Abstract
This study investigates the classification and mapping of erosion, methods for the efficient use of irrigation water, and strategies for reducing soil leaching while maintaining and enhancing soil fertility. Despite extensive research in these areas, the effective utilisation of land, water, fertilisers, and other resources remains a pressing challenge. In Uzbekistan, approximately 722,000 hectares of land are affected by irrigation erosion, 1,812,000 hectares by wind erosion, and 1,929,000 hectares by combined erosion from water and wind. Consequently, preventing erosion processes, maintaining and enhancing soil fertility, and producing high-quality crops are critical issues. This study aimed to ensure the efficient use of land resources, irrigation water, and mineral fertilizers in irrigated eroded areas and to reduce soil particle leaching. The results indicate that the amount of soil particles washed away by conventional irrigation methods was 8.3 tons per hectare per season. In contrast, the zig-zag irrigation method resulted in a lower loss of 4.9 tons per hectare in the typical grey soils of Tashkent Province. Furthermore, in the Andijan, Samarkand, and Kashkadarya provinces, soil particle leaching from zig-zag irrigation was reduced by 2.5 to 3.8 tons per hectare compared to conventional irrigation methods for secondary crops.