Agroengineering approaches to preserving soil fertility

Abstract

Goal. To analyze possible agro-engineering ways to stop the rapid fall and to ensure further preservation of humus in agricultural soils. Methods. Analysis and synthesis of scientific results contained in domestic and foreign literature on agriculture. Laboratory and field experiments aimed at determination of the structure of the soil at different levels of slippage of the engines of the aggregate tractor and provision of the ecophilicity of the tires of its running wheels were carried out using modern methods of multifactor experiment, the latest recording equipment, modern methods of statistical processing of research materials on PC. Similar methods of experimental researches were applied at carrying out laboratory field tests of wide-reaching and combined machine-tractor units, including technologies with the use of a constant technological track. Results. Intensive processes of humus destruction are considered, which significantly affect the preservation of the structure of agricultural soils. Specific measures and technological and organizational solutions that allow overcoming this complex and incessant phenomenon with the use of exclusively agro-engineering approaches are outlined. Conclusions. The process of preserving the structure of agricultural soils requires urgent adoption of technological and organizational decisions aimed at: maximum restriction of soil nitrogen immobilization after wrapping organic residues in it; development of technological methods and tools for tillage for loosening the surface layer of the soil with a minimum area of its contact with the air-drip medium; improvement of the basics of aggregation of agricultural machines/tools taking into account the maximum allowable slippage of wheeled energy means at the level of 15% and the conceptual approach to their ballasting in relation to the requirements of ecophilicity of tires; application of the soil structure indicator when determining the periodicity of plowing with plows with plowshares or their two-levelled analogues; wide practical application of track system of agriculture (Controlled Traffic Farming); adoption of a legislative document on the specific responsibility of land users for the level of fertility of agricultural soils.