 
that artificial replanting is needed every 20 to 40 years even for the most drought- resistant tree 
species such as common oak (Quercus robur), green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), Siberian elm (Ulmus 
pumila) and ash-leaved maple (Acer negundo) and every 15 years for shrubs on zonal soil types within 
dry steppe and semidesert areas [2, 3, 5]. In practice, most tree plantations fail to survive for as 
long as most agroforestry manuals suggest, unless annual water- saving measures are applied. The 
inability to apply such measures usually results in the rapid decline of  many plantations.
In the context of  modern approaches to sustainable agroforestry, tree plantations in arid regions 
should, in our opinion, meet the following requirements: (1) to be able to provide essential 
ecosystems services, (2) to be cost-effective, (3) to be ecologically harmless and (4) to be durable [4].
Such requirements can be satisfied by the following:
1)  Essential services of  forest ecosystems can be realized via an enhancement of  their 
productivity or social value;
2)  The cost-effectiveness of  tree cultures can be achieved by having post-planting maintenance- 
free growth. Their management should be the same as that for normal forests. In other 
words, the survival of  trees should not be dependent on agroforestry management.
3)  The plantations can be ecologically harmless if  a correct balance can be achieved between 
water supplies for the trees and the surrounding vegetation. This is of  great importantance, 
because tree plantations should neither suffer from impaired water supply (e.g., as a result 
of  an increase in water salinity), nor receive a higher water supply than the surrounding 
areas (e.g., as a result of  increased snow accumulation under trees).
4)  The durability of  plantations can be provided by the use of  long-lived species of  trees and 
shrubs that are also capable of  natural regeneration (vegetative reproduction and seeding). 
The normal growth of  plantations is achieved by having a correct balance between water 
supply and consumption.

---

120
Soil salinity manаgement manual | Part II.Tutorial examples, guidelines and exercises 
The creation of  such conditions is a realistic prospect, especially, within complex soil cover areas 
that include non-saline Meadow Chestnut soils within local topographic depressions. Therefore, 
the composition of  soil cover should always be taken into account when selecting suitable locations 
for agroforestry sites (including so-called ‘zelyonye zonty’).
‘