Innovative development of agriculture under using “green growth” indicators

Abstract

Following the analysis of documents of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and heir own studies, authors have developed a system of environmental indicators to measure «green» growth in Ukrainian agriculture, which makes it possible to evaluate the condition of agriculture very accurately, to identify all issues and problems, and to accelerate transition to «green» growth: global issues — ploughed-up territories, humus balance, nitrogen balance, phosphorus balance, potassium balance; national issues — dynamics of humus content; dynamics of easily hydrolysable nitrogen content; dynamics of movable phosphorus and potassium compound content; local issues — soil acidity, provision of necessary microelements; contamination with toxic metals; pesticide residue content; radionuclide content. The results of the analysis of Ukrainian soils by «green» growth indicators have confirmed that long-lasting intensification and excessive plowing-up have caused a disastrous condition of soils. Major reasons of deterioration of the agronomically important soil properties include insufficient application of organic and mineral fertilisers, water and wind erosion, and over-compaction by high-capacity heavy machinery. A considerable decrease in an application of organic fertilisers and expansion of erosion processes has caused a negative humus balance in 2006–2015. Measures aimed at soil fertility enhancement are to ensure the preservation of soil fertility and the increase of agricultural production efficiency, market saturation with food products and feedstock for the processing industry. First and foremost, the efficiency of measures is evaluated by the humus and nutrient balance indicators in agriculture of every region. The evaluation of soils carried out according to «green» growth indicators has supported the necessity of transition to «green» growth in Ukrainian agriculture. The basis of «green» growth is balanced agricultural production, the efficiency of which is evaluated by the humus and nutrient balance in agriculture of every region. Measures have been suggested for soil fertility recovery, a major precondition for which is the transition to a deficit-free humus and nutrient balance.