Scientific and methodological aspects of cultivating energy crops on militarily degraded soil in arid conditions

Abstract

The review article presents the results of our own observations and conclusions on the scientific and methodological aspects of planting and growing energy crops on militarily degraded soil in conditions of drought and heat due to climate change in the forest-steppe part of the Kharkiv region. A special experiment was conducted on a field plot in the Institute's experimental farm, where in 2022 a shell explosion formed a deep crater and mixed the genetic horizons of dark gray podzolized soil, as a result of which the soil was recognized as militarily degraded. The methodological aspects of cultivating perennial energy crops were studied – planting, care in the first period, agrotechnical support of the ability of crops to survive and survive during the first year in difficult meteorological conditions. In the established small-plot field experiment among the cultivated energy crops – Miscanthus giant, Sida perennial and Silphia pendens, the worst survival rate in the first year of growth in conditions of heat and drought on militarily degraded soil was unexpectedly found in Miscanthus giant. The results of the effect of irrigation on the survival rate of crops are described in detail. Special attention is paid to the need to expand field research on methods for increasing the efficiency of growing energy crops to restore and improve the condition, positive orientation of soil-forming processes, perform ecological functions and increase the productivity of militarily degraded soil in conditions of increasing aridity of the climate in the Forest-Steppe zone.