Foundation of the direction of soil cultivation in the conditions of climate change

Abstract

Purpose. Analyzation the changes taking place in the soils and to formation of proposition for possible adjustments in the technologies of soil cultivation for the maximum compensation of negative consequences for its’ fertility and health based on the generalization of information about the current changes in climatic conditions in the world as a whole and on the territory of Ukraine in particular. Methods. Universal general scientific methods, methods of theoretical analysis, system method, expert evaluation of published information, covering the generalization of regulatory and methodological documents. Results. The impact of climate warming on soil processes is comprehensively considered. It has been determined that climate changes occurring in Ukraine are associated with a significant increase in the development of a number of degradation processes: physical degradation (overcompaction, deterioration of the structure, etc.), accelerated development of erosion processes. The prospects for the application of various soil protection and soil conservation technologies are analyzed in detail, depending on the characteristics of soils, taking into account their vulnerability to various types of degradation. The need for widespread introduction of the latest soil cultivation technologies is substantiated (taking into account the exceptions in which the application of such technologies is impossible due to existing negative properties for agriculture or serious manifestations of degradation processes). This is primarily a reduction in the number of passes through the fields of energy-rich machine-tractor units, especially in the spring and autumn periods, when structural particles due to unfavorable soil moisture conditions are the most vulnerable and can undergo irreversible destruction. The introduction of no-till technology and mulching of the soil surface is very promising from the point of view of compensation of negative consequences for soils. For saline soils, it is suggested to use deep plowing – the method of “self-improvement”. A well-grounded and developed technology of local land amelioration is promising for acidic soils, for the practical implementation of which it is necessary to design a working body that would be able to create microzones comfortable for the growth and development of agricultural crops in the arable layer of acidic soils with minimal mechanical damage to the surface layer of the soil. The question of the perspective of creating optimal physical parameters of the sowing (or arable) layer of the soil as a very underestimated reserve for increasing the yield of agricultural crops and adapting agriculture to climate change is considered separately. Current directions of scientific research aimed at adapting soil cultivation to new climatic conditions have been formulated. Conclusions. The perspective of adapting the agriculture of Ukraine to the climate changes that are currently taking place has been established, due to the correct application of existing soil protection technologies of soil cultivation (differentiated cultivation, no-till technology), as well as the involvement of insufficiently evaluated methods of cultivation, such as local amelioration of acidic soils and the formation of seed (or arable) a layer of soil with optimal physical properties, taking into account the size of the seeds of crops. Keywords: climate changes, soil, soil cultivation, soil protection technologies, degradation processes.