Slavgorodskaya Y. The Influence of Ecological Factors on Soil and Productivity of Agricultural Landscapes of Starobilsk High-Slope Area

The research deals with the investigation of soil degradation processes and productivity of agricultural landscapes of Starobilsk high-slope area. The territory of area is determined to have unsatisfactory agricultural conditions by disturbance degree of ecological balance in agricultural landscapes, by relationship of arable land. Having taken as an example Ltd Company "Orion", whose territory is typical for the northern part of the region, the complex analysis of climate factors as well as productivity of agricultural landscapes, physical and chemical properties of soil is carried out. Correlation dependence of crop capacity upon weather factors and soil properties for 36-year period is set. The most effective weather factors for the main crops studied are shown to be the quantity of precipitation in June and May. The quantity of precipitation in June is the most important for crop capacity of winter wheat, winter rye, millet, oats, corn, buckwheat, in May - for barley and sunflower. The comparative data analysis of agrochemical monitoring of soil showed that during 25-year period negative balance of humus and nutrients is being observed in arable land. Ecological evaluation is given to arable land on contents of heavy metals and radio nucleades. As a result of field investigations the average losses of soil for many years are determined to be caused by erosion processes in it. Ecological state of water ecosystems and soil is observed. The presence of eutrophication processes is found in water. The quantity estimate is made for soil transfer and spread in elements of hydrogeographical net because of water erosion. On water catchment areas of agricultural landscapes soil losses vary from 1,0 to 2,8 t/ha. Practical measures are suggested to improve ecological conditions of arable land and to increase ecological stability of agricultural landscapes.