INFLUENCE OF LIMING AND MINERAL FERTILIZER ON SOIL ACIDITY IN DIFFERENT AGRO-CLIMATIC ZONES

Abstract

The article examines the influence of liming and mineral fertilization on soil acidity in different agro-climatic zones of Ukraine. One of the key problems of modern agricultural production is maintaining the optimal soil pH level, since excessive acidity negatively affects the availability of nutrients, physicochemical properties of the soil, and the yield of agricultural crops. The research examines two main methods of regulating soil acidity: liming and application of mineral fertilizers. Liming is a traditional measure to reduce acidity, which consists in the introduction of calcareous materials that neutralize acidic components of the soil. The effectiveness of liming for different types of soil and agro-climatic conditions, in particular for the Polissia, Forest-Steppe and Steppe zones of Ukraine, was investigated. It has been established that the optimal doses of liming can vary from 4 to 6 tons per hectare depending on the level of initial acidity of the soil and its physical properties. In more humid zones (Polyssia), soil acidification occurs faster, which requires more frequent application of lime compared to the Steppe, where acidification processes occur more slowly. The use of mineral fertilizers, in particular nitrogen fertilizers, also affects the acidity of the soil. Ammonium forms of nitrogen during nitrification can increase acidity, requiring a combined approach using liming to neutralize this effect. It was determined that a rational combination of mineral fertilizers and lime allows to optimize the pH level and increase the availability of nutrients. Mathematical models developed as part of the research allow predicting the dynamics of changes in acidity depending on the doses of lime and mineral fertilizers. The applied models take into account the influence of climatic conditions, which makes them particularly useful for adapting agrotechnical measures to specific regional conditions. As a result of the conducted research, it was concluded that the effective management of soil acidity depends on the combination of liming with the correct use of fertilizers and taking into account the agro-climatic features of each zone.