Environmental and economic problems of land resources utilization in Ukraine (1970–1990)

Abstract

Purpose of the article. The purpose of the article is to analyze negative processes occurring in land resources utilization in agriculture of Ukraine during 1970–1990 based on economic, agricultural historical studies and archive materials. Research methodology is based on the combination of general scientific and special historical methods with the principles of historicism, objectivity, consistency and interdisciplinarity. Scientific vovelty. The historical literature is supplemented with the characteristics of the development of the agro-industrial complex, in particular, the land resources utilization in Ukraine during 1970–1990. The environmental and economic component is analyzed. Conclusions. In 1970–1990, an intensive system of farming dominated in the agriculture of Ukraine. It was based on obtaining high yields of crops through the use of high doses of mineral fertilizers, the application of chemical crop protection products without regard to environmental threats, i.e. environmental pollution. Biological, environmental and economic laws of industry development were ignored. During the period under study, agriculture, on the one hand, suffered from excessive, intensive, environmentally unsound land utilization; on the other hand, also the deterioration of the environment was caused. The limit of environmental soil degradation in agricultural production was reached in the 1970s, and in 1986–1989 it was doubled. Improper application of chemicals has resulted in contamination of soil, agricultural products and the environment, which was hazardous to human health; reduction of organic matter in the soil, deterioration of its physical properties, which reduced soil fertility. The increase in the rate of use of chemicals in agriculture did not lead to the desired increase in agricultural production and improvement of its quality.