Agrotechnical dusting of arable soils of Left-bank Forest-steppe and Steppe of Ukraine

Abstract

The purpose. To probe gears, dynamics and criteria of quantitative assessment of agrotechnical dusting as a component of daily blowing erosion of soils; to complete prospective calculations of possible losses of soil from blowing erosion in zone of the Northern Steppe of Ukraine on experimental plots depending on land forms, granulometric composition of top layer of soil, lumpiness, connectivity in view of protective effect of land protective belts. Methods. General scientific and special: field - for determination of losses of soil depending on speed of machine-tractor assembly unit, wind speed, rainfall amount; laboratory — for determination of lumpiness and pulverization of soil; mathematic-statistical - for determination of correlation between climatic, technological, genetic indexes of soils and deflationary losses. Results. Losses of soil is determined experimentally as a result of agrotechnical dusting, and formula is developed for their calculation. Optimum speed of machine-tractor assembly unit, as well as maps of agrotechnical dusting and potential wind-erosion losses of soils in Kharkiv oblast are determined. Conclusions. During machining the dynamics of lumpiness as one of main indexes of durability of soil to blowing may vary within the limits of 50% from initial. Lumpiness largely depends on production operation and speed of agricultural machinery. During field work which are connected to mechanical impact on soil it is not desirable to exceed the speed of machine-tractor assembly unit over 9,7 km/h, because of decrease of sprayed erosive corpuscles (<0,25 mm) and height of their spring (up to 2,5 m) during aggression by running apparatus and trailer gears. At speed of 12 km/h of agricultural machinery the height of spring of such corpuscles attains 8-9 m, and they are easily carried out by wind for limits of fields. At wind speed over 14 m/s field work in zone of the Northern Steppe and Left-bank Forest-steppe of Ukraine are absolutely not desirable, as losses of soil from agrotechnical dusting increase in some times.