AGROECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF SOILS IN CHERKASSY REGION

Abstract

Soil is the main means of agricultural production, therefore preservation and improvement of  its characteristics remains the most important task of farmers and environmentalists. As a result of irrational use of soils occurs gradually, or avalanche-like decline in natural fertility. The agroecological assessment of the studied territory was carried out based on the content of humus, the reaction of the soil solution and the main elements of nutrition. In the work were held the comparison  results of the studding of ecological and agrochemical evaluation of soils in districts of Cherkassy region. The structure of the ground areas of the region and the soil cover, soil acidity and the content of the main elements of nutrition have been analyzed. On the basis of the obtained results, average points of bonite for the soil of the region are derived.

Agricultural land of the Cherkassy region make up a large part in the structure of the land fund of the region and accordingly make up 69% of the total area of the region. The friability of the agricultural lands of Cherkassy region is 87,7%.  By the values of humus content in the regions there is an average and elevated level. The percentage of acid soils, from the surveyed area, exceeds 35% in 5 districts: Zvenigorodsky, Monastyryshchensky, Umansky, Cherkassy, Chigirinsky.

Macro elements are biologically important elements of the soil. The average nitrogen content in the districts of the region varies from 84,6 to 145,7 mg / kg. The highest content of phosphorus (158 mg / kg) and the lowest potassium content (62 mg / kg) is characteristic of the soils of Cherkassy region.

According to the agrochemical estimation carried out in the districts of Cherkassy region, the score of the bonitet varies from 42,8 in the Chyhyryn district to 64,3 in Khrystynivsky. The average agrochemical score for the region's bonitet is 55,3.

The current state of land use in Cherkassy region, as well as in most regions of Ukraine, does not meet the requirements of rational nature management. The ecologically permissible ratio of arable land areas and natural forage lands is violated, which negatively affects the stability of agro-landscapes. The agricultural development of land exceeds the ecologically tolerable, and over the years remained almost unchanged, which in turn leads to a decrease in the natural productivity of agro-landscapes.

One of the main and most acute problems of Cherkassy region is the presence of a significant amount of acidic soils. The content of the main elements of nutrition in most soils does not correspond to the reference values, and it is constantly decreasing. To improve the condition of the Cherkassy region, it is necessary to carry out liming and cultivate crops (rye, oats, potatoes) that are more resistant to acidic soils.

The main areas of protection of agro-landscapes, increase of soil fertility and productivity of agricultural crops should be: introduction of new technologies of cultivation, including ground protection and energy saving, carrying out of works on extraction of intensive cultivation of unproductive, erosion-hazardous lands, introduction of soil protection, reclamation measures and agro-landscape organization of the territory.