Criteria for Assessment of Environmental Risks in Agrocenoses Under the Influence of Abiotic Factors

Abstract

The study of environmental risks in the agricultural industry in the conditions of global climate change remains relevant. The role of abiotic factors (air temperature and precipitation) in the formation of environmental risks in agrocenoses of agricultural crops is covered in the article. The influence of uncontrolled fluctuations of agroclimatic factors on agrocenoses, which cause environmental risks, is particularly hazardous. They are the main prerequisite for reducing the efficiency of agriculture. The aim of the work was to develop and substantiate the criteria for evaluating ecological risks in agrocenoses under the influence of abiotic agroclimatic factors in the conditions of climate change. The defined criteria provide an assessment of the ecological risks of loss of fertility and reduction of soil quality, deterioration of the phytosanitary condition of agrocenoses, and reduction of their productivity. Such criteria include indicators of the content of organic matter and the coefficient of soil dehumification, which indicate a decrease in the share of organic matter in the soil; agrochemical indicators that confirm the risks of loss of macro- and microelements, changes in soil pH; normative indicators of the content of pollutants, which determine the level of ecological risks of soil contamination with dangerous compounds of heavy metals, pesticides and radionuclides. The criteria that determine the phytosanitary state of agrocenoses, determine the indicators of weediness, plant diseases that lead to death or thinning, an increase in the number of species of harmful organisms, and an approximate economic threshold of the harmfulness of pests. It characterizes the degree of damage to crops and possible crop losses. Ecological risks of agrocenoses productivity loss are determined by criteria for assessing crop loss from major diseases and indicators of quality and safety of agricultural products. The use of the specified criteria will ensure the timely elimination of the environmental risks outlined in the article thanks to the implementation of appropriate agrotechnical preventive and protective measures, will guarantee the growth of the productivity of agrocenoses and the ecological safety of agroecosystems.

Bioindication for Detecting Environmental Risks in Agrocenoses Contaminated with Heavy Metals

“…Therefore, the use of bioindication methods (honeybee monitoring) to assess the environmental risks of the negative impact of pollutants on biota has a great practical importance. It is known that the contamination of agricultural forage bee lands with heavy metals, pesticides, radionuclides and other harmful substances leads to environmental risks of toxicant accumulation in the environment [Lishchuk et al 2022a, Lishchuk et al 2022b, Lishchuk et al 2023, Moklyachuk et al 2017]. This is one of the main factors in the accumulation of hazardous toxic substances in beekeeping products, which negatively affects the quality of honey, wax, pollen, and propolis [Finger et Bees and bee products are a unique object that can be used to obtain a wide range of characteristics for environmental monitoring, including honeybee monitoring [Parikh, Rawtani & Khatri 2021, Ruschioni et al 2013, Girotti et al 2020].…”