Dynamics of soil fertility indicators of Chernivtsi region

Abstract

Agrochemical assessment of soils is important for the development of measures for the rational use of soils. The purpose of the study was to establish the dynamics of changes in soil fertility indicators in the Chernivtsi region during 2011-2020. Laboratory and field methods, analysis, and generalisation were used. The reaction of the soil, humus content, the nitrogen content of easily hydrolysed compounds, mobile phosphates, and exchangeable potassium were determined in soil samples. It was identified that the acidity of the soil solution in the region is dominated by soils close to neutral (31.8%) and neutral (36.5%). The weighted average salt pH is 5.8, which corresponds to a close to the neutral reaction of the soil solution. Compared to the previous round of the examination (2011- 2015), the weighted average pH indicator did not change in terms of the level of humus supply, soils with an average humus content (66.7%) predominate, and the weighted average humus content in the region is 2.7%. Compared to the previous round of the examination, the weighted average humus content increased by 0.1% in terms of nitrogen content, which is easily hydrolysed, most lands have very low (48.3%) and low (48.7%) indicators. The weighted average content of easily hydrolysed nitrogen for the reporting period is 106.4 mg/kg of soil, which corresponds to the low availability of this element. Compared to the previous round of the examination, the weighted average content of easily hydrolysed nitrogen increased by 0.9 mg/kg of soil. The region is dominated by land with an average content of mobile phosphorus compounds (31.5%), and the weighted average content of mobile phosphorus compounds is 56 mg/kg, which corresponds to the average availability. Compared to the previous round of the examination, the weighted average phosphorus content increased by 4.0 mg/kg. The content of mobile potassium compounds is dominated by soils with a very high content of potassium (51.5%), although the weighted average content of mobile potassium compounds is 78 mg/kg, which corresponds to the average availability of this macronutrient. Compared to the previous round of the examination, the weighted average phosphorus content increased by 15.4 mg/kg. The results of the paper can be used in the process of training specialists in soil science and agronomy, and will also be useful for land users of the Chernivtsi region when planning measures for the rational use of soils

Keywords

• soil reaction
• soil humus content
• easily hydrolysed nitrogen compounds
• mobile phosphorus
• exchangeable potassium
• agrochemical examination