In this article recommendations about increase of fertility of soils and efficiency of agriculture are made. Soil-protective programs which a progressive tense are applied in ecologically developed countries are offered.
Covremennaya agriculture history for historically small period is characterized by essential changes of intensity of use of ground resources. Process of application of fertilizers can be divided into three periods conditionally:
§ the period of extensive chemicalixation (the end 40x – the beginning 70x years of the XX century) when level of application of fertilizers didn’t exceed 30 kg/hectares of of century of NPK;
§ period of intensive chemicalixation (1961-1991gg.), when on 1 hectare of an arable land brought on 140-160 kg of of century of NPK;
§ the period of decrease in intensity of chemicalixation (1991-2008) throughout which there was a sharp decrease in level of application of fertilizers with 140 to 20 kg of of century of NPK.
The period from 1965 to 1990 became history of Ukraine as the most important stage of increase of fertility of soils and efficiency of agriculture. It was the period of "blossoming" of chemicalixation, on its extent agricultural production developed by an all-round intensification.
The situation sharply changed in the early nineties. Then again there was a return to extensive systems of agriculture and again deficiency of balance of NPK and intensity of a mineralization of a humus started to increase that finally led to acceleration of rates of decrease in fertility of the soil. In these conditions the crop started to be provided, generally mobilization of nutrients of the soil. At preservation of an existing situation with application of fertilizers agrochemical properties and fertility of soils will be and to worsen further that can lead to the irreversible consequences connected with degradation of the chernozem soils most valuable in Ukraine.
In the conditions of socioeconomic structure change agriculture of the country was struck by protracted crisis. For years of agrarian reforms security of agricultural producers with equipment worsened: its deliveries in connection with decrease in purchasing power of farms were reduced in tens times. Demand for equipment was undermined repeated disparitety the prices for agricultural production and material resources. Level of introduction of mineral and organic fertilizers catastrophically decreased. The state, regional and economic plans of increase of fertility of soils weren’t carried out, public financing of such important actions as fight against an erosion of soils was stopped. For the purpose of achievement of fast economic successes, the unsystematic increase in the areas of crops of sunflower broke structure of fertile soils, the area of crops of long-term herbs was considerably reduced. Naturally, in such conditions of the soil "work very hard", their degradation and loss of fertility are inevitable. The following statistical data on application of fertilizers testify to it on the corn crop’s eve in a steppe zone of Ukraine:
· it is brought organic fertilizers, t/hectare (1990g. 8,6) → (1992g. 6,4) → (1995g. 4,0) → (1996g. 3,2) → (1997g. 2,5) → (1998g. 1,9) → (1999g. 1,7) → (2000g. 1,3) → (2001g. 0,3) → (2002 0,2) → (2003g. 0,4) → (2004 0,3) → (2005 0,2);
· it is brought mineral fertilizers, kg/hectare of of century (1990 141) → (1992g. 104) → (1995g. 33) → (1996g. 21) → (1997g. 22) → (1998g. 21) → (1999g. 18) → (2000g. 13) → (2001g. 16) → (2002g. 20) → (2003g. 18) → (2004 26) → (2005 41).
In Ukraine nearly 10 % of the surveyed soils with very low and low content of mobile phosphorus already are. Further decrease in the content of exchange potassium is noted. If so will proceed and further, in 15-20 years such form of managing can lead to catastrophic consequences. After all in a steppe zone of Ukraine essential decrease in the main valuable property of arable soils – their fertility is already noted. Meanwhile, in practice of world agriculture application of mineral fertilizers systematically increases and, naturally, productivity of grain crops grows. According to a forecast made by International association of producers of fertilizers (IFA), till 2030 use of mineral fertilizers in the world can reach 180 million t. To lift to former level productivity of grain of corn, to leave on the boundaries reached earlier without application of fertilizers it is impossible, to what long-term results of scientific researches testify. Certainly, the size of a grain yield is influenced by many factors, but nevertheless the main thing there are fertilizers to what experience of their application in economically developed countries testifies.
According to the academician of UAAN N. Gorodnego, a share part of fertilizers in formation of crops makes:
in countries of Western Europe – 45-50 %; the USA – 40-45 %; in Ukraine – 28 % that is much higher, than influence of hybrids, means of protection of plants or soil processing.
Delegates of the fifteenth International congress of society of soil scientists which passed in 1994 in Mexico, it was noted: In the XX century in all economically developed countries there was a growth of productivity of grain crops on 50%za the account of application of mineral fertilizers.
In the majority of the countries of the world the agricultural industry remains the subsidized sphere. According to some experts, it is the unique industry which remains dependent on the state subsidies. It is connected with that at cultivation of grain crops the producer receives grain on the enclosed capital only once in a year. Whereas in other spheres new production can be received and realized every day or many times in a year that at imperfection of the legislation leads to excess profits in separate spheres with a high turn of the capital and, on the contrary, to unprofitability of farms with a low turn of the capital. Therefore the leading countries of the world invest the agricultural industry in the considerable sizes. So, for support of the domestic agricultural producer of the European Union country allocate 43 billion euro a year, about $40 billion – the USA and to $20 billion – Japan, in Ukraine investments of the state into development of agricultural industry are much more modest.
In connection with developed in agrarian sector of economy of Ukraine a social and economic situation in the short term to solve a problem of renewal of fertility of the soil to an optimum level difficultly. It is connected with that in conditions when amount of brought organic fertilizers in comparison with optimum norm decreased almost in 5-6 times, and mineral – at 15-20 time, to leave the created difficult situation a traditional way, i.e. increase in norms of introduction of organic fertilizers to 8-10 t/hectares and mineral to 150-170 kg of NPK on 1 hectare of a crop rotation on all area of arable lands, it is represented unreal.
To provide high payback of each kg of fertilizers, authentic and constantly updated information of field experiments with fertilizers about a condition and dynamics of soil fertility of lands of agricultural purpose is necessary, the verified techniques of economic calculations taking into account postaction of applied agrochemical means are necessary.
One of the main factors providing effective use of mineral fertilizers, – studying of agrochemical properties of soils. A basis of obtaining such information – carrying out periodic agroenvironmental monitoring of soils. The greatest effect gives complete ensuring requirements of plants with all elements of a food. But productivity, in most cases, depends on a limiting factor, i.e. from that element of a mineral food which least contains in the soil in available to use by plants a look. It is necessary to approach to application of fertilizers creatively, being guided by zone recommendations of scientific institutions.
Awareness of extreme importance of a problem of protection of soils and formation of the appropriate national program can be an exit from the created crisis. The draft of such program is developed in NNTs Institute of soil science and agrochemistry of UAAN which, along with the main, attraction of alternative sources of renewal of organic chemistry for the account is provided:
· improvements of structure of cultivated areas and crop rotations, increases in specific weight of long-term herbs, grain grains and bean cultures with simultaneous reduction of a share of propashny cultures;
· the maximum use of a waste of the animal husbandry, the disinfected precipitation of sewage, sapropels, peat;
· wide application of sideralny fertilizers;
· the maximum use of collateral crop production, including straw, expansions of application of bacterial and sideralny fertilizers.
For the purpose of achievement of sufficient balance of nutrients and increase of fertility of soils it is provided to finish volumes of application of mineral fertilizers at the first stage to 3,5 million t of of century, on the second – to 4,3 million t of of century, (answers level of 1990), and at the final stage – to 4,5 million t of of century. It will give the chance to provide sufficient balance of a humus, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. At unilateral use only organic or only mineral fertilizers it is impossible to achieve steady efficiency of agriculture. Soil-protective programs not only are created, and a progressive tense are carried out in economically developed countries. This direction of economic activity of the person verified in the millennia, providing his existence. Absolutely fairly V.I.Vernadsky called the soil a life film, meaning, first of all, its life-giving force, fertility, its very high vulnerability therefore she and demands to herself careful attitude.
The first experiences of application of biological systems of agriculture in the world show their merits and demerits. Advantages of alternative forms of housekeeping are:
§ high environmental friendliness;
§ decrease in consumption of energy;
§ decrease in expenses of energy resources;
§ production improvement of quality.
The main shortcoming from positions of modern representations, first of all economic is a decrease in productivity of crops for 20-40 % and more in comparison with traditional agriculture in which application of fertilizers and other means of chemicalixation is provided. In process of improvement of systems of the agriculture based on biological methods, this shortcoming will have the lesser value. However absence objective and, the main thing, doesn’t allow to approve convincing data that production of alternative agriculture purer and more useful, than traditional agriculture. By the researches executed in Germany on comparison of efficiency of chemical and biological systems of agriculture it is convincingly proved that quality of production received from application of these systems of agriculture, almost equally, and here quantity twice is more at application of intensive system.
Alternative agriculture (without application of mineral fertilizers, pesticides and other means of chemicalixation) is possible only on the limited areas with a fertile soil and in the presence of enough of organic fertilizers.
However those who recommends to be limited in our country only to biological agriculture, commit a serious mistake and doom our agriculture to a low level of development. After all for 1970-1990 it was possible to lift essentially average productivity of crops in Ukraine at application of mineral fertilizers. And considering that many grain areas at us are located in a steppe zone where quite often there are droughts, we inevitably risk in droughty years sharply to reduce a grain yield of cultures. To avoid this fate it is necessary to expand at the expense of mineral fertilizers circulation of nutrients in agriculture, to lift fertility of the soil and, thus, to achieve steady big crops grain in any on weather conditions years.
At low level of application of fertilizers production of straw will be reduced, and at a lack of straw and manure it will appear a little. Opponents of mineral fertilizers forget simple truth that manure and its quality reflects a condition of fertility of the soil. For example, the forages which have been grown up on the soil, poor nutrients, will contain in the structure of few NPK, and, therefore, received manure will have too the same shortcoming. Therefore manure in the chemical relation is, in fact, a soil mirror. Thus, it is impossible to eliminate a lack of these or those elements of a food of the soil with introduction only manure. It is possible to eliminate this shortcoming quickly only at a combination of the organic and mineral fertilizers capable quickly to improve and expand circulation of nutrients in the soil.
The special place in a biologizatsiya of agriculture occupies the green fertilizer representing green material of plants-sideratov, plowed to the soil with a view of enrichment by its nutritious elements, mainly, with nitrogen. This fertilizer improves physical, water and physical and biological properties, water and thermal modes of the soil, its fytosanitory and ekologo-toxicological condition. Nowadays many scientists often speak about wide use as fertilizer, including sideralny, collateral production of cultivated cultures (a radish olive + Vick summer etc.) . But, unfortunately, this green material will manage to be mineralized completely in the soil only in rather favorable on providing with moisture years. On passing of this process 1-2 years on the average leave. And what exit from the created situation in a steppe zone of Ukraine in droughty years? Now for acceleration of process of a mineralization of the pozhnivny remains new fermentativny preparations of type oksizina are offered, but it needs detailed check on efficiency, in carrying out all-round further tests in the conditions of field experiments which are now led to agrochemistry laboratories on EOS IZH UAAN.
At anybody won’t raise doubts that fact that decrease in crops, sooner or later, but will inevitably lead to reduction of a livestock of cattle. Over the last 10 years it decreased five times. Scientists argue to pass to biological agriculture, it is necessary to have, first of all, well developed animal husbandry, and qualitative forages are for this purpose necessary in enough.
Right there the question arises, how it can be reached if not to introduce mineral fertilizers if manure in farms bring only to 2 t/hectares, and sometimes it don’t bring in general?
Along with improvement of system of application of fertilizers, it is necessary to pay a close attention and to technologies of cultivation of crops. In order that at us productivity grew, it is necessary to introduce intensive technology of cultivation of the grain crops, considering everything to the smallest trifles. After all around the world the technology of cultivation of grain crops is based on introduction of high doses of fertilizers. In Ukraine in modern conditions it is brought fertilizers in 30 times less, than in countries of Western Europe. Therefore to achievement of good results in plant growing there is only one way on which there are developed countries all economically: association of world scientific experience, high genetic potential of modern hybrids, grades and high technologies.
In recent years agriculture in Ukraine is conducted at negative balance of a humus, nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil that leads to loss more than 10 % of its energy potential. On a half of arable lands the content of mobile phosphorus the low. And soils with its optimum contents don’t exceed 15 % of total area. Against the low content of phosphorus in the soil efficiency of nitric fertilizers decreases also. In the developed difficult agrochemical situation of fertilizer are the most effective means of increase of productivity of grain. It is necessary to pay attention that production which has been grown up in Ukraine without introduction of organic and mineral fertilizers, and also means of protection from weeds, diseases and wreckers, can’t be konkurentosposobnojna the world market.
Now renewal of fertility of the soil goes a natural way at the expense of internal reserves. As level of application of mineral fertilizers very low, and a crop is formed generally at the expense of natural fertility of soils, steadily there are degradatsionny processes – their pauperization according to the maintenance of mobile forms of nutrients. If the balance of nutrients during 1986-1990 was positive on phosphorus (+24,9 kg/hectares) both almost equilibrium on nitrogen and potassium, since 1996, – negative on all elements of a mineral food.
Farther to leave pochvuv such situation it is impossible, it is necessary to take emergency measures and immediately to correct the developed emergency. Out of doubt that fact that Ukraine at the expense of own agricultural production has all possibilities for the guaranteed complete providing the population with food, processing industry raw materials, and the states – considerable currency receipts. As the convincing proof gross charges grain of the main crops which were received by the Ukrainian grain-growers 18 years ago can serve that. On the average for 1986-1990 grew up on 49,4 million t of grain in weight after completion, that is practically on grain ton on each inhabitant. On this indicator Ukraine took the third place in the world after Canada.
The extensive way of production of grain is already impossible. For receiving big crops kukuruzynaryadu with good semenamivysokoproduktivny hybrids qualitative fertilizers are necessary. About it there was a speech on November 29-30, 2007 in Alushta at the Fourth annual conference The market of mineral fertilizers and agrochemistry 2007. According to one of organizers and the project manager Chemical – the courier Artem Zadvornogo, in comparison with present indicators, in 10 years the market of mineral fertilizers will grow three times. If it occurs, Ukraine can receive on the former areas high gross collecting grain at the expense of the same crops what nowadays receive in countries of Western Europe.
Certainly, good providing with moisture, the warm vegetative period and high natural fertility of the soil entirely depend on a geographical arrangement of the district and soil climatic conditions. They practically aren’t regulated by the person. In this case the balanced system of a mineral food of agricultural plants macro – and microcells acts as the base on which the subsequent elements and systems of intensive technology of cultivation of grain crops are built. Only such philosophy in agriculture will allow landowners to provide normal development and growth of plants of modern hybrids, and also to increase their stability to diseases, various adverse factors of the environment and to realize genetic potential of productivity. Therefore in order that there was a continuous growth of level of efficiency of plants, highly productive hybrids and grades and the intensive technology of the cultivation directed on receiving the set grain yield are necessary. In this regard studying of separate receptions of the technology including test of zoned and perspective hybrids, specification of possibility of receiving the planned crops on the basis of use of settlement doses, optimum terms and ways of application of fertilizers has now, and also will have and further, big scientific and practical value.
S. Kramarev, doctor of agricultural sciences, main research associate of laboratory of agrochemistry and soil science of Institute of a grain farm of UAAN.