In a changing climate, soils in permafrost areas in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug may be suitable for agriculture, according to the Arctic Research Center.

Leading researcher at the Arctic Research Center, Candidate of Biological Sciences Evgenia Morgun, in collaboration with colleagues from St. Petersburg State University, studied the soil cover in the Priuralsky, Shuryshkarsky, Yamalsky and Nadymsky districts.

According to scientists, Yamal has all the prerequisites to provide residents with their own environmentally friendly products.

“In a changing climate, the north of Western Siberia can be considered as a potential food basket for our country. The soils of many regions located in the permafrost zone will be involved or re-engaged in agriculture,” Morgun said in the message.

The studies that were performed in 2015-2020 revealed a rich variety of soils and the presence in them of microelements necessary for the development of polar agriculture. The unique properties of the Yamal soils and permafrost make it possible to preserve useful substances in soils for a very long period.

The study of the soil cover of the Arctic region is one of the priority scientific tasks. In 2022, scientists will conduct research in the Krasnoselkup region.

Earlier it was reported with reference to the Scientific Center for the Study of the Arctic that the average annual temperature has increased by 3.5 degrees Celsius in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug over the past 50 years.

Source: Interfax