Balance of humus and nutrients in the soils of the Lugansk region and ways to overcome the deficit

Abstract

The article is related to the problem of soil degradation in the north-eastern Steppe of Ukraine under the influence of anthropogenic activities. The transition to reduced crop rotation, provoked by a narrow one-sided specialization, and the lack of control by the state and local authorities, led to the cultivation of only a few crops in the crop rotation, without sufficient return to the soil of the organic and mineral compounds. The purpose of the work is to find out the scale of losses of humus and nutrients from the soils of the Lugansk region and ways to prevent the process of further deterioration of soil quality in the Lugansk region under the current agricultural system. The structure of crop areas in recent years was analyzed, the average balance of nutrients and humus on the hectare of the sown area was calculated on the basis of taking into account the actual yield and the mineral and organic fertilizers returned to the soil. Methods of statistical grouping and analysis were used. It was established that in recent years there was an actual transition of crop rotation to: sunflower - grain crops. Under such a structure, the addition of residues in the field of plant residues and mineral fertilizers in doses that are currently used by commodity producers is not sufficient to maintain a deficit-free balance of humus and available nutrients in the soil. Deficit of humus is (for the last three years) -0.226 t/ha per year. There is a significant deficit in the nutrient content of the soil: N2 - 16.1 kg; P2O5 - 3.4 kg; K20 - 70.1 kg per hectare for sowing the main crops. It is recommended to change the structure of crop areas in favor of sowing herbs, leguminous plants, cruciferous crops, corn and siderates at the expense of sunflower, to find local sources of organic fertilizers, and to ensure the equilibrium balance of available nutrients - the introduction of mineral fertilizers into the soil, in order to achieve a no-deficit balance of humus in the soils of Luhansk region. According to the authors, it is necessary to strengthen the state control of soil quality and, when land is leased, to evaluate the soil by an independent agency, an authorized state.