Loss Of Humus Research Articles

Comparative characteristics of the properties of Halpic Chernozem of the Kursk Region of different land use

Analytical data show that prolonged extensive agricultural use of typical Chernozem of Kursk region (Haplic Chernozem) results in adverse changes in some soil properties. This primarily concerns the humus content and the structural state of the Chernozem. Under the influence of continuous winter wheat growing (for 54 years) the losses of humus made up 24% of its content in virgin soil. The permanent corn growing (for 54 years) led to humus 32% losses, and under the influence of the bare fallow (for 54 years) – 48%. As a result of mineralization of humus, which is one of the main aggregative agents, water resistance of Chernozem structure has deteriorated. The number of water-resistant aggregates in variants with continuous winter wheat and continuous corn decreased in comparison with virgin soil (by 30% and 39% respectively). In terms of water resistance, the structure of Chernozem was transformed in agrocenoses from “extremely high” to “good”. Under the influence of the bare fallow the content of water-resistant units decreased by 75%, and the structure became “non-water resistant”. At the same time, the average diameter of waterproof aggregates decreased 2.8, 3.6 and 4.8 times in variants with continuous winter wheat, corn and permanent bare fallow, respectively, whereas the content of the water peptized clay increased 2.8–4.7-fold, and pH of medium increased by 0.16–0.57. At the same time, the content of soil exchangeable calcium reduced (more than 1.1-fold), as well as hydrolytic acidity (1.1–1.7-fold), the content of organic forms of phosphorus (1.1–1.4-fold) and the ratio of organic forms of phosphorus to mineral ones also decreased 2.1–4.1-fold. When the bare fallow is transferred to the abandoned land, the properties of Chernozem vary with different intensity. The most significant changes occurred with water-resistant aggregates. Their content has increased by 53% over 20 years, and the structure has transformed from “non-water resistant” to “good”, while the content water peptized clay has decreased 2.1 times. During the 20-year period, the content of exchangeable calcium and hydrolytic acidity increased by 1.9 and 1.03 mg-eq/100 g of soil. The content of humus has increased by 0.78%, i. e. humus content restoration occurred with a speed of only 0.04% per year. It is necessary to consider this factor when regulating the humus status of the plowed and eroded soils. In general, the impact of continuous bare fallow on the properties of Chernozem was so profound that 20 years after its transfer to the category of abandoned lands, the properties of Chernozem, in most cases, have been restored only to the level typical of variants with crop cultivation.

ЭМИССИЯ УГЛЕРОДА ГОРНО- ДОЛИННЫХ СВЕТЛО- КАШТАНОВЫХ ПОЧВ ИССЫК- КУЛЬСКОЙ КОТЛОВИНЫ

The article considers the accumulation and mineralization of soil organic matter that leads to carbon emissions into the atmosphere. There are the results of humus loss of arable lands over 10 years of exploitation in irrigated agriculture in terms of converting to carbon and the changes in the content of organic matter over the last 20 years of irrigated mountain- valley light-chestnut soils of the Issyk - Kul basin. It also considers the problems of reducing the productivity of light-chestnut soils that occur as a result of climate change, which will have serious negative consequences for the country's economy, people's livelihoods and food security.

The Study of Condition of the South Bug River Basin with Using Geoecological Methods

Purpose. Assess the current state of the Southern Bug River basin and the degree of anthropogenic impact on it (transformation) Methods. The methodology of complex field geographic research (according to S. Kurlov) was chosen for the research. On its basis, water samples were taken at the appropriate points of the river basin, which directly covered the Southern Bug River itself, as well as its tributaries, and the composition of coastal soils was analyzed. Laboratory experiments were performed on the basis of a licensed laboratory of the Uman National University of Horticulture Results. Based on the analysis of the data set of the main hydrochemical indicators of the surface water quality of the Southern Bug river basin and the analysis of the soil, it was found at some experimental points that the MPC content of the studied indicators was exceeded. The content is exceeded at all sampling points, due to the high content of complexes with humic acid salts, secondary waterlogging of reclaimed lands. The nitrite content is exceeded in the following places: r. Southern Bug (Vinnitsa and Ladyzhin), r. Ustya (Nemyriv), r. Udych litskiy district) and r. Dohna (Bershad district). The main reason for the intake of nitrates into the water is the washout of fertilizers from fields and vegetable gardens. All surface water bodies have increased water hardness, its acidity is within normal limits. The soils adjacent to the streams under consideration bear clear signs of hydrogenic accumulation of substances (carbonates, gypsum, salts) and deltaic conditions of formation (horizontal stratification, horizons buried, remnants of freshwater fauna). Conclusions. The concentration of pollutants increases with the approach of the tributaries of the Southern Bug River and the relief formed by them to their base of erosion. Excess concentrations of alkaline hydrolyzed nitrogen, as well as phosphorus and potassium compounds at the sampling points indicate a high level of intensity of the farming system, in which the use of agrochemicals is given priority. However, long-term ingress of these compounds into the water body will accelerate the process of eutrophication in the near future. The loss of humus in the soils of agricultural lands adjacent to the rivers Sob, Dokhna, Ustya was revealed. In general, the geosystem of the Southern Bug River suffers from a complex anthropogenic impact, the main source of which is agricultural production.

Humus balance in short-term crop rotation

The results of studies of humus dynamics under five-field field rotation (2013–2017) are presented. It was investigated that among four crop rotations, deficient humus balance for rotation was provided only by winter wheat and corn for grain in all three variants of fertilizing system. In the non-fertilizer version, winter wheat accumulated 7.27 t/ha of surface-root residues, which, in the process of humification, provided 1.45 t/ha of humus in the soil. Thus, humus supply exceeded the losses by 0.20 t/ha. In the version with applying only mineral fertilizers (N90P60K60), the excess of the humus yield over losses was 0.32 t/ha, and the additional by-products — 2.04 t/ha. Similar results were obtained for maize on grain. Humus deficiency is observed in all fertilizer variants for soybeans and sunflowers. The highest humus losses (–0.82 t/ha) of soybeans and (–1.06 t/ha) of sunflower are recorded in the version without fertilizer. Humus losses on the steam field variant averaged 2.0 t/ha and, when applying the sidereal crop (corn in the milky-waxy phase), they decreased to — 0.62 t/ha. Applying of mineral fertilizers contributed to a slight decrease in humus losses in both cultures, whereas when adding by-products, humus losses were at the level of error. In short field crop rotation with the cultivation of winter wheat, corn soybeans for grain, sunflower, and the inclusion of the steam field, a deficient humus balance is achieved only when optimal doses of fertilizers are applied to each crop, combined with by-product yield of each crop.

Темно-сірі опідзолені ґрунти Чижиківського пасма: проблеми деградації та охорони

The results of the research of degradation of dark gray podzolized soils (Luvis Greyzemic Phaeozems) of the Chyzhykiv ridge are presented. The causes and consequences of this dangerous natural and anthropogenic phenomenon are analyzed. It has been established that the intensive agricultural use of soils caused the activation of water erosion processes, the development of physical degradation processes, which lead to soil compaction, deterioration of their general physical properties, and loss of humus. Degradation processes lead to a decrease in soil fertility and unprofitability of agriculture, worsen the ecological state of the environment. In the study of degradation processes and their consequences in dark gray podzolized soils, the following methods were used: comparative-geographical, comparative-profile, catena method, analytical, statistical. Soil field explorations were carried out after the growing season. The most dangerous among the degradation processes are erosion degradation, which leads to a decrease in the capacity of the soil profile and deterioration of the soil agrophysical properties. The results of the studies demonstrated that the capacity of the profile of poorly eroded soils decreased on average by 14.5 cm compared to the standard, in medium-eroded – by 28.3 cm, in highly-eroded – by 50.8 cm. Soils underwent erosion from low to very high (crisis) degree. Degradation processes of anthropogenic genesis caused a deterioration of the structural and aggregate state of the soils, which is manifested in a decrease in the content of agronomically valuable soil aggregates and the dominance of the sloping fraction. According to the research results, the content of agronomically valuable aggregates with a size of 10–0.25 mm in the arable soil layer is 18.65–33.86 %, which indicates a high and very high (crisis) level of degradation. Soils also undergo degradation due to re-compaction, which is manifested in an increase in the density of the structure and a decrease in the overall porosity of the soil. Long anthropogenic pressure on soils and erosion degradation processes have led to a decrease in humus content. In particular, in poorly eroded soils the humus content is 2.03 %, in medium-eroded soils – 1.45 %, in highly eroded – 1.06 %, which is 16.9–64.6 % less than the standard. Measures are proposed to minimize the degradation of the dark gray podzolized soils of the Chyzhykiv ridge, which consist in the application of anti-erosion measures and soil-protective methods of soil processing, conservation of heavily degraded lands. The introduction of basic and crisis monitoring of the state of soils in the research area is recommended. Key words: the Chyzhykiv ridge, dark gray podzolized soils, erosion, degradation, soil protection.

HISTORICAL ASPECTS OF STUDYING SOIL DEGRADATION IN L’VIV REGION

Degradation of cover and soils is among the major issues in soil science, agricultural production, environmental protection and more. This issue does not apply to one region or country only; it is the world global problem. In fact, knowledge of the history of soil degradation evolution in L’viv region allows us to fully understand and assess negative processes and changes in soils over a specific period.The purpose of the given research is the scientific historical and geographical analysis of the status of soil degradation exploration in L’viv region. To achieve this purpose, the author defined main research objectives: to analyse the problem exploration status; to study the history of soil degradation exploration in L’viv region; to develop the periodization of studying the history of soil degradation exploration; to highlight the contribution of individual scientists to the study of soil degradation in L’viv region. The object of research is exploration of soil degradation in L’viv region. The subject of research is the history of exploration and results of exploring soil degradation in L’viv region.While researching the history of soil degradation exploration in L’viv region, the author used the following scientific methods: historical, cartographic, source studies, problematic/chronological, historico-geographical, and comparative geographical.Setting up the Department of Agriculture at L’viv University in 1810, which was one of the first in Europe, constituted the beginning of the first scientific exploration of Galicia soils, including degraded soils. A further important event in the study of soils in L’viv region was starting the Agronomic School in Dublyany in 1856, which received the status of Agricultural Academy in 1901. In the interwar period, researchers from the Agricultural and Forestry Department of L’viv Polytechnic Institute, the Institute of Geography at the University of L’viv, L’viv Bureau of Reclamation, etc., carried out soil exploration at the territory of Galicia.Large-scale soil exploration in 1957-1961 allowed researchers to objectively evaluate the soil geography, its genesis and properties, to identify the areas of eroded and half-bogged soils, and to perform their agricultural and industrial grouping. Professors H. O. Andrushchenko and I. M. Hogolyev made a significant contribution to the soil exploration in the Western regions of Ukraine, and in L’viv region in particular.The new stage of systematic scientific exploration of soil degradation began in 1993 at the Department of Pedology and Soil Geography at L’viv Ivan Franko State University, headed by Professor Poznyak. The Department started theoretical justification of degradation processes evolution, performing research work related to the study of soil degradation in L’viv region, developing the classification of degradation processes, mapping degradation processes, monitoring degradation, and using information technology for soil degradation studies.Soil degradation studies of L’viv region were performed by Associate Professors Kit M. H., Pshevlotsts'kyy M. I, Yamelynets' T. S., Telehuz O. H., Pavlyuk N. M., Netsyk M. V., Lutsyshyn O. Z., Senior Researcher Vyshnevs'kyy Y. Ya., and others.Professor V. H. Has'kevych conducted the study of erosion degradation and its impact on soil evolution and its properties within Malyi Polissya, Sokal’s’ky ridge, Opillya, and the Precarpathians. It was established that prolonged and intensive anthropogenic pressing on soils led to activation of water and wind erosion, adversely affected the morphological features of soils, as well as caused mechanical, physical, agrochemical, and biochemical degradation. The research findings determined the soil profile loss, soil mass loss and humus loss, and assessed soil degradation levels. The influence of degradation processes on the gross chemical composition of soils was studied. Soils were also explored for such degradation processes as acidification, decalcification, genesis of secondary bog soils, carbonation, and aridization. Pyrogenic degradation was studied in peat soils of Malyi Polissya. The study of pyrogenic degradation of peat soils in Ukraine was conducted for the first time.V.H. Has’kevych’s research findings contributed to the improvement of the typology of degradation processes (classes and types). He identified granulometric degradation of drained soils and offered to distinguish between selective and situational types of degradation. An integral assessment of soil degradation was developed based on the intensity of their manifestation.Periodic studies of soil degradation in L’viv region have been developed and five periods have been identified: empirical, inception, formation, awareness, and analysis & problem-solving periods.The research findings were shown in doctoral dissertations and published in numerous monographs and scientific articles.

Influence of Long-Term Application of Fertilizer Systems on Fertility of Ordinary Carbonate Chernozem in the Conditions of the Central Ciscaucasia

The paper studies the influence of systematic application recommended and estimated mineral (N69P63K45 and N141P68K60) and organomineral (manure 8 t/ha + N44P42K24and manure 15 t/ha + N87P36K7) fertilizer systems within grain-grass-hoe crop rotation on density, porosity, structural condition of soil, water stability of structural units, water permeability, change of humus content and basic nutrition elements in rainfed conditions and at irrigation in comparison with their initial content and with indicators in control option – without fertilizers and irrigation throughout long-term field experiment on ordinary carbonate chernozem in a steppe zone of the Central Ciscaucasia. It is defined that over 68 years of experiments the content of total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and reaction of soil solution did not change. The maximum losses of humus and available forms of nutritious elements occurred in options without fertilizers in rainfed and irrigated conditions, bulk density of soil increased, porosity and water permeability decreased. The use of fertilizers improved agrophysical and water properties of soil: its density decreased, porosity, structure index, water stability, water permeability and hygroscopicity increased. The introduction of estimated organomineral fertilizer system to the scheme of experiment since 1986 restored the humus content in soil to the reference value and ensured its positive balance (+2.6 t/ha).

Improvement of crop rotations aimed at increasing their efficiency and conserving soil fertility in conditions of biological intensification

The long-term research conducted in 2002-2017 in a long stationary experiment on studying different types of field crop rotations under conditions of the Kirov region showed that on sod-podzolic soils the loss of humus could be lowered using agro technical methods. The most critical of them include the reduction of a portion of bare fallow, transition to sown and green-manure fallow, expanded use of perennial legume and grain-legume crops and intercrop sowings. In eight-field crop rotations when using such means of a biologization as plowing of the root-stubble residues, aboveground mass of green-manure crops in fallow fields and intercrop sowings, the supply of organic substance was within 17.24-83.03 t/ha. By mineral-ization of this substance 7.64-11.51 t of humus were produced. In a crop rotation with bare fallow there is a negative balance of humus of -0.06 t/ha. The positive balance is obtained when using sown, green-manure fallows, intercrop sowings (two-three fields), and introduction of up to 25% perennial legumes to the structure of crop rotations. The formation of 0.96-1.44 t/ha of humus in the arable layer provides positive balance of 0.20-0.72 t/ha. The increase of the part of grain crops up to 62.5-75.0% in the structure of crop rotations resulted in rise of their efficiency up to 4.74-4.79 thousand fodder units. It was 0.27-0.32 thousand fodder units higher than in the control crop rotation with bare fallow. Dependence of productivity of agricultural crops on humus content was insignificantly negative (r = -0.16). The efficiency of the studied crop rotations depended considerably on the amount of productive moisture in the soil in a phase of ear formation of grain crops (r = -0.78) and on biological activity of the soil (r = -0.80).

The Management of Soil Fertility and Productivity of Agrocenoses in Adaptive-Landscape Farming Systems

The natural and artificial fertility of soils and the productivity of agrocenoses can be considered the ecological and socioeconomic functions of soils and agrolandscapes. In adaptive-landscape farming systems (ALFSs), they are regulated via elimination of limiting conditions or adaptation to them. ALFSs are constructed on the basis of mathematical models describing the interaction of farming practices and the environmental factors studied in multifactor field experiments. Long-term stationary studies organized by the author in different subzones of Western Siberia have proved the possibility to reduce the area under bare fallow and to apply crop rotation systems without the fallow stage in the forest-steppe zone; soil mulching and minimization of tillage operations can be efficient in the case of application of mineral fertilizers and soil amendments. Minimization of the tillage of chernozems has led to a decrease in the loss of humus, nitrogen mineralization, and CO2 emissions from the soil surface. Possibilities and conditions of direct seeding practices in this zone are also considered. The role of mineral fertilizers as an indispensable factor of ALFSs and the most important condition for the environmental optimization of nature management is substantiated.

Humus content and balance in the soil with different doses and ratios of mineral fertilizers in field crop rotation

Purpose. To evaluate direction of content change in humus content and reserves in podzolized hard-loam chernozem of the Right Bank Forest-Steppe with different doses and ratios of mineral fertilizers in short crop rotation against the background of ploughing non-commodity part of the crop. Methods. The research was conducted in crop rotation of experimental field of the Uman National University of with the following alternating crops: winter wheat, corn, spring barley, and soybean. The total humus content in the soil was determined in accordance with the State Standard 4289 and its balance according to Baliuk S. A. et al. (2011) Results. It has been monitored the balance of humus in the soil for 2011–2018 at various doses and ratios of mineral fertilizers in field crop rotation. With full mineral fertilizer (N110P60K80) for eight years, the humus content in the 0–20 cm layer of chernozem increased by 10 % compared with the areas with no fertilizers (from 3.71 to 4.09 % on average in four fields of crop rotation). In the soil layer of 20-40 cm, the changes were unreliable. The humus reserves in the 0–20 cm layer of soil have most decreased with no fertilizers and under P60K80 and N110K80 fertilization (by 2.0–4.2 t/ha), and the most increase in humus reserves in this soil layer as compared to the initial level was noted in variants of the experiment with N110P60K80 and N110P60K40 fertilization (by 6.9 and 5.8 t/ha, respectively). Conclusions. The direction of soil formation processes and the level of soil fertility depend on fertilizer types, doses, and ratios. The most humus loss in the soil layer of 0–20 cm occurred in areas with no fertilizers (by 3 %) and in the experiment variant N110K80 (by 4 %). The N55P30K40, N110P30K40, and N110P30K80 fertilizer systems generally provide for the restoration of humus content in soil layer of 0–40 cm, but the most increase in soil humus content was observed in the experiment variant N110P60K80 and N110P60K40 at which humus reserves increased by 6.4–8.1 t/ha. Non-commodity part of the crop in plant mass composition entering the soil after harvesting crops is 47–51 % depending on the fertilizer and is an important source of restoring the humus content.

Scientific bases of the humus stabilization in ordinary chernozem in Russia

<p>The influence of long-term use of mineral and organic fertilizers, crop rotations, plant residues, soil treatment systems on humus content of common chernozems and stabilization of productivity of field crops in the arid conditions of the Middle Volga region is considered on the example of researches in the Samara area. The zone climate of field experiments is characterized as extremely continental. The sum of the active temperatures (above 10°C) is 2,800-3,000°C. The average annual rainfall is 454.1 mm with fluctuations over the years from 187.5 mm to 704.6 mm. At some years, precipitation does not happen within a month or more. Hydrothermal index in May-August is 0,7, the duration of the frost-free period is 149 days. If the humus content in the region is 4.35-4.52%, then, it is necessary to introduce 6.7-8.0 t/ha of manure per year to maintain the balance of the deficit. The introduction of biological methods for the conservation and reproduction of soil fertility (green fertilizers, perennial grasses, straw as fertilizer) reduces the loss of humus by 0.15-0.24 t/ha. This makes it possible to increase the payback of mineral fertilizers, which must be taken into account when developing fertility reproduction systems for soils. In the variants with minimal and differentiated cultivation of the soil during crop rotation in 30 years of the study, the loss of humus in the 0-30 cm layer decreased by 0.04 - 0.73% (43-789 kg per year with maximum values in the combination of direct seeding of spring crops with deep loosening for a number of crop rotations is 4.14%, significantly exceeding the control (by 0.54%). The decrease in soil fertility in the variants with constant plowing and minimal tillage contributed to an increase in the conjugation of productivity of crops with humus. Based on the research, in order to preserve the fertility of the soil of ordinary chernozem, it is necessary to use green fertilizer, leguminous perennial grasses. In the regional rotations of crop production, new generation technologies are recommended, the basis of which is differentiated tillage with the use of crushed straw as fertilizer.</p>

Ecological and economic evaluation of using arable land in the Republic of Bashkortostan

In our country, with the transition to a market-oriented economy, the scientifically based farming systems with their rational crop rotations were violated, which intensified the process of soil fertility depletion. Accordingly, the cumulative damage from non-recoverable soil humus losses is rapidly growing and becomes quite comparable with the cost of crop production received from this land. The article substantiates the necessity of conducting an ecological and economic evaluation of the use of land in agriculture at the regional level. The proposed methodical approach to solving the problem of optimal allocation of crops and cattle-breeding industries is determined by the criterion of the most effective use of the basic means of agricultural production. The analysis of the use of arable land and the structure of cereal crops in all categories farms of the Republic of Bashkortostan was carried out. The results of the economic and environmental damage evaluation caused by the agricultural production of the region were presented. The results of the economic and environmental damage evaluation caused by the agricultural production of the region were presented. The calculation of ecological and economic efficiency of land use in agriculture of the Republic of Bashkortostan is presented in the paper.

QUALITATIVE CONCENTRATION OF HUMUS OF CHESTNUT SOILS CONSIDERING MANY-YEAR FERTILIZING

The results of long-term agrochemical experiments highlight quantitative and qualitative changes in the humus status of chestnut soil when applying organic and mineral fertilizers. When fertilizers were not applied, the initial humus concentration in the soil was reduced and on average reached its minimum level of 0.94 ± 0.03% in the 48th year of research. During the whole period in the unfertilized variant, the soil lost 28.3% of the initial amount of humus, or 11.0 t/ha, with an average annual loss of 228 kg. Kinetic parameters of humus reducing in the soil of the control variant reached k = 0.008 year -1 in rapid manifestation. When mineral fertilizers were applied, the humus concentration was higher than in the control variant and reached 1.17 ± 0.05% by the last date of determination. The reduction rate in the variant of applying mineral fertilizer was k = 0.003 year -1. The average annual inflow of root and stubble residues when applying mineral fertilizes compensated humus losses and stabilized its concentration after 30 years of research. Reducing of humus reserves in the soil revealed in a corresponding reduction of annual losses, which reached 131 kg/ha in the first 16 years, with further decrease of 107 kg/ha in 14 years, followed by their absence and slight decrease in the last 7 years - 41 kg/ha. Deficient and positive balance of humus was provided by the variant with manure application. The humus concnetration in the soil for 48 years of applying fertilizers reached 1.50 ± 0.04% and significantly exceeded the initial concentration. On average, during the research period the soil multiplied its reserves on 5.6 t/ha with an average annual growth rate of 117 kg/ha. Kinetics of humus concentration increase in soil in the variant with manure application had a growth rate constant k = 0.002 per year. Ranking of positive quantitative (S gen, %) and qualitative (HC: FC) changes of humus in soil according to estimation variants in dynamics of perennial series occurs in a row: no fertilizers (0.56 % and 0.75) → complete fertilization NPK (0.69 % and 0.79) → manure (0.86 % and 0.92).

Сучасний стан родючості українських чорноземів

Actuality and practical significance of the problem related to chernozem fertility reproduction is determined by such global functions as: providing food and the lives of Ukrainian and any people from the Earth – consumers of Ukrainian agricultural products. Unfortunately, due to the modern agriculture of Ukraine, the following degradation problems of soils are observed as: – the losses/emissions of С-СО 2 dynamics increasing up to 17.4 million tons in 2010; – annually humus losses around 0,5-0,8 t/ha -1 ; – over compaction, disaggregation, cloddy and crust formation on 17-; 14-; 4-; and 15.8 million hectares, respectively. This paper represents: a system analysis of Ukrainian Chernozem properties changes based on the data from the I – X largescale soil surveys, modern monitoring studies, scientific professional literature sources. During the last – X th (2011-2015) Soil Survey, was showed, that despite a decreasing in a humus content by 2.5-4% compared to the previous IX round Survey (2006-2010), there was found a slight increasing of the exchangeable phosphates and potassium content in the Forest-Steppe and Steppe soils of Ukraine. The geoecological state of Ukrainian environment has also been negatively affected by such processes and phenomena as: over-wetting (12-14.7%), landslides (0.3%), karst formation (37.6%) and technogenic disturbance of the lands - 0.3% to the whole territory of Ukraine. The article proposes also a general strategy of Ukrainian Chernozems conservation management and legislative protection policies.

The role of soil-protecting forests in reducing soil erosion in young glacial landscapes of Northern-Central Poland

The use of phytomelioration in environmental management, particularly in case of long-term, permanent forest vegetation, is one of the most natural and effective ways to mitigate the effects of soil erosion. Forests in general have a very effective protective function. The paper identifies differences in the basic soil properties along slope surfaces, in relation to the land use. Moreover, the role of soil-protecting forests in reducing the intensity and effects of soil erosion processes was assessed. The research was conducted in the young glacial landscape of north-central Poland. Analysis of soil catenas along the slopes and of material collected from the soil pits revealed that the forests highly protect against the degradation of soil cover, especially, in limiting, among others, loss of humus and the reduction of upper soil horizons. On the slopes under forests, clear changes in particle size distribution in relation to the adjacent slopes used for agricultural purposes were observed.

Economic and legal mechanisms for effective use of land resources under the conditions of sustainable development in Ukraine

Sustainable society development distinctly entails the issues of sustainable use of land and especially soils, which are the place and condition of human activity, the means of production that provide absolute value, and a unique natural resource. Ukraine possesses nine percent of the world’s black soil (chernozem) resources, which necessitates the development of sufficient economic and legal mechanisms for their effective use in ensuring food security within the country and worldwide, increasing the export potential of Ukraine subject to the soil quality restoration, and determines the scope of this work. The land reform in Ukraine as a component of economic reform has led to a significant deterioration of agricultural land, loss of humus from soils, their degradation, and other negative consequences threatening the country’s economic security and generating socio-economic and demographic crisis phenomena, especially in rural areas. Therefore, the study has identified priorities and has proposed the use of contractual mechanisms in the field of sustainable socio-economic use of land resources. The authors applied an integrated approach to the analysis of sustainable land use issues to achieve the study objective. This led to the use of a wide range of methodological tools, in particular, the dialectical method, the formal logical method, the logical legal method and the methods of analysis, synthesis and comparison. Defined provisions that determine the economic and legal mechanism of land use and should be ensured in the process of sustainable development: meeting the needs of landowners and other persons, including the priority needs – environmental and food security; an increase in the area of land not involved in the economic turnover, the adoption of measures aimed at the preservation and restoration of agricultural land, in particular compliance with the requirements for crop rotation, and, in some cases, their conservation; introduction of contractual relations in the field of land use.

Humus state of soils of Kiev region

Among the types of soil degradation, one of the first in importance and globality is called dehumidification. So, nowadays annual average losses of humus of chernozems in the country exceed 1 t/ha. A significant part of other soil degradation is directly or indirectly due to a decrease in the amount of humus. The analysis of the change (deterioration) of the humus soil should be carried out to determine the inverse and irreversible degradation. Excess of mineralization of humus over its formation causes dehumidification of the soil profile. Dynamics of humus content in the soils of Kyiv region during six rounds (1986–2015) of agrochemical certification of agricultural land is generalized. Humus content index was changing significantly within this period. Research data designated the weighted average humus content to amount 2.7% in the soils of the region at the time of the first survey (1986–1990). The reducing the volume of organic fertilizer application in VІ, VІІ tours (1991–2000) didn’t lead to a significant decrease of humus. Though, during VІІІ–Х tours (2001–2015) a sharp increase of humus content in the soils of the region was observed against the background of not less sharp decrease in the norms of organic matter application. The humus content in the soils of the Kiev region increased by 0.38% for this period, namely: from 2.6 % in VІ tour to 2.98% in Х tour. Intensive growth of humus content in the soils of the region didn’t associated with level of application of organic fertilizers but took place seeing withdrawal from the treatment of infertile soils, especially the Polissya zone. Application of crop residues was an important base for increase of humus content in the soils of the region.

Optimization of the land use with considering of the landscape structure of the territory on the test sites

The large-scale landscape maps necessity in developing projects and proposals for agriculture, forestry land-use and erosion protection were justified. Natural conditions of land-use in Babyno community in Stara Syniava district in Khmelnytsk region were described and analyses of the land structure were made. Accordingly, the land structure is characterised by ecologically destabilising lands, including arable lands, lands that were withdrawn from agriculture production and forestry (outbuildings, houses, roads, quarries, exterior use lands) are prevailing. They are covered 89.7 % (in particular, arable lands – 87.3 %) of total community lands. And, vice versa, ecologically stabilising lands (gardens, pastures, grasslands, shrubs, forest belts, forests, swamps, water covered lands) are covered a small percentage – 8.96 of the total research area. Therefore, soil erosion is covered 87.3 % of the total area − a significant percentage. Soil erosion caused decreasing of soil fertility and yields of agriculture. The average weighted losses of humus in the arable horizon of soils (0−30 cm) compared with full-profile standard analogues are 1.1 %. The first step of developing sustainable ecological landscape systems was justified by using a principle of land resource restoration and strengthening of their self-regulation through increasing the area of ecologically stabilised lands by low productivity lands and by their location with taking into consideration a complex morphological structure of landscape systems. Landscape systems of research area were classified by genesis and type of their economic use. Arable lands should cover no more than 45.4 % of the total community area. In particular, 2.6 % is recommended to use for field grain-steam tilled crop rotations and cultivating all agriculture crops of this zone by using intensive agriculture systems and the widespread introduction of their ecological links; 27.8 % is recommended to use for field grain-steam tilled crop rotations and cultivating all agriculture crops of this zone by using ecological systems of agriculture provided soil cultivation, sowing and caring for crops according to the elevation line directions. 15.0 % − for field grain-grass or grass-grain soil protected crop rotations with the total exclusion of row crops. 51.2 % of total community land area should be covered by perennial plants (1.6 %), grasslands (0.9 %), shrubs and forest belts (0.05 %), forests (27.1 %), swamps (0.21 %), lands covered by water (0.54 %). Other 3.4 % are covered by outbuildings and houses (1.2 %), roads (1.1 %), open-casts (0.2 %) and exterior use lands (0.9 %). The results of research helped to justify the rules of the rational use of land area in Babyno community and its analysis suggests that land area of the heavily dissected hills of the forest-steppe stabilising land should occupy at least 50−55 %. Conversely, destabilising – no more than 50−45 % (particularly arable land – 40−45 %). Key words: optimization of the land use, soil erosion, lands, landscape systems.

Порушені землі Луганщини та їх класифікація

Земельні ресурси, які є основним засобом виробництва, територіально обмежені. Земельний фонд Луганщини за досить нетривалий період природокористування зазнав значних змін. Екстенсивне сільськогосподарське землекористування, розроблення родовищ корисних копалин, промислове та житлове будівництво, утворення комунікацій викликало суттєву проблему – виникнення порушених земель, через що скорочуються площі, придатні для господарського використання. Порушені землі створюють реальну перспективу деградації земельного фонду, що спричинює виникнення складних економічних, екологічних, соціально-політичних проблем. Проблема дефіциту земель породила проблему рекультивації порушених земель, науково обґрунтоване вирішення якої можливе лише через удосконалення методів виявлення, обліку та класифікації таких земель. Запропоновані в різні часи класифікації порушених земель враховували або їх ознаки в сукупності, або в будь-якому поєднанні. Частіше за все ознаки, які бралися за основу класифікації, були не одного рівня, навіть несумісними. З метою визначення оптимальних шляхів відновлення та збереження земельного фонду розроблено класифікацію порушених земель Луганщини із зазначенням генетичного чинника, характеристикою основних видів антропогенно порушених земель, запропонованими видами рекультивації та перспективами їх відновлення та використання. Висловлена думка, що так звані порушені землі – чи то природним шляхом, чи то через господарську діяльність людини – є резервом у земельному фонді області.

CROP ROTATIONS ENSURING THE GREATEST YIELDS UNDER DRY CONDITIONS OF THE LOWER VOLGA REGION WATER-SAVING IRRIGATION REGIMES FOR VEGETABLE CROP PRODUCTION UNDER CONDITIONS OF VOLGA-DON INTERFLUVE

An estimation of various agro-biological methods in crop rotation of dry-steppe zone of light chestnut soils of the Lower Volga region is given. The effectiveness of a grain-fallow four-field crop rotation has been established, where green manure crop mass of winter rye, straw and leaf-weed mass of crops are plowed in soil, which increases organic matter and nutrient content in soil, reduces humus loss, and stabilizes grain yields. It was noted that only in four-field grain-fallow green manure crop rotation there is a positive balance of the main nutrients in the soil per hectare, where additional organic matter enters arable layer of soil in the form of winter rye green manure crop. In this variant, the balance was: nitrogen +39.7; phosphorus +0.7 and potassium +49.9 kg/ha. In six-field grain crop rotation with ginger as a sidereal crop, a positive balance is achieved only for phosphorus +14.1 and potassium +35.5 kg/ha, for phosphorus there is a negative balance of -3.5 kg/ha. In the eight-field grain crop rotation with 50% of legume crops, a positive balance is achieved only for potassium, +29.8 kg/ha. The balance of humus can be regulated by the structure of areas, alternation of crops in field crop rotations, application of plant residues in the form of sidereal crops, straw, leaf-weed mass, decrease in the proportion of fallow and tilled crops in the structure of biotivated crop rotations. The most complete biologization is possible in green manure crops, where humus losses decrease 1.5 times or more. A positive balance of organic matter is ensured in four-field biologized grain-fallow crop rotation - +3.33 t/ha.