Agricultural use of dried lands of the humid zone of Ukraine in conditions of agricultural sector reform and climate change

Abstract

Goal. To establish the peculiarities of agricultural use of drained lands of the humid zone of Ukraine in the conditions of reforming the agricultural sector and modern climate change to justify measures restoring efficient functioning of drainage systems in the mode of active water regulation. Methods. System analysis, the generalization of knowledge and materials of scientific researches concerning features of modern agricultural use of drained lands. Results. It is determined that the structure of sown areas on drained lands is subject to both climate change and export market conditions. In agricultural production, there is a cultivation of monoculture: corn, sunflower, rape, soybeans, sown areas of which are concentrated mainly in the Forest-Steppe zone and Polissia. The main crops of traditional specialization (flax, sugar beet, rye, oats, etc.) have ceased to be a priority, but due to the environmental friendliness of domestic products and the uniquely favorable ecological and geographical position of their cultivation have the potential to conquer domestic and world markets. The result of the reform of the agricultural sector is that the vast majority of drained land belongs to rural households and only a third of them to enterprises. The potential of drainage systems is used inefficiently, and their water regulation capacity is an unused resource for increasing yields and sustainable agricultural production. Conclusions. Under the new conditions of growing crops and, accordingly, the functional tasks of drainage systems, the development of land reclamation in the humid zone should be aimed at their reconstruction and modernization. It is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of agricultural use of drained lands and the current level of the water supply of reclaimed areas.