Рослинництво та ґрунтознавство (Nov 2023)
Agricultural landscape zoning of the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine to develop organic gardening
Abstract
The relevance of this study lies in the applied use of general scientific methods of landscape ecology in organic horticulture of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The purpose of the study was to develop a system of targeted agricultural landscape assessment of the territory to determine the prospects for the development of organic horticulture on the example of the right-bank part of the Western Forest-Steppe. To fulfil this purpose, the methodology of targeted agricultural landscape zoning of agricultural land was used. For this, maps and diagrams of the distribution of the main structural components and factors of the agrosphere, namely, landscapes and morphological structures of the relief, soil and vegetation cover, water chemistry, rocks, functional use of land and traditional areas of agricultural production, were used. The cartographic method and expert assessments of land suitability for organic horticulture were based on the study of 8 natural and anthropogenic factors that form the corresponding taxonomic classification of agricultural landscapes of the Forest-Steppe from 30 taxa. The spatial differentiation of the factors is determined by the relevant quantitative and qualitative parameters of orchard lands. The expert assessment of agricultural landscapes for organic horticulture is based on the percentage level of alteration of the natural structure of the land. A full-scale model of the target map of agricultural landscapes was developed to assess the prospects for the development of organic horticulture on the example of the central part of the Right Bank of the Western Forest-Steppe. The study area of 5,400 square kilometres was located at the intersection of three administrative regions, namely Zhytomyr, Kyiv, and Vinnytsia. The study identified 21 agricultural landscapes, the territories of which are homogeneous in 8 parameters. Their comprehensive regional perspectives for organic horticulture are rated from 11 to 21. It was proposed to define 5 categories of agricultural landscapes according to their suitability for organic horticulture: the highest (21 points), high (19-20 points), medium (17-18 points), low (15-16 points) levels of suitability and unsuitable (11-12 points). Half of the study area is covered by agricultural landscapes of high suitability for organic horticulture, 15% each of medium and unsuitable, and 10% each of high and low suitability. The targeted classification of land for organic horticulture on an agricultural landscape basis is the scientific and methodological basis for the widespread development of a new, environmentally sound type of agricultural activity in Ukraine
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