ABSTRACT
Cultivated land in Central Asia is concentrated in the region of the Aral Sea. Extensive plains and the adjacent foothills are the regions suitable for agricultural production. Moreover, the majority of the land is suitable for the production of a wide range of valuable agricultural crops, including corn, cotton, rice, maize, soybean, vegetables, lucerne, fruits and others. A limited amount of annual precipitation and the severe drought during the warmest period (approximately 2 months in the north corn belt region, and 3-4 months in the southern regions) make irrigation essential to crop production. Because of the limited precipitation, cultivated agricultural land in Central Asia is mainly located along the flood plains of large and small rivers, in foothills, and in mountainous and intermountain valleys (i.e., in regions with sufficient water supply for irrigation). However, the area of irrigated lands is increasing due to broadening of river flows and the construction of artificial water reservoirs and canals.
