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For the development of fundamental bases of strategy of rational steppe land use and its realization we analyzed the most significant steppe megaprojects - "Stalin's plan to transform the nature of forest steppe and steppe", the Virgin Lands Campaign of 1954-1963, Agrarian Reform of the 1990s. Both specific consequences of each project and their cumulative impact determining the modern appearance of steppe landscapes and their agro-ecological problems are established. The Altai Territory, primarily the Kulunda steppe, is considered a special arena of megaprojects in the steppes of Siberia, bearing all the features of the old-developed region, where the most positive effect of these projects was achieved. The interrelation between the main problems of modern steppe land use and the results of the considered megaprojects has been presented. The main problems of agrarian steppe land use have been revealed. Taking into account modern tendencies of development of agrarian and industrial complex three most probable scenarios of development of steppe agriculture landscapes are considered. They are neo-wildland, stagnation, and optimization scenario with adaptation of agricultural lands structure to natural-climatic conditions and requirements of market conditions, with concentration of intensive agriculture on the best lands and transformation of low-productive lands into long-term managed steppe fodder lands of adaptive animal husbandry. Key words: Steppe agriculture landscape; Megaproject; Stalin's plan; Virgin Lands Campaign (1954-1963); Kulunda; Strategy of rational steppe land use; National project. References About the plan of shelterbelt plantations, introduction of grass rotation, construction of ponds and reservoirs to ensure high and stable yields in steppe and forest-steppe areas of the European part of the USSR. (1948). Resolution of the USSR Council of Ministers, Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks (Bolsheviks) No. 3960 (in Russian). Brinkert A., Holzel N., Sidorova T.V., Kamp J. (2016). Spontaneous steppe restoration on abandoned cropland in Kazakhstan: grazing affects successional pathways. Biodiversity and conservation, 25(12), 2543-2561. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-015-1020-7 Chibilev A.A. (2016). Steppe Eurasia: regional overview of natural diversity. Moscow. Orenburg: Institute of Steppe of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, RGS (in Russian). Chibilev A.A., Levykin S.V., Kazachkov G.V. (2011). Agrarian and environmental protection prospects for modernization of steppe land use. Agrarian Russia, 2, 34-42. (in Russian). Chibilev, A.A.; Levykin, S.V.; Kochurov, B.I.; Kazachkov, G.V. (2018). Prospects of science convergence for solving the problems of critical areas of biosphere. South of Russia: ecology, development, 13(4), 129-138. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18470/1992-1098-2018-4-129-138 (in Russian). Chibilev, A.A., Levykin, S.V., Petrischev, V.P., Chibilev (junior), A.A., Kochurov, B.I., … Yakovlev I.G. (2018). Spatial development of steppe and Virgin Land Campaign regions of European Russia. Vol.1. Orenburg: Steppe Institute the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. (in Russian). Dyachenko, A.E., Zemlyanitsky, L.G. (1947). Tasks of afforestation of the Kulunda and other steppes of the Altai Territory. Proceedings of the All-Russian Research Institute of Agroforestry. Results of works for 1943-1944. Moscow. State Committee for Forestry and Forestry (in Russian). Dzybov D.S. (2010). Agrostepi. Stavropol: AGRUS (in Russian). Einaudi G. (1964). Khrushchev reported planning to give up Virgin-Land Farms. The New York Times, February 23, 2. Kamp J., Koshkin M.A., Bragina T.M., Katzner T.E., Milner-Gulland E.J., … Urazaliev R. (2016). Persistent and novel threats to the biodiversity of Kazakhstan's steppes and semi-deserts. Biodiversity and Conservation, 25(12), 2521-2541. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-015-1020-7 Khichenko N.S. (1934). Examination of the defensive forest strips laid by the Scarlet section of the Agrolestrost. Sverdlovsk, Moscow: Goslestehizdat (in Russian). Kompaneets M.K. (1971). Russian agronomists. Moscow: Kolos (in Russian). Kraemer R., Prishchepov A.V., Muller D., Kuemmerle T., Radeloff V.C., …, Fruhauf M. (2015). Long-term agricultural land-cover change and potential for cropland expansion in the former Virgin Lands area of Kazakhstan. Environmental Research Letters, 10(5), 054012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/10/5/054012 Kukis S.I., Gorin V.I. (1973). History of protective forestation in the Altai Territory // Experience of protective forestation in Altai. Barnaul: Altai (in Russian). Levykin S.V. Kazachkov G.V. Chibileva V.P. (2015). Modern paradigm is virgin: plowing new steppes or agricultural regeneration of Non-Black Earth region? Assessment from the standpoint of the steppe structural model. Problems of regional ecology, 2, 170-177 (in Russian). Levykin, S.V., Kazachkov, G.V., Yakovlev, I.G., Grudinin, D.A., Noreyka, S.Yu. (2018). Dokuchaev and the plan of transformation of the steppe nature: ideological and practical heritage, development prospects. Izvestiya Orenburg State Agrarian University, 4(72), 8-11 (in Russian). Levykin, S.V., Kazakhkov, G.V. (2015). About the planet's reaction to the actions in relation to the steppe (the revenge of the biosphere) (in Russian). Eco- Potential, 1(9), 163-171 (in Russian). On measures to ensure a sustainable yield in the dry areas of the southeast of the USSR (Saratov, Stalingrad, Kuibyshev, Orenburg, West Kazakhstan, Aktobe regions, ASSR of Nemtsev Povolzhye, north-eastern regions of Voroshilovgrad region, northern and northeastern regions of Rostov region and south-eastern regions of Voronezh and Tambov regions). (1938). Resolution of the USSR SNK, Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks (Bolsheviks) No. 1169. (in Russian). On urgent measures to protect soils from wind and water erosion. (1967). Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 236. (in Russian). Paramonov E.G. (2011). State of protective forestation in the Altai Territory. Izvestiya of Altai State University, 8(82), 48-52 (in Russian). Paramonov, E.G. (2016). Creation of agroforestry landscapes as a way of sustainable nature use in the Kulunda steppe (in Russian). Izvestiya Altai Branch of the Russian Federation, 1(40), 57-63. (in Russian). Paramonov, E.G., Simonenko, A.P. (2007). Fundamentals of agroforestry: a manual. Barnaul: Altai State Agrarian University Press. (in Russian). Petrick M., Wandel J.R., Karsten K. (2014). Rediscovering the Virgin Lands: Agricultural Investment and Rural Livelihoods in a Eurasian Frontier Area. World Development, 4, 164-179. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2012.09.015 Podgaetsky M. (2015). Half a century in the Kulunda steppe. News from Kulunda, 7(10243), February 13. Available from: http://stepinf.ru/?id_razd=2721/ Accessed on 04.10.2019 (in Russian). Sowers and keepers. (1972). Book 1. Moscow: Contemporary (in Russian). Yakovlev I.G. (2019). Agroecological Risks of Steppe Land Use: Approaches to Selection and Classification on the Example of the Orenburg Region. Treshnikovskie Readings - 2019: Modern Geographical Picture of the World and Technologies of Geographical Education. Proceed. All-Russia Sc. Conf. Ulyanovsk: Ulyanovsk Ulyanovsk State Pedagogical University (in Russian). Zhuravlyov S. (2018). The whole epic. Living history. Available from: http://lhistory.ru/statyi/celinnaya-epopeya/ Accessed on 04.10.2019 (in Russian).

The article substantiates the urgency of environmental optimization of steppe land use, aimed at overcoming the acute challenges of our time, associated with the depletion of natural resources, climate change and food tension. The article analyzes the main problems of nature use, typical for steppe regions of Russia at a modern geoecological state of landscapes. The transboundary character of the territory under consideration is noted and the evolution of its landscapes under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors, which make the study of the issues of rational use of natural resources and sustainable development of steppe regions actual, is described. The attention is focused on the significant participation of the mesoregion under consideration, which has the main share of the area of spread of black earths, in the production of agricultural products and strategic importance for the sustainable functioning of the Russian economy. Correlation-regression relations of the main ecological factors with productivity of grain agrocenoses are analyzed and ecologically oriented methods of increasing the efficiency of bioclimatic resources use of the mentioned territory are substantiated. Promising technological solutions, the introduction of which guarantees the maintenance of social and food security, will ensure the inexhaustible use of soil and land resources and reduce the anthropogenic impact on natural ecosystems, the preservation of biological diversity in the steppe regions in their agricultural use. The conclusion is made about the possibility of increasing the economic feasibility of crop production and noticeable soil-restoring and medium improving effects, new reserves to meet the needs of the modern generation and ensure social justice, while reducing the risks of impoverishment of the environment and limiting the life opportunities of future generations. Key words: Optimization of steppe land use; Natural ecosystems; Environmental factors; Landscape adaptive farming References Bulletin on the state of agriculture (electronic versions). (2018). Catalogue of publications: Federal State Statistics Service. Available from: http://www.gks.ru/wps/wcm/connect/rosstat_main/rosstat/ru/statistics/publications/catalog/doc_1265196018516/ (Accessed on 09.10.2019). (in Russian). Chibilev, A.A. (2016). Optimization of the structure of the land fund and development of a network of protected areas in the steppe zone of Russia. Orenburg: Steppe Institute of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (in Russian). Chibilev, A.A. (2019). Prospects of integration of the "digital land use" in landscape adaptive farming of the steppe zone. Problems of regional ecology, 2, 32-37. (in Russian). Chibilev, A.A. (Jr.). (2016). Analysis of the use of land resources in the aspect of formation of socio-economic potential and assessment of indicators of sustainable development of the steppe regions of the Russian Federation. Optimization of the structure of the land fund and development of a network of protected areas in the steppe zone of Russia. Orenburg. Steppe Institute of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (in Russian). Chibilev, A.A., Chibilev (yr), A.A., Rudneva, O.S., Sokolov, A.A., Padalko, Yu.A., Meleshkin, D.S., Grigorevsky, D.V. (2018). Problems of sustainable development of social and economic geosystem stem zone in the Russian Federation. Orenburg: Steppe Institute of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (in Russian). Dospekhov, B.A. (1985). Field experience methodology (with basics of statistical processing of research results). Moscow: Agropromizdat (in Russian). Gulianov Yu.A. (2006). Adaptation of technological methods of winter wheat cultivation in the steppe regions of the Southern Urals. Agrobiological features and parameters of models of highly productive agrocenosis of field crops in the arid conditions of the Southern Urals: a collection of scientific papers. Orenburg: Publishing Center of Orenburg State Agrarian University (in Russian). Gulianov, Yu.A., Dosov, D.Zh., Umarova, S.V. (2010). Efficiency of the bioclimatic resources use at the winter wheat growing in the Orenburg region (in Russian). Izvestia of the Orenburg State Agrarian University, 2, 48-50 (in Russian). Kiryushin, V.I., Belkov, G.I. (1999). Scientific bases of the adaptive-landscape systems of agriculture (in Russian). Sustainable agriculture system of the Orenburg region. Orenburg: Orenburg Book Publishing House (in Russian). Levykin, S.V., Kazachkov, G.V. (2017). Steppe question of Russia: from steppe studies to degree studies. Successes of the modern science and practice, 3(6), 211-220. (in Russian). Paramonov, E.G. (2011). State of protective forestation in the Altai Territory. Izvestiya of Altai State University, 8(82), 48-52. (in Russian). Pichugin, A.P., Morozova, E.V. (1999). Yield of winter wheat at complex increase of chernozems fertility. Direction of stabilization of development and exit from crisis of agrarian and industrial complex in modern conditions. Voronezh (in Russian). Polyakov, D.G., Khalin, A.V., Bakirov, F.G., Nesterenko, Yu.M., Vasilieva, T.N. (2016). Moisture dynamics of the black earths in the southern Orenburg region during the direct sowing and the main soil treatment (in Russian). Bulletin of the Orenburg Scientific Center of the Ural Branch of RAS, 4, 13. (in Russian). Regions of Russia. Socio-economic indicators. (2018). R32 Statutory collection Rosstat. Moscow. Available from: http://www.gks.ru/wps/wcm/connect/rosstat_-main/rosstat/ru/statistics/publications/catalog/doc_1138623506156/ (Accessed on 01.10.2019). (in Russian). Shatilov, I.S., Stolyarov, A.I. (1986). Yield Programming Guide. Moscow. Rosselkhozizdat (in Russian). Sokolova, L.V., Silantieva, M.M., Belyaev, V.I. (2019). Factors causing the reduction of steppe ecosystems of the Altai Territory. The Turkic-Mongolian World of the Big Altai: Historical and Cultural Heritage and Modernity. Proceed. First Int. Altaitical Forum, Barnaul-Gorno-Altaisk, 12-14 September 2019. Barnaul. Altai State University Publishing (in Russian). Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation (approved by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of December 1, 2016 �?? 642. Available from: http://www.kremlin.ru/acts/bank/41449/ (Accessed on 14.09.2019) (in Russian).

Aim. The aim is to show the relevance of the convergence of basic science in order to solve global environmental problems. Discussion. Solving the problems of critical areas of the biosphere which requires the combined efforts of various sciences and fields of knowledge is considered as an objective prerequisite for convergence. This article was written on the basis of the findings of our own long-term studies of the steppes of Northern Eurasia and central Arctic landscapes on relic loess-ice lithogenic basis, compared with historical and literary data. From the standpoint of steppe studies, two critical areas of the biosphere are distinguished: steppe zone of Eurasia and tundra of the Arctic which are justified as axes of convergence. The steppe studies are considered as a center of convergence around these axes with the possible formation of a new superdisciplinary field of knowledge and practice, steppenomy, in perspective. Nature-like technologies based on the principle of the co-creation of man and nature, aimed at overcoming the crisis phenomena in ecosystems and attaining high stability and productivity, are considered as an innovation product of the steppenomy. Conclusion. The spread and development of pasture ecosystems in various climatic zones is one of the priorities of constructive co-creation of man and the biosphere. An increase in tundra productivity and creation of “beef belts” in the steppes of Eurasia are regarded as a constructive analogue of Tselina, recreating grass ecosystems as a neo-hyperzonal phenomenon on tens of millions of hectares. In addition to contributing to the solution of the food problem, the pasture arrangement of the last territorial reserve under convergent scientific support will contribute to the global ecological restoration of the Earth’s unique ecosystems.

Considerations about steppe elements in modern Arctic and Antarctic high latitudes, about problematic sofy edoma, which was the ground for Late Pleistocene cryoarid mammoth prairies and their genetic relations to modern steppes are expounded. Taking the Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia antarctica) Antarctic expansion into consideration, the steppe trace spreading is acknowledged for both Hemispheres high latitudes. The grass expansion in both Central Arctic and Antarctic is considered a compensation for steppe loss in their geographical zone and future potential for agricultural economy.

On the grounds of many years field researches into open landscapes within the frames of steppe genesis and reconstruction problems solution, and with examples of studies into virgin land campaign area and Central Arctic yedoma landscapes, the topicality of dynamic vector in geographies with priority of studied objects is shown.

The problematic of steppe land use institutional framework, including legislative ones and steppe land use culture, is examined. A series of proposals to develop them within the frames of national project is given.

The mission, current state, tasks and development concept of the Institute of Steppe scientific field stationary base as monitoring and experimental ground to develop modern steppe science and institutional fundament of rational steppe nature management is in focus.

Bioclimatic resources were detected in the paper. Reserves increasing crops’ productivity were estimated to develop and scientifically explain approaches to solve current agricultural use of steppe lands in the post-virgin land region of the Ural and West Siberia. Agrotechnical reasonability of the practiced structure of crops was analyzed. The principal directions to modernize landscape-adaptive agriculture systems were detected based on anthropogenic pressing reduction and soil protection from further degradation. The data source was official statistical indicators (EMISS) placed in open access, expedition research, calculation, and the author’s conclusion. Standard methods of the statistical analysis were used in the data processing. It was ascertained that under practiced agriculture approaches in the Ural and West Siberia post-virgin land regions, a low realization of bioclimatic potential (BCP) of crop capacity (31-37%) was noticed. A line of spatial peculiarities characterized BCP. The useful key factor of crop capacity stabilization and better BCP realization was the modernization of zonal landscape-adaptive systems of agriculture and optimization of an arable lands structure, replenishment of crops diversity, especially having soil-preserving and soil-recovering effect (annual and perennial grasses, feed crops for green mass, leguminous plants, etc.). In modern natural and anthropogenic changes, it was significant to a departure from monocultures, renew scientifically explained crop rotations, keep technological discipline, and support the whole technical process.

The evolution of Russian concepts concerning the assessment of soil suitability for cultivation in relation to several campaigns on large-scale plowing of virgin steppe soils is examined. The major problems of agricultural land use in steppe areas—preservation of rainfed farming in the regions with increasing climatic risks, underestimation of the potential of arable lands in land cadaster assessments, and much lower factual yields in comparison with potential yields—are considered. It is suggested that the assessments of arable lands should be performed on the basis of the soil–ecological index (SEI) developed by I. Karmanov with further conversion of SEI values into nominal monetary values. Under conditions of land reforms and economic reforms, it is important to determine suitability of steppe chernozems for plowing and economic feasibility of their use for crop growing in dependence on macroeconomic parameters. This should support decisions on optimization of land use in the steppe zone on the basis of the principles suggested by V. Dokuchaev. The developed approach for assessing soil suitability for cultivation was tested in the subzone of herbaceous–fescue–feather grass steppes in the Cis-Ural part of Orenburg oblast and used for the assessment of soil suitability for cultivation in the southern and southeastern regions of Orenburg oblast.

Presented are the results from testing the method of calculating the soil-ecological index for an agro-ecological assessment of land use in the steppe zone of Southern Ural. A description is given to the various approaches in using the index for dealing with agro-ecological problems. It is suggested that the soil-ecological index should be used as an integral indicator for the optimization of the land-use structure, assessments of the effectiveness of agricultural enterprises, and for the substantiation of landscape-adaptive approaches. Basically, the existing cadastre assessment of lands in the Russian Federation takes into consideration mostly the economic indicators, ignoring the quality of land resources and the ecological standardization of land use. The soil-ecological index, developed by researchers of the V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute RAS, is characterized by ease and integrity of calculation and has a considerable potential for improvement. By testing the soil-ecological index against agricultural model areas, it is possible to identify at the intraregion and intradistrict levels the resources of highly profitable (elite) lands, with a priority specialization of grain crop production, and the resources of arable land conservation. Conservation (removal of arable lands from turnover) will subsequently make it possible to develop clusters of beef animal husbandry. The soil-ecological index will provide a means of assessing the effectiveness of using land resources by agricultural enterprises and determining the directions of development of territorial agricultural clusters. It can be used in developing landscape-adaptive models of land use in the reorganization of the existing structure of agricultural lands by adapting it to the region’s landscape structure, and to natural boundaries and borders. On the whole, the soilecological index makes it possible, on the one hand, to identify highly profitable arable lands and, on the other, to scientifically substantiate the transfer of low-productivity lands to the category of pastures.