Soil degradation in Volyn region: current state, dynamics, ways of reduction

Abstract


 
 
 Recently, the problem of decrease in soil fertility has become more serious, pos- ing a threat to food safety of the country. The main cause is violation of technologies of rational arable farming, which leads to deterioration of the qualitative condition of soils, their degradation. Therefore, development of protective measures for soils against degradation processes is a relevant problem nowadays, solving which would preserve soils and improve their condition. The article evaluates the current condition of degradation of soils in Volyn Oblast. We determined the main aspect of degradation processes, their scales and territorial distribution. We determined that in the structure of the land fund of the Oblast, 52% is occupied by agricultural land, indicating high level of agrarian cultivation of lands. For the last 15 years, the structure of the land fund of Volyn Oblast had undergone insignificant changes, and the most of the area of the land remains unaltered. The area of agricultural lands has somewhat decreased, whereas the area of forests and forest-covered territory has increased. The area of open lands with no vegetative cover has decreased by 0.15%. Ploughed fields in the southern districts of Volyn Oblast exceed the allowable limits, accounting for over 60%. We analyzed the dynamics of the degradation process of soils in the Oblast. We determined that the degradation of soils was to the greatest degree caused by manifestations of erosion and deflation. Water erosion manifested in the territory of Volodymyr-Volynskyi, Ivanychi, Lokachi, Horohiv, Lutsk and Kivertsi districts. Deflatable soils in the Oblast account for 258.2 thousand ha, most of which are in Kovel, Turiisk, Rozhyshche, Stara Vyzhivka districts. Measures for improving low-productive lands, and also land conservation, are being implemented in the Oblast. However, their scale is insufficient. We propose a complex of measures for protecting soils and preventing their degradation.