ISSN 2079-0961, Arid Ecosystems, 2014, Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 259–269. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2014. Original Russian Text © V.D. Slavko, G.S. Kust, S.Yu. Rozov, O.V. Andreeva, M. Kegiyan, 2014, published in Aridnye Ekosistemy, 2014, Vol. 4, No. 4(61), pp. 50–67. 259 INTRODUCTION This work is devoted to the first experience in using the LADA land degradation assessment methodology in Russia, using the example of test sites. The LADA methodology (land degradation assessment in dry- lands) was developed within the FAO-GEF project of the same name, which was carried out in 2002–2010 in order to develop and subsequently apply the meth- odology for an assessment and quantitative determina- tion of the character, spread, impact strength, and root causes of land degradation in drylands. According to the results of test studies performed in six countries (Argentina, China, Cuba, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia), the LADA project published a guide for assessing degradation at the local level (McDonagh and Bunning, 2009), the advantages of which were said to be the simplicity of using degradation indica- tors, with an emphasis on field data, and the opportu- nity to present the results of assessment in the form of maps. At present, the LADA degradation assessment methods claim to be recognized as an international degradation assessment standard. Their validation and adaptation to diverse environmental conditions are therefore required. Since Russia did not actively test the LADA approaches earlier, and since they involve and permit the introduction of additions and changes in accor- dance with the local properties of territories, the goal of our work was to evaluate the feasibility and effec- tiveness of using LADA methodology indicators for the purpose of land degradation assessment at the local level based on test sites in the meadow and dry steppes in the Trans-Volga area. MATERIALS AND METHODS In general, the LADA methodology involves a comprehensive assessment of land plots at different levels: national, regional, and local. The accuracy and reliability of information are ensured by the extrapola- tion of local field research to regional and national scales (McDonagh and Bunning, 2009, Part 2). A full assessment of the extent of land degradation at the local level by the LADA system involves the description of test sites according to six blocks of indi- cators: the presence of erosion processes, the visual characteristics of a soil profile, the soil properties, the degree of degradation of vegetation and water objects, and crop productivity. The LADA methodology involves and allows the description of each of the blocks according to the cor- responding indicators and independent subsequent scoring (the total integral assessment is carried out subsequently according to the total score obtained for each block); in this paper we therefore focused our attention on the soil quality assessment procedures, and the state of vegetation and water resources were not assessed at this testing stage. For example, to assess soil quality, assessment is carried out step-by-step: first, the soil visual descrip- tion indicators are determined (description of the soil sample (depth, texture, structure, colour, layering); aggregate size distribution; soil crust; tillage and other pans; biota (particularly earthworms and roots); the presence of a crust layer; soil color; abundance of soil biota; abundance of roots); then, the soil measure- ments are determined (slaking and dispersion, pH, Experience in Testing and Adapting the LADA Methodology for Land Degradation Assessment and Mapping in Arid Regions at the Local Level V. D. Slavko a , G. S. Kust a, b , S. Yu. Rozov a , O. V. Andreeva b , and M. Kegiyan a a Soil Science Faculty, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991 Russia b Institute of Ecological Soil Science, Moscow State University, pr. Lomonosovskiy 1c/12, Moscow, 119234 Russia e-mail: slavko@soil.msu.ru, gkust@yandex.ru, watcher008005@yandex.ru, andreevala@yandex.ru Received November 25, 2013 Abstract—The LADA methodology (land degradation assessment in drylands) is first used to assess land deg- radation at the local level for test sites in Russia. The results of the tested methodology are in general positive and, at the same time, indicate the need to adapt it for the assessment of erosion processes, the detailing of map- ping categories, and the use of the soil alkalinity indicator. The corresponding recommendations are suggested. Keywords: land degradation, LADA, testing, arid territories DOI: 10.1134/S2079096114040118 APPLIED PROBLEMS OF ARID LANDS DEVELOPMENT