Ha Of Arable Land Research Articles

Changes of soil fertility and yield of crops when applying fertilizers in a grain-arable crop rotation of the central black-earth region for a short and long time

Aim of the investigations was to reveal changers in soil fertility and yield of main crops in a grain-arable crop rotation with fertilizer effect in 1st rotation (short -term application) and 10th rotation (long-term application) under conditions of the Central Black-Earth Region. The work was performed in a long-term field experiment using low-humic leached chernozem under conditions of Voronezh region. The data of 1936–1945 (1st crop rotation) and 2018–2022 (10th rotation) years were analyzed. The experiment scheme including saturation of 1 ha of arable land with fertilizers: without fertilizers, N10P10K10 + 2.8 t/ha of manure, N20P20K20 + 2.8 t/ha of manure, N30P30K30 + 2.8 т t/ha of manure, and N10P10K10 + 5.6 t/ha of manure. Change of soil fertility in the layer of 0–20 cm from 1 to 10 rotation under influence of fertilizers appeared as increase of hydrolytic acidity (by 5.26… 83.3 %), exchange K2O content (by 18.9…74.4 %), cation exchange capacity (by 27.8…35.7 %) and mobile P2O5 (by 7.81…9.00 %) (when using N20P20K20 + 2,8 t/ha of manure and N30P30K30 + 2,8 t/ha of manure); also, decrease of humus content by 0.41…0.73 %, N-NO3 by 25.3…47.7 % and P2O5 by 13.3–31.6 % in the control and in the variants with N10P10K10 + 2.8 or 5.6 t/ha of manure was noted. Long-term application of fertilizers in a crop rotation improved grain yield of barley by 11.3…50.1 %, oats by 4.0…51.2 %, winter wheat by13.4…30.6 % and sugar beet roots by 15.0…36.7 %, and reduced green mass of a clover 6.1…23.0 %. But, in addition, it increased by-products’ yield of each crop by 6.1…23.0 %. Productivity of the fertilized arable land per 1 ha increased by 3.30…18.3 % from 1st to 10th rotation (minus yield improvement by 0.96 thousand grain units/ha due to cultivation of more productive modern varieties). Long-term application of N30P30K30 + 2.8 т t/ha of manure ensured the greatest level of crop rotation soil fertility and productivity. This was achieved by twice-repeated application of N135P135K135 for sugar beet and one application of 25 t/ha of manure in fallow during 9-field crop rotation.

Assessment of the Economic Consequences of Riverbank Erosion: The Case of the South Morava River, Serbia

Landscape transformation, degradation and destruction are caused by fluvial processes as the predominant erosive processes in Serbia. The loss of arable land due to riverbank erosion is permanent, and the economic consequences are, therefore, especially pronounced. The primary aim of this study was to quantify the intensity of riverbank erosion in the lower part of the South Morava River (Serbia) during period 1924–2020, evaluate its economic consequences, and conduct a cost benefit analysis of revetment investments. The economic effects of riverbank erosion were analyzed by means of land loss and reduction in the quantity of agricultural production. An interdisciplinary research approach was applied using specific methodological procedures to calculate the riverbank erosion and soil (land) loss intensity (geographic information system-GIS), the economic consequences of riverbank erosion (ECRE), and the results of an investment decision-making model. The results showed that 202.6[Formula: see text]ha of arable land was lost during the observed period, the value of arable land loss was almost 622,000[Formula: see text]USD, and the loss in agricultural production was 7.5 million USD (discount rate 3.7%). The model is seen as the main research output and can be used for the assessment of long-term capital-intensive infrastructure projects in developing countries. The analysis identified the river segments that are economically viable for investments in riverbank revetments to preserve the largest area of fertile agricultural land. The results are especially valuable for river channel management, environmental planners and policy-makers, who deal with decisions regarding planning and the protection of bank erosion in areas of particular interest.

Drivers of Gully Erosion and its Socio-economic and Environmental Effects in a Tropical Semi-arid Environment

Gully erosion is a form of severe land degradation, which is more pronounced in semi-arid and arid environments due to their vulnerable ecosystems. Establishing the causes and effects of gully erosion is therefore fundamental in policy formulation and resource allocation for up-scaling context-specific gully mitigation and rehabilitation measures. Thus, this study aimed at assessing the causes and effects of gully erosion in semi-arid region, in the North-West part of Kenya. A cross-sectional survey, field measurements, laboratory analysis, focus group discussions and key informants’ interviews were used to collect data on drivers and effects of gully erosion. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to analyze the data. From the findings, 60 % of the respondents reported deforestation as the main driver of gully erosion. Further, 37 and 34 % of the respondents reported surface runoff and steep slopes, respectively, as major drivers of gully erosion. Soils in the region had a high dispersion ratio, with values of between 0.3 and 0.9, making them highly erodible. About 66 and 55 % of the respondents reported that the major effects of gully erosion were reduction in arable land size and death of livestock due to fatal falls, respectively. Approximately 14 ha of arable land and 1,483,600 Mg of sediment have been lost to gully erosion at the rate of about 2,410 Mg ha-1 over a period of 45 years. The average growth rate and density of gullies in the study site stood at 154 Mg ha-1 yr-1 and 0.7 km km-2, respectively. Four people and about 100 cattle had died due to fatal falls into the deep gullies. Thus, there is an urgent need to rehabilitate existing gullies while mitigating occurrence of new gullies in the study area. This would convert existing badlands into hotspots of biodiversity.

Сравнительная агротехнологическая оценка возделывания яровой пшеницы в южной лесостепи Западной Сибири

Abstract. Long-term (more than 20 years) studies were carried out on meadow – chernozem soil in the southern forest-steppe zone of Western Siberia. In a stationary grain-steam crop rotation (steam-wheat-wheat-wheat-barley), a comparative assessment of fertility, the state of agrophytocenosis, yield and quality of spring wheat grain, depending on the placement of the crop in the crop rotation, the tillage system, and complex chemicalization was carried out. The purpose of the research is to establish the influence and effectiveness of multi-level agricultural technologies of spring wheat on the elements of soil fertility, the state of agrophytocenosis, productivity and technological properties of grain in the southern forest-steppe of Western Siberia. Research methods. In the southern forest-steppe agricultural landscapes, the effectiveness of multi-level agricultural technologies of spring wheat cultivation has been established, with an increase in yield from 1.51 to 3.24 t/ha (2.1 times) and a decrease in technological parameters of grain. For the first time, the share contribution of chemicalization components in increasing the productivity of spring wheat cultivated by steam and in the grain-steam crop rotation has been established. Two-factor experience: factor A – tillage system (dump-plowing on the head of 20–22 cm, annually; combined-plowing in the fallow field and under the third wheat after steam for 20–22 cm and flat-cut on the head of 10–12 for the second wheat after steam barley; flat-cut on the head of 10–12 cm for all crops annually; minimal – in the fallow field cultivation on the 8–10 cm. in other fields without autumn treatment); factor B – means of intensification (control – without chemicals, the option of complex application of chemicals included the combined use of fertilizers (N24 P36 per 1 ha of arable land), recommended herbicides, fungicides and retardants). Results. It was found that intensive agrotechnology with the use of fertilizers and plant protection products makes the main contribution to increasing the yield and technological parameters of grain – 30–35 %, precursors – up to 20–25 %, weather conditions of the growing season – 18–20 %, the system of tillage in crop rotation – 10–12 %. The complex application of chemicals contributes to an increase in crop biomass to 2080 g/m2 (by 49 %), reduces water consumption to 73 mm per 1 t\ of grain (2.7 times), optimizes the nutrient regime of the soil and the phytosanitary state of agrophytocenosis, which ultimately increases yields from 1.51 to 3.27 t/ha while improving the technological properties of grain gluten content up to 26.4 – 29.4 %. Long-term rational use of chemicals does not lead to the accumulation of ecotoxicants in soil and grain. The scientific novelty was revealed for the conditions of Western Siberia with the long-term rational use of chemicals, the accumulation of ecotoxicants in the soil and grain was not observed.

Crop capacity and grain-beet crop rotation productivity as a result of 85-year application of fertilizers under conditions of the Central-Black Earth Region

Fertilizers applied during 85 years in the grain–beet crop rotation provided the most significant (by 12.0– 71.0% to control) an increase in the yield of barley and annual grasses using only the aftereffect of fertilizers, with direct action – sugar beet in the steam link (by 20.9–39.9%). There was a significant increase in the productivity of 1 ha of arable land (by 16.3–35.7% relative to the option without fertilizers). It is proved that an increase in the fertilizer saturation of 1 ha of crop rotation area per 1 kg of NPK increased the yield of sugar beet to the greatest extent, and oats and winter wheat in the clover link to the least. The highest productivity of 1 ha of arable land was provided by a system that included double application in the crop rotation of N135P135K135 for sugar beet in combination with manure of 25 t/ha in a pair (saturation with fertilizers – N30P30K30 + manure 2.8 t/ha).

Изменение продуктивности низинного выработанного торфяника в зависимости от минерального удобрения

The paper presents the results of 50-year-long research on the changes in the botanical composition and productivity of the sown grass stand, as well as the agrochemical properties of the drained depleted lowland peatland used in fodder production. To maintain the productive longevity of fodder agrophytocenoses at the level of 5-6 thousand fodder units per 1 ha of arable land and to recover the soil fertility of the depleted peatland, we require additional energy in form of annual application of a balanced nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer. Even a slight deviation from the developed fertilizer system causes the immediate degeneration of perennial mown grass stands sharply decreasing their productivity and the fertility of depleted peatland.

Spatial assessment of the soil organic carbon content under different types of land use in the Ohrid valley

Spatial assessment of key soil properties is a basic prerequisite for the evidence-based decision making and sustainable use and management of soil. The aim of this work was to estimate the spatial distribution of SOC under different types of land use, by the means of Digital Soil Mapping techniques. A site-specific soil data collection for the Ohrid valley was integrated with continuous and discrete datasets of environmental covariates, serving as predictors. The selected test area outlines the variability of factors influencing the SOC content and spatial distribution. Soil sampling locations were randomly distributed within a predefined mesh with a 1-sq.km spatial resolution and further stratified to outline different types of land use within each mash square. Soil samples were collected from 93 locations at three depths, each 20 cm apart, covering the total area of 10 thousand ha of arable land, forestland, and land under natural vegetation. A set of additional environmental dataset was collected, namely the soil map, land use map, geology map, digital terrain model and its derivatives, satellite images, climate data, as well as a set of indices NDVI, SAVI, BI etc., developed from the remote sensing datasets. Multiple linear regression was used for evaluating the regression pattern between the environmental predictors and the target variable. To estimate spatial variability, several regression tree methods were used. The results obtained using this approach have given a better spatial overview of the most vulnerable areas regarding SOC depletion. Out of 21 locations examined, the content of soil organic carbon in the top layer (0-20 cm.) of forestland was on average 6.81%, while at 22 locations examined under grassland, the average content was 4.07%. The arable land, which is under continuous human impact, had the lowest content of SOC of 2.5% under field crops and 2.61% under perennials.

Strategic, Economic, and Potency Assessment of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) Development in the Tidal Swamplands of Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

The potency and challenges of sorghum development in tidal swamplands in Indonesia have yet to be well studied. Thus, our study is the first to evaluate the land suitability, economic performance, and strategies for developing sorghum in the tidal swamplands in Central Kalimantan. We use the land suitability evaluation method, a gross margin and profit analysis, a break-even analysis, and a competitive analysis as the methods for assessing the potency and utilization of sorghum in this study. As a tool for decision-making, SWOT was also used, followed by a quantitative strategic planning matrix (QSPM) analysis. The results show that 578,511 ha of arable land is suitable for sorghum development. Economically, sorghum farming can generate IDR 12,894,000 per ha with a revenue-cost ratio of 1.72; the break-even price would be IDR 2447 per kg, around 42% lower than the current market price. Sorghum is also more competitive than cassava (Q = 0.76), sweet potato (Q = 0.58), and soybeans (Q = 0.61) and less competitive than maize (Q = 1.33). Based on the QSPM analysis, five alternative strategies were obtained for developing sorghum in tidal swamplands: (1) optimization of productivity; (2) improvement in the quality of human resources for farmers; (3) facilitation of partnership cooperation; (4) application of site-specific technology; and (5) optimization of waste utilization. These strategies show that the expansion of sorghum planting has potential in the tidal swamplands and economic value for the community.

Evaluation of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in response to salinity stress

Soil salinity is a severe and expanding soil degradation problem that affects 80 million ha of arable lands globally. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is very sensitive to saline conditions; the most susceptible genotypes may die in just 25 mM NaCl in hydroponics. Approximately 8–10% yield loss in chickpea production is estimated due to salinity stress. However, it is still not established why chickpea is so susceptible to salt affection. Salinity (NaCl) impedes germination of seeds, though chickpea varieties considerably differ from one another in this respect. Some chickpea genotypes are more tolerant in the stage of germination, tolerating even 320 mM NaCl. The reasons of this variation are unrevealed; there is a shortage of knowledge about the germination abilities of chickpea genotypes in saline conditions. Nevertheless, the effect of salt stress on vegetative growth can be analysed in hydroponics, in pot or field conditions, regardless the experimental environment, the ranking of genotypes regarding salt resistance is coherent. Chickpea genotypes can be different in their ability to retain water, maybe under salt affection; the more salt tolerant lines can maintain higher water content in the shoots, while the more sensitive ones cannot. The identification of salt tolerant chickpea landraces based on developing genetic variability is a suitable strategy to combat against salinity problems arising in arid and semi-arid areas.

Suitability of Biowaste and Green Waste Composts for Organic Farming in Germany and the Resulting Utilization Potentials

In this study, the suitability of biowaste and green waste composts in organic farming is presented based on quality assurance data of approximately 21,000 compost analyses from 2015 to 2020. The evaluation of compost suitability was based on both the legal regulations of the EU 2021/1165 and the requirements of the two largest German organic farming associations Bioland and Naturland. In 2020, 70.1% of the composts agreed with the above-mentioned regulations, 21.6% exceeded the limits for heavy metals and 7.3% exceeded the limits for foreign matter. The negative influence of the single elements regarding the suitability of composts for organic agriculture declined in the order Zn > Pb > Cd > Ni > Cu. In the bio-waste composts, the impurity content subsequently decreased by more than 50% from 2015 to 2020. In 2019 and 2020, approximately 2.5 million Mg fresh mass (FM) of the analyzed composts were suitable for organic farming. With an average compost application of 5 Mg FM per hectare (ha) and year, about 500,000 ha of arable land could have been supplied in 2020.

Biological reclamation of disturbed agricultural lands in the Volgograd Trans-Volga region

Earthworks, such as mining, construction, laying pipes for various purposes and other activities, result in the loss of ecological systems, particularly soil cover integrity. Land reclamation allows for the establishment of a fertile soil layer, soil structure, and the accumulation of humus and other nutrients up to the level of fertility that existed before the violation. The article presents a comparative analysis of the main indicators of soil fertility of agricultural lands (pasture, hayfield, arable land) in its natural state and in the disturbed one caused by the overhaul of the main gas pipeline. The purpose of the research conducted in 2020 was in the dry-steppe zone of chestnut soils of the Volgograd region to analyze the indicators of fertility of agricultural lands that are in their natural state and subject to reclamation with an estimation of restoration costs. To characterize the level of soil fertility, the main indicators of fertility have been considered: particle size distribution, content of organic matter (humus), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S) and pH, which reliably characterized soil fertility in the given soil-climatic conditions of the dry steppe zone of the Volgograd region. As a result of the estimation, it was found that the cost of restoring 1 ha of arable land made 2607.13 euro, and the cost of restoring 1 ha of pasture (haymaking) reached 2096.62 euro.

Partial Desalination of Saline Groundwater, including Flowback Water, to Produce Irrigation Water

Globally, more than 50 million ha of arable land is irrigated with saline water. The majority of this saline irrigation water is derived from saline groundwater. Global irrigation requirements may increase from 270 million ha in 2014 to about 750 million ha by 2050 as the global population increases to 9.1 billion people. The majority of this additional irrigation water is likely to come from saline groundwater sources. Desalination of irrigation water increases crop yield. A combination of high water volume requirements and low crop yields requires that, for widespread usage, the desalinated irrigation water product will require a delivery price of <USD 0.5 m3. This study considers five passive desalination routes (n-Fe0; n-Fe3O4; Fe0:Fe(b)@C0 polymer; n-Fe0:Fe(b) polymer; n-Fe(b) polymer) that may potentially achieve this goal: A common desalination mechanism is identified for the Fe0:Fe(b)@C0 polymer; n-Fe0:Fe(b) polymer; and n-Fe(b) polymer routes. The analysis establishes that the n-Fe(b) polymer route may be able to achieve (with a reaction time of 1 h) an 80% to 90% desalination of saline groundwater or flowback water (12.3 g NaCl L−1; EC = 17.6 dSm−1), to form partially desalinated irrigation water (1.2 to 2.4 g NaCl L−1; EC = 2 to 3.4 dSm−1) with an associated reduction in the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) from 125 to between 1.2 and 2.5, for a potential material (n-Fe(b) polymer) treatment cost of <USD 0.01 m−3, after considering polymer reuse and recycle, but excluding all other plant and other operating costs. The examples demonstrate that the polymers can be used to create: (i) a desalinated stationary hydrodynamic plume, containing 47,123 m3 water (1 to 2.5 g NaCl L−1), within 157,080 m3 porous rock forming a confined, saline aquifer (18.59 g NaCl L−1), to act as a reservoir of desalinated water (96 m3 d−1) for irrigation, with the potential to produce >960 m3 d−1 as required; (ii) a desalinated, perched, stationary, shallow groundwater mound, located above the regional water table, containing >200 m3 of desalinated water.

NITROGEN NUTRITION OF CROP PLANTS IN THE PRECISION FARMING SYSTEM IN THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST KAZAKHSTAN

South and Southeast Kazakhstan underwent soil nitrogen forecasting and diagnosing for nutrition to establish the requirement of nitrogen fertilizers for field crops. The study established the possible use of alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen as an indicator to provide field crops with available soil nitrogen. Managing the soil organic matter more accurately as the main source of nitrogen helps determine the spatial and temporal variability of its content in each specific field and to use a narrower (oriented to the prevailing soil types) scale of humus availability. The recent studies began in several stages, during 2014–2016, 2015–2017, and 2020–2021, on the irrigated light chestnut calcareous medium loamy non-saline and non-alkaline soil formed at the foothill loess plain of the Zailiyskiy Alatau, Kazakhstan. The nitrogen content of nitrates varied significantly over the years of research. In the control variants (without fertilizers), the recording of the minimum content of N-NO3 took place in 2016 compared with 2014 and 2015. In two consecutive years (2020–2021), 2,816 ha of arable land underwent testing in Almaty, Zhambyl, and Zhetysu regions, Kazakhstan. A total collection of 1,015 soil samples went through analysis, revealing a close correlation between the content of humus and alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen in the upper soil layer of 0-30 cm. The hydrothermal conditions from a long multi-factorial field experiment data largely affected the intensity of mineralization and immobilization processes of the available nitrogen compounds. The rational use of nitrogen fertilizers makes it possible to increase the field crop yield with good quality and enhance the payback of applied fertilizers, maintaining and improving soil fertility.

Mathematic Instruments for Determination of the Innovative Constituent of Farming Enterprises Development

To secure a continuous activity in the conditions of sustainability of farming enterprises it is necessary to introduce innovations from internal financial source, i.e. profit. The innovative constituent of farming enterprises development is based on determination of the relationship between the elements of the resource component of production potential and profit. Localization and branch-organizational structure of farming enterprises continuously influence combination of the elements of the resource component of production potential, which determines the size of profit. Family farming enterprises need attraction of external sources for innovation financing. Farming enterprises with above 20 ha of arable land generate rather large profit in the process of reproduction. The profit can be reinvested in the innovative development in the next cycle.

Изменение площади сельскохозяйственных угодий в Удмуртской Республике

Based on the inventory of agricultural land materials for 1992 and the space images of high spatial resolution interpretation it was analyzed the distribution of agricultural land in the Udmurt republic by types and area. It is noted that over a 27 year period the area of cultivated agricultural land has decreased in the Republic by almost quarter at the same time in absolute terms arable land decreased most of all whill in relative terms fallow lands and hayfields. 27,0 th of ha (6,2 %) of total area of unused agricultural land was lost irretrievably as it was transferred for the construction linear and area facilities. The amount of undergrowth on 327,6 th./ha of former agricultural lands. The amount of undergrowth allows to transfer them to areas covered with forest vegetation lands. Taking into account the age of the formed young stands and their taxation indicators it is advisable to carry on scientifically based forestry on the indicated areas with thinning aimed at accelerating of tactical mature wood culturation. On 79,9 th./ha of arable lands, woody vegetation is at the stage of formation. Taking into account the effective soil fertility, these areas should divided into 2 groups. The first group will consist of a plot where effective soil fertility makes possible to grow a crop equal to or greater that the average grain yields in the municipal district over past four years escaping measures to improve soil fertility. Such plots should be returned to agricultural use. The second group with a total of 43,8 th./ha is a plot where without radical soil improvement grain yields are less than the average yield for the mancapal district over the post four years. At is advisable to give them for the creation of forest plantations from fast growing tree species with a short turnover of felling.

Продуктивність короткоротаційних сівозмін в зоні Лісостепу за різних рівнів інтенсифікації

Goal. To substantiate short-term dynamic crop rotations with 100% saturation of grain crops at different levels of intensification suitable for agricultural formations of different forms of ownership of the Left Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Long-term field, laboratory, vegetation experiments, laboratory studies (chemical, physicochemical, microbiological). Results. The study was conducted in the subzone of unstable humidification of the Forest-Steppe on typical low-humus chornozem in Panfil research station of NSC “Institute of agriculture of NAAS”. It was found that different fertilizer systems (without fertilizers (absolute control), mineral (with the introduction of N45P55K55), organomineral (NPK + by-products of the predecessor), organic fertilizer systems (by-products of the predecessor)) of cereals of dynamic 4-field crop rotations (peas — winter wheat — corn for grain — spring barley) provided in conditions of unstable moisture of the Left Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine high and stable grain yields of winter wheat, which on average in 2016-2020 reached 4.67–6.75 t/ha, corn for grain — 5,86–8.30 t/ha, spring barley — 4.18–5.54 and peas 3.21–4.28 t/ha. Productivity of crop rotation area collected from 1 ha of arable land was 4.54–6.29 tons, feed units — 7.48-10.47, digestible protein — 0.60–0.84 tons. Economic efficiency of growing cereals in short-term crop rotations, depending on the fertilizer system, was: relatively net profit — 12.11–14.73 thousand UAH/ha at a level of profitability of 83–144%. The lowest energy costs (14.1 GJ/ha) and energy consumption (89.8 GJ/ha) were fixed in the control version (without fertilizers), and the highest — 28.3 and 115.5 GJ/ha, respectively — for the application of organomineral fertilizers. Conclusions. It was found that the organomineral fertilizer system provided the highest grain yield of 6.29 t/ha, harvested from 1 ha of arable land: fodder units — 10.47, grain units — 7.69, and digestible protein — 0.84 t. Economic efficiency for the same intensification system provided: conditionally net profit — 13.36 thousand UAH/ha, the level of profitability — 83% at Kee — 4.2.

WATER SOIL EROSION IN RIGHT-BANK UKRAINIAN FOREST-STEPPE ZONE

Problem Statement and Purpose. A water soil erosion is one of the most important ecological problems of the world because in the result of it the soil cover completely destroys and is not able to renew for a long time. In opinion of dr. Montgomery D., the loses of agricultural soils even limited the lifetime of ancient civilizations and the same problem closely touches today human being. Following to the information of scientists in 1970-s, about 430 million ha of lands were destroyed in different countries because of water soil erosion. Annual loses of product lands on our planet equal 5–7 million ha. In Ukraine at the end of first decade of 2000s following to National report (2010) the square of eroded agricultural lands equaled 15.954 million ha or 38.4 per cent of their common territory including 12.940 million ha of arable lands or 39.9 per cent. On average the soil loses about approximately 15 t/ha/year. Thereby the purpose of the study is a spatial distributed quantitative assessment of the intensity of erosion soil loses in the right-bank forest-steppe zone of Ukraine and definition of arable squares with different rates of erosion load considering present climate changes and land use peculiarities. Data &Methods. For the estimation of average soil wash off three typical slope plots (К1-р, К2-р, К3-р) were used. The plots are situated within the territory of Educational and Scientific Stationary of the Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University that is in Podilsk district of the north part of Odesa region. This territory is on south hills of Podolska upland in forest-steppe zone. The plots are the different parts of small valleys slopes which are annual plowed up and used for growing of the most profit-making crops – wheat, corn, barley and sunflower. No any scientifically based crop rotation uses there at least for the last twenty years. The spatial distributed physical and statistical model of soil wash off and accumulation was used as a working model for the estimation of average annual soil loses consideringthe peculiarities of land cultivation and anti-erosion crops properties. The model was developed in Department of Physical geography, Nature Management and Geoinformation Technology of Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University and realized in GIS‑package PCRaster (Utrecht University, Netherlands). Results. The quantitative assessment of today erosion soil loses on typical plots considering land use demonstrates very high rate of soil erosion degradation which is obviously representative for the most territories of the right-bank forest-steppe zone of Ukraine. Areas of more than 20 t/ha/year wash off equal 23–27 per cent. Areas of less than 2 t/ha/year wash off where the intensity of soil erosion equals to soil restoration are about one third of all arable lands. The average values of wash off for plots К1-р, К2-р, К3-р are 14.2; 26.3 and 14.8 t/ha/year respectively. However, these values are not above the same ones obtained earlier, but even some less. This is due to the decreasing of soil erosion because of snow melting in the spring which is connected with global warming. But simultaneously the hydrometeorological conditions of rainstorm erosion have not change. And essential decreasing of wash off has not happened because the part of snow melting erosion is only 15–20 per cent in the right-bank forest-steppe zone of Ukraine. The huge values of average wash off and significant areas with high and very high wash off (about one third of arable lands) evidence about decreasing of economic and ecological worth of lands commonly. Applying of soil protection crops rotation well influence on soil decreasing the rate of erosion. The plowing of lands with great slopes (6–7° and more) and using them for row crops without rotation leads to catastrophic wash off and increasing of areas with high erosion danger. Such lands need to be exclude of plowing up.

The role of feed-grade amino acids in the bioeconomy: Contribution from production activities and use in animal feed

Feed-grade amino acids contribute to the bioeconomy through both their production and use. Amino acids produced using biomass as feedstock are bio-based products and their production contributes to the bioeconomy in terms of value added and employment. The use of amino acids in animal feed allows to increase feed efficiency and thus to reduce the demand for feed. Their use helps to reduce the content of soybean meal in feed formulation, thereby reducing the demand for soybean meal and consequently the total area of arable land required for feed production. This article proposes a methodological approach for data collection as well as for the calculation of the mentioned effects and provides their first quantification. In the EU, the estimated contribution of bio-based amino acids in terms of value added (50 million €) and employment (400 employers) is quite low. Within the product group “feed-grade amino acids”, the share of bio-based amino acids is 15% in the EU and much lower as on the global level (70%). The contribution through the use of amino acids in animal feed is argued to be significant. Our calculation shows that it already helps to avoid the use of millions ha of arable land.

Параметрична модель сталої родючості сірого лісового легкосуглинкового ґрунту

Goal. To substantiate the integrated factual model of sustainable potential and effective fertility of gray forest coarse-grained sandy loam soil in grain-rotation crop rotations typical for the Northern part of the Forest-Steppe. Methods. Generalization, analysis, and synthesis, analog, field, laboratory, statistical, computational. Results. The globalization of the problem of soil fertility is due to the catastrophic devastation of arable land (6 million ha/ year). Ukraine loses up to 20% of GDP every year due to soil degradation. Perception of the category «fertility» as a biosphere phenomenon of large-scale recirculation of substances and energy eliminates the contradictions of its interpretation and validation by specialists. The generalization of long-term developments of the author and constructive decisions of modern agronomy made it possible to establish digital optimums of soil fertility indicators and their ranking into functional blocks. The quintessence of long-term stationary field and verbal researches is the actualization of the developed 15-blocks information-prognostic model of the fertility of gray forest sand loamy soil with average productivity of 7-fields grain-rotation crop rotation in the IV rotation (1997–2004) over 10 t/ha. Conclusions. Complex cultivation of gray forest soil during 1969–2004 had provided an increase in the yield from 1 ha of arable land from 5.02–5.18 to 9.63–10.46 t/ha g.un., or 1.9–2.1 times with a significant advantage (4.3–8.6%) of agrotechnologies based on different depth (6–45 cm) shelf-free tillage (1+5), in particular deep chisel under row crops. Optimization of only physical, agrochemical, phytosanitary and technological units contributes to the successful verification of the fertility model of the experimental ecotope and motivates its further application and improvement.

Use of chemical plant protection products in the farms of Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship

The study analysed the use of chemical plant protection products in farms of diversified acreage and type of production in the Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship. The source of a material were the results of a questionnaire survey which was prepared in cooperation with the West Pomeranian Agricultural Advisory Centre in Barzkowice. A large variation in the use of chemical plant protection products in the analysed farms was observed. The results showed that in all the evaluated farms, herbicides were used the most, and much less fungicides and insecticides. The relationship between the amount of active substances used per 1 ha of arable land and the yield of the main crops was demonstrated. The farms with an area of 31–50 ha used the largest amounts of active substances per 1 ha of arable land, slightly less the farms belonging to the area group above 50 ha and the least the farms with an area below 30 ha.