Degradation Processes in the Soils of Ukraine and Their Negative Consequences for the Environment

Abstract

Long-term intensive plowing of different types of soils in Ukraine has led to large-scale development of degradation processes in them. Soil degradation due to water erosion has become widespread, dust storms and deflation processes are taking place in the south of the country, agrophysical degradation and humus losses are characteristic for many regions, certain ecological risks also arise from irrational drainage of wetlands and irrigation. The article analyzes soil degradation processes and undesirable consequences for the environment as a result of their development. It is noted that soil erosion is the main factor in their degradation, which is spread over an area of 13.4 million hectares. This leads to a decrease in the energy potential of the soil, siltation of reservoirs, clogging of roads, and thanks to the manifestations of deflation, air pollution with dust and an increase in the risk of people's respiratory diseases. As a result of the spread of agrophysical degradation, flooding and crusting on the surface of the soil, a decrease in their infiltration level, and a restriction of access to nutrient-rich crops are undesirable. It is noted that humus losses is widespread on an area of about 39 million hectares of land, and often the cause of its manifestations is the burning of crop residues, which leads to losses of carbon, nitrogen, humus burning, and the destruction of useful microflora. Improvement measures should include the mass introduction of leguminous and cider crops in crop rotations, the use of alternative organic fertilizers and calcium-containing meliorants. With long-term drying, the hydrological regime, vegetation and fauna change, erosion resistance weakens, and mostly such lands are used as unproductive meadows and pastures. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account all the undesirable consequences of soil degradation, to apply economically beneficial and effective measures to improve their properties, which would improve the phytosanitary and ecological-remedial state of the environment.