Ecological and agrochemical assessment of the condition of soils in rural settlements of the Lviv region

Abstract

It was established that the soil samples taken in rural settlements
of the Lviv region corresponded to different types of soil. In the fallows,
soils with a slightly alkaline reaction of the soil environment (44.4 %)
prevailed, in the fields and homesteadings ‒ slightly alkaline
(respectively 45.0 and 46.2 %) and close to neutral and neutral,
respectively 40.0 and 30.8 %. However, in a number of cases, very low
indicators of exchange acidity were observed. Due to the application of
organic fertilizers and composts, the content of organic matter in terms
of humus was slightly higher in homestead plots than in fallows and
fields – 46.2 % of samples had average and 30.8 % had high
availability. More than 50 % of the samples with a very low content of
easily hydrolyzable nitrogen were noted among all the samples taken
both on the fallows and on the fields and homesteadings. The highest
content of mobile phosphorus and potassium compounds, which
reached 325.0 and 720.0 mg/kg by the Chyrykov method, 350.0 and
202.5 mg/kg by the Kirsanov, 200.0 and 738.0 mg/kg by the Machygin,
noted in the soils selected on homestead plots. They also had higher
levels of mobile compounds of copper, zinc, lead, nickel and cadmium
compared to fallows and fields, which in some cases exceeded the
maximum permissible concentration. The results of soil monitoring in
the settlements of the Lviv region indicate a significant influence of the
anthropogenic factor on the change in soil fertility indicators. In order
to prevent degradation processes and loss of soil fertility, it is necessary
to: correctly use organic and mineral fertilizers, pesticides, chemical
meliorants, household waste; to balance nutrition between macro- and
microelements; leave post-harvest residues on the plots; more widely
use green fallows, intermediate crops, perennial grasses; observe crop
rotations and raise the environmental awareness of citizens.